Site Investigations

A geotechnical site field investigation is necessary for various reasons, including identifying soil and rock properties, geological hazards, and other ground conditions that can impact the design, construction, and safety of structures or infrastructure.
In New Zealand, the geotechnical site investigation process is generally guided by several codes and standards, including:

1. NZS 1170.5

Structural design actions – Earthquake actions – New Zealand: This code provides guidelines for determining the seismic hazard at a site and assessing the resulting earthquake actions on structures. A geotechnical site investigation is essential to identify the site-specific seismic hazard, soil and rock properties, and other ground conditions that can impact seismic performance.

2. NZS 4404:2010

Land development and subdivision infrastructure: This code provides guidelines for the planning and design of land development and subdivision infrastructure. A geotechnical site investigation is necessary to identify the ground conditions that can affect the design of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, retaining walls, and stormwater systems.
Close-up of weathered rock sample with mineral veins collected during geotechnical site investigation in the North Island.

3.NZS 4219:2009

Seismic performance of engineering systems in buildings: This code provides guidelines for assessing the seismic performance of engineering systems in buildings, such as foundations, walls, and floors. A geotechnical site investigation is necessary to identify the site-specific seismic hazard, soil and rock properties, and other ground conditions that can impact the seismic performance of these systems.

4. Building Code

The New Zealand Building Code is a set of performance standards that all buildings must meet. It includes requirements for structural strength, durability, and safety. A geotechnical site investigation is often required to ensure compliance with the Building Code, particularly in areas with high seismic hazard.

 

In summary, a geotechnical site field investigation is essential for ensuring the safety, compliance, and cost-effectiveness of construction projects in New Zealand. The investigation process is generally guided by several codes and standards, depending on the specific project requirements.

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Quick Answers

FAQs

A geotechnical site investigation gathers physical data about a site’s soil, rock and groundwater, through walkovers, sampling, hand augers, drilled boreholes and in-situ testing, to characterise ground conditions for design and consent.

It confirms actual ground conditions rather than assumptions, identifies hazards early, and lets engineers design efficient, safe foundations. Thorough investigation up front typically reduces construction cost and risk later.

Fieldwork may include a site walkover, test pits or hand augers, supervised borehole drilling, sampling, and in-situ tests such as CPTs or Scala penetrometer testing, with samples sent for laboratory analysis where needed.

On-site work for a typical residential or small commercial site is often completed in a day, with the report following within one to three weeks depending on testing and access.

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On Point Distribution Partners Ltd
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Alwyn and the team at soil eng did a full geotechnical report on our proposed subdivision. They were extremely knowledgeable and professional, and communication was very good. They completed the required report when promised and did it all at a reasonable price which we were more than happy to pay. I strongly recommend them if you’re looking to have geotech work done.
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Celtic_Coconut
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Excellent communication and attention to detail. Alwyn and his team went the extra mile to ensure everything was accurate and provided solutions to issues if they arose. Would definitely use them again.
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Dutch Dale
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Good to deal with , and was quick with his work
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Myles McKeefry
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Alwyn was a pleasure to deal with. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful with our pre-consent requirements. He was always available and very prompt with queries. Highly recommended
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Phillip Aaron Hume
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Alwyn has Been fantastic to deal with throughout the geotech process. He was quick to respond and completed the report in a timely manner. I highly recommend Soil-Eng
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Vicki Jamieson
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Alwyn was very quick from the time we rung for a geotech report to the delivery of the report. We highly recommend Soil Eng. Thank you Alwyn 😊
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Margaret Gray
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Alwyn was extremely professional. Very helpful and thorough. Very prompt and I would highly recommend him.
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Maxwell Sedarat
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Alwyn did an excellent job. He has great communication and was very helpful during the process. I would definitely use Alwyn again for any future projects.
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John Sanderson
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Alywn was great to work with. He carried out a pre purchase liquifaction assessment and report on a very short timeframe to meet our deadline. Soil Eng was also the most cost effective option available. Excellent work thankyou.