TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 Introduction To Project And Site Investigation

1.1 About the Project
1.2 List of Contributors Of The Project
1.3 About the Site Investigation
1.4 Stage of Site Investigation

2.0 Objective Of The Site Investigation

3.0 Scope Of Work Of Site Investigation

4.0 Analysis from Bore Log Result

5.0 Discussion
5.1 Laboratory testing
5.2 Site investigation at SMK Beserah
5.3 Problem / Challenge Facing
5.4 Solution to the problems

6.0 Conclusion

7.0 Summary From The Site Investigation Of The Project

8.0 Appendices

9.0 References

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1.0) INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT AND SITE INVESTIGATION

As task for our WORK BASED PROJECT of Geotechnical Engineering (BAA 3513), we are
required to do a summary report on any site investigation project within 10 years period. The
chosen project for our task is Constructing Additional Buildings of Smk Beserah, Kuantan.

1.1 About the project

The proposed project is located at Kampung Batu Hitam, Beserah, Kuantan Pahang. The
location map is provided as below. The project comprised one 2-storey school building. The
first level is classrooms while ground level for sciences laboratory and open hall. The area of
the proposed site is 109ft X 109ft. It has the maximum and minimum elevation of 108m
and 100m above the sea level respectively.

The proposed site is commonly a school field with classroom and assembly point around the
area. Before the construction start, the main contractor had cleared the area and fenced it as
stated in Bill of Quantity. Site had recently done soil investigation in order to identify the
condition and proposed foundation needed for the type of soil.

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 1.2 List of contributors of the project

Owner of the project: KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN MALAYSIA

Main contractor: KKMP BARU BERHAD

Soil investigator contractor: GEOPILE TESTING RESOURCES

Civil and structure consultant: AMR CONSULT

1.3 About the site investigation

Geotechnical site investigation is one of the most common tasks before conducting
construction work. It is important in order to investigate the characteristics of the soils and
rocks at a potential construction site and make recommendations to the owner or designer of
the construction project. Because the conditions at every site are unique, the geotechnical
engineer must conduct an investigation of the site to gather the information needed to make
recommendations. The site investigation report describes the investigation, summarizes the
geotechnical conditions found at the site and makes recommendations based on the
conditions.

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1.4 Stages of Site Investigation

Site
Desk Study
Reconnaissance
(Preliminary
(Walk Over The
Work)
Site)

Detailed Site
Exploration Planning

Sampling Testing

Result Report

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2.0) OBJECTIVE OF SITE INVESTIGATION

The purposes of this site investigation are:-

 To determine the existing soil profiles and geotechnical properties of the subsurface
conditions at the site.

 To access the general suitability of the site.

 To achieve safe and economical design of foundations and temporary works.
 To know the nature of each stratum and engineering properties of the soil and rock,
that may affect the design and mode of construction of proposed structure and
foundation.
 To foresee and provide against difficulties that may arise during construction due to
ground and other local conditions.
 To find out the sources of construction material and selection of sites for disposal of
water or surplus material.
 To investigate the occurrence or causes of all natural and man-made changes in
conditions and the results arising from such changes.
 To ensure the safety of surrounding existing structures.
 To design for the failed structures or remedial measures for the structures deemed to
be unsafe.
 To locate the ground water level and possible corrosive effect of soil and water on
foundation material.

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3.0) SCOPE OF WORK OF SOIL INVESTIGATION

The scope of works for this site investigation includes the following:

a) Drill of two borehole at the proposed site.

b) Collection of disturbed and undisturbed soil samples from the boreholes for visual
examinations.
c) Carry out standard proctor test (SPT), normally at 1.5m intervals or at a point where
changes in type of soil is observed.
d) Measure the ground water table in the borehole during the period of site investigation.
e) Perform laboratory test of selected soil and water samples to evaluate the engineering
parameter of the soil and consequently confirm the field result.

4.0) BORE LOG RESULT

(refer to Appendices)

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5.0) DISCUSSION

1. Brief slightly about the results.

For this project, Geopile Testing Resources had explored the subsoil conditions onto the
proposed area of the project using rotary drilled with water as a flushing medium. A total of 2
borings were drilled varying in depth from 17m and 36m respectively. Soil samples were
taken both disturbed and undisturbed; for disturbed soil sample were discovered by using a
split-barrel tube sampler with length 450mm while undisturbed is thin walled sampling tube
with 63.3mm diameter and 610mm length. According to the investigation, Geopile Testing
Resources had found that the soil at the area are Sandy with final water level 1.5m based on
BH No. 1 (bore hole no. 1) and 0.5m from BH No. 2.

2. Based on the result, what are the solution and technique used at SMK Beserah site?

The proposed method used to install the pilling is jack-in using Hydraulic Jack-In Pilling
Machine with pile size 300mm X 300mm diameter. The jack-in piling system is a relatively
modern deep foundation pilling system where dead weights are used to exert pressure to drive
piles into the ground. The jack-in pilling system is classified as a displacement pile system
whereby soil is displaced during the driving process. When the piles are hydraulically jacked
into the ground, the displacement causes the surrounding soils to compress against the jack-in
piles resulting in an increased load-bearing capacity.

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 3. Why choose to use Jack-in method?

Jack-in Method using Hydraulic Jack-in Piles Machine was used as the methodology is much
more practical compare to other method. The machine produces lower volume of waste
which very suitable with the location since the project is in the residential and school area. At
time, using jack in can reduce the cost for site clean-up too.

4. What are the tests conducted after the installation of pile?

PDA test or its other name Dynamic Load Test are test that need to conduct after the
installation of pile. The reason to do the test is to ensure the pilling had met the requirement
as per design. PDA test will evaluate the foundation bearing capacity, shape and behaviour of
the foundation element beside provide information on resistance distribution. How the PDA
Test being implemented is as follow:-

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 5. Does the test success? Give reason why.

The PDA test are failed and not fulfilling the requirement. This is because the analysis from
the PDA system shown that the pile are unset which mean did not settle with the depth of at
least 36meter (KPM pile’s requirement for 2 storey school building).

6. What are the main problem occur at the site?

i. Design area did not follow Firemen Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Based on firemen SOP, some space need to be consider for the building to be built
and existing building in order for them to passing by in case of emergency. The
major problem occurred here when the new building did not follow the SOP and
rapid solution are needed in order to avoid the project to delay.
ii. Several piles become unset at certain point due to subsoil condition.
iii. Blocking concrete below the construction area. The reasons for the unset pile are
identified as there is concrete debris under the ground that blocking the pile from
settle.

7. Solution to the problems.

For the major problem, three (3) alternative solutions come out with pros and cons. First is
Pre-bore Method, second is Massive Excavation and third is using Sheet Piles. For this
project, they choose to do Pre-bore Method for piling. This is because this method is much
cheaper compare to massive excavation and sheet pile. Besides, it is more economic and
faster in time. This method is especially effective on soft ground and enables to install a
variety of bored piles diameters that are able to penetrate a multitude of soil conditions.
Below are how the pre-bore functions.

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Adding more numbers of pile point are one of the solutions for the above stated problems.
About 56 point of pile added that become 172 total points for the whole building of the
project. Total cost involve due to the pilling increase about RM 650K from RM 7M. Next is
bigger the sizes of pile cap. This is because; the bigger size of pile cap will help to distribute
the huge load effectively.

8. State other challenges faced by the team at site regarding the site investigation and
the installation of pile?

Other minor challenges faced by the team are weather condition. Since the project start on
November 2015, the project facing East Coast Monsoon that starts at the end of year until
early year. Heavy rains and lightning might effect some activities at site. Work with heavy
and huge machineries like Hydraulic Jack-in Piles and Pre-bore machine cannot be done on
bad weather as it is dangerous to the worker and people around there.

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6.0) CONCLUSION

7.0) SUMMARY FROM THE SOIL INVESTIGATION OF THE

PROJECT

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8.0) REFERENCES

People

1) Dr Khairil Azman Masri

Lecturer of Geotechnical Engineering
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources
University Malaysia Pahang

2) Mr Ahmad Firdaus
Site Engineer for ‘Project Constructing Additional Building of Smk Beserah,
Kuantan, Pahang’

3) Mr Shafirizal Bin Zaini

Quantity Surveyor for ‘Project Constructing Additional Building of Smk Beserah,
Kuantan, Pahang’

Internet

1) http://www.undp.ps/en/forms/callforproposals/2013/hebroncourtgeotechnical.pdf
2) http://thequadrantboston.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Summary-Site-
Investigation-Report.pdf
3) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55832417e4b0e061415abec9/t/57fbb36bbe6594
5d2c8a5fc8/1476113260597/Genre+Unit+3+-+Geotech+Report.pdf
4) https://www.subsurfacegeotech.com/blogs/news/99042118-what-is-pda-testing-
dynamic-load-testing-piling
5) http://jackinpile.com.my/services/process.html
6) https://www.google.com.my/maps/place/SMK+Beserah/@3.878378,103.3625661,17z
/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x31c8a4a988940f7d:0xc2faba0949a07220!8m2!3d3.878378!4d1
03.3647548

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9.0) APPENDICES

First thing first, you guys need to tell them (the engineer) about our tasks, what we need to do,
why, and tell them we currently taking geotechnical engineering subject.

Secondly, ask something about them before you guys proceed to the questions. (How long he/she
has been in this industry, what is he/she position and some more)

1. What is the objective of doing site investigation.

2. What kind of problem did you and your team faced during site investigation is conducted ?

3. How did you overcome those problem ?

4. How long does it take to do a site investigation ?

5. What type of soil in that particular site ?

6. Let say it is raining during the process of the site investigation, does it give a big impact to the
process of site investigation ?

7. To do the site investigation, do we need a huge amount of money ?

8. What method has been used when during the field exploration ? Is it boring or sampling or in-situ.

9. What laboratory test involved during the site investigation ?

10. Can we discuss the items shown in the bore log sheet in the site investigation reports ?

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