CHAPTER 7

ORGANIZATION, DESIGN AND

REPORTING OF SITE
INVESTIGATIONS
7.1 STAGES OF INVESTIGATION
7.1.1 PROJECT CONCEPTION STAGE
Once the project has been decided and started, desk study is undertaken of all available data
that are listed below. Engineering geologist must’ve examined the proposed site’s environs and
try to identify potential problems that may occur at the site in relation with geotechnical
conditions.

• The geotechnical, geological and topographical data should include:

• all available topographic maps,
• all available geological and hydrogeological maps, memoirs and published articles in the
scientific journals,
• aerial photographs at all scales
• records of natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, avalanches etc.,
• site investigation and construction reports for adjacent engineering projects; published
articles on the geotechnical properties of the geological units to be found on the site,
hydrogeological and hydrological data,
• Records of any past, present and future human activities which have, are or could influence
the geological environment.
7.1 STAGES OF INVESTIGATION
7.1.2 PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION STAGE

Evaluating the project at its conception stage certain significant gaps may reveal in terms
of basic knowledge of the site and problems wouldn’t be recognized easily. In this case
preliminary investigation is required for establishing the basic knowledge of the site. It
would include simple yet affordable techniques such as existing records like maps,
photographs, geological and engineering geological mapping, geophysics or some
boreholes. Boreholes can be used to determine the best method for the boring, sampling
and on site testing to be used at the main stage of investigation. Sufficient knowledge
should be attained after this stage before proceeding with the main investigation stage.

First two stages of investigation

reconnaissance investigation or feasibility investigation

The more sites that is investigated before choosing one for development, it may give
sufficient information and choice can be made easily.
Boring and Sampling
7.1 STAGES OF INVESTIGATION
7.1.3 MAIN INVESTIGATION STAGE

In this stage
• all of the information acquired is used in designing the project through
whatever means appropriate to the ground conditions and the nature of
engineering work.
• Investigation work may be difficult and expensive to do due to problems of
access to the locations of borehole and in situ tests. It is often that these
problems can be easily overcome by doing the investigation before the
construction starts but sometimes it is overlooked by others in order to save
some money but later deals with its consequences.
• No project should be designed on the assumption that the ground conditions
will prove to be satisfactory
7.1 STAGES OF INVESTIGATION
7.1.4 CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION STAGE
7.1 STAGES OF INVESTIGATION
7.1.5 POST-CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION
STAGE
7.2 DESIGN OF SITE INVESTIGATIONS

7.2.1 BUILDING THE GEOTECHNICAL MODEL

7.2 DESIGN OF SITE INVESTIGATIONS

7.2.1 BUILDING THE GEOTECHNICAL MODEL

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an important tool of engineering works in terms of
design, construction and other procedures. According to definition, BIM is a digital
representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. Also, it is a shared
knowledge resource for information.
Major infrastructure projects that have significant geotechnical and structural aspects may
implement BIM tools and processes, but it often seem to neglect the aspect of the model.
Under the circumstances, this is carried out to improve the accessibility and usability of
geotechnical data for BIM, increasing the use of geotechnical formation in the making of
infrastructure-based decision and reduce the occurrence of interference, errors, and
collisions in the design stage of an engineering work.
7.2 DESIGN OF SITE INVESTIGATIONS

7.2.2 GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING AN SI

7.3 PROGRESSIVE EVALUATION OF
SITE INVESTIGATION DATA
7.4 INVESTIGATION PROGRESS AND
ENGINEERING DESIGNS
7.5 TENDER VISITS
7.6 SUPERVISION OF INVESTIGATING
WORKS
7.7 THE ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL
SITUATION
7.8 INVESTIGATION REPORTS
 7.9 THE FORM OF THE REPORT

7.9.1 OTHER ASPECTS OF REPORT

PREPARATION
BASIC FORM OF REPORT WRITING
• Title Page
• Report ‘contents’ Page
• Introduction
• Description of the Project
• Topography and Geology of the site
• Site Investigation
• Results of Site Investigation
• Influence of Ground Conditions
on Project Construction
• Discussion
 7.9 THE FORM OF THE REPORT

7.9.2 BOREHOLE RECORDS