What Is A Ground Investigation? Everything You Need To Know

Before you can get work started on your construction project, you need to understand the ground itself. That’s where a ground investigation comes in.

Put simply, a ground investigation is a way of working out the ground’s condition and suitability for construction before it begins. It’s key for getting an understanding of what’s being built on and whether designs are feasible. A number of techniques are used for ground investigations, and sometimes several different techniques are needed to reach a final judgement.

A ground investigation can help to spot several problems that may affect the foundation and integrity of your building. Ready to dig deeper? Keep reading to explore the key techniques and benefits of a ground investigation, as well as what you can expect to find in a ground investigation report.

Discover how Jarvale Construction can help with your ground investigation. Get in touch with our expert team today.

What Does a Ground Investigation Involve?

A ground investigation involves looking at the soil, rock and groundwater of a construction site to see if it’s suitable for building on. It involves a few different techniques, including digging and drilling, as well as non-invasive methods. The aim is to gather enough data to inform the design and construction of buildings and to make sure they’re compliant with planning and environmental laws. Here’s some more detail on each of these methods:

Phase 1 | Desk Study

A desk study is the first step of a ground investigation. Most local planning authorities require a desk study before they’ll issue planning permission, and it helps to guide further on-site activities.

There’s a lot of information available on historical land use even without visiting a construction site. A desk study, for instance, can identify any potential contaminated land issues, which are a key concern to developers. However, a desk study often involves a site visit to assess the land for any notable problems (e.g. invasive species, flooding hazards and obstructions).

If any issues are found during the desk study, a more detailed ground investigation may be required.

Phase 2 | Intrusive Site Investigation

After identifying problem areas during the initial site walk and desk study, work is ready to begin on the on-site investigation. The scope of this is defined earlier on in the process, but it can involve borehole drilling and trial pitting – techniques used to get rock, soil and groundwater samples for further testing. Activities at this stage are prioritised in terms of the problems found in the initial desk study.

Phase 3 | Post-Site Investigation

After samples are obtained from the intrusive site investigation, they’re sent off to a lab to be analysed. Based on the results from these samples, further investigations may be required. If that’s the case, the team carrying out your investigation may implement some ongoing monitoring to better understand the conditions of your site.

Phase 4 | Site Investigation Report

After gathering data from the first three stages of the ground investigation, the next step involves summarising all the key findings into a report. This will include an explanation of findings and what they mean for your proposed build. Getting this information before you begin with construction helps you to avoid any costly delays due to unexpected findings.

Partner with Jarvale for complete, hassle-free ground investigations – expertly managed from start to finish with our turnkey construction services.

How Long Does a Ground Investigation Take?

The duration of a ground investigation can vary a lot – especially if the initial findings from the phase one desk study show there may be cause for concern. For most ground investigations, you can expect a timeframe of a few weeks for completion. This includes the site work, lab analysis and report writing. Here are a few of the factors that could cause delays:

Site Size and Complexity

Larger and more complex sites take more time to investigate – especially if the geology is complex or the initial desk report highlights potential problems for your build.

Laboratory Testing

A more intensive site investigation usually means more samples are sent back to the lab for testing. Again, this can add time to the completion of your report.

Availability of Equipment and Personnel

Delays are more likely when more people and equipment are needed for the phase two site investigation. Mobilising them takes time, and availability isn’t always a guarantee.

Report Generation

Again, as with the laboratory testing, more samples and data mean it takes a lot longer to compile a comprehensive report. It’s important to communicate all findings clearly to help contractors make an informed decision on their build.

As with construction, unexpected findings can cause delays to the delivery of your ground investigation report, but in most cases, you can expect it back within a few weeks. Going with an experienced provider can help to reduce some of those delays, as they’ll have strategies in place to produce your report on time. If you’d like to hear more about how we at Jarvale manage our ground investigations, why not get in touch with us?

Jarvale Construction: Your Partner for Ground Investigations

As we’ve seen, a ground investigation is a crucial part of the construction process, helping to spot any potential issues before they cause lengthy (and costly) delays to your build. There’s a lot to consider – especially for larger or more complex sites – so it’s always worth having an experienced contractor on hand to guide the process, interpret the results and ensure the investigation is fit for purpose.

That’s where Jarvale comes in. With over 50 years’ experience in carrying out ground investigations, our approach is adaptable, pragmatic and rooted in an understanding of what each site demands. Whether you’re looking for accurate data or reliable reporting, we’ve got the expertise to deliver. Get in touch with our expert team to learn more about how we can help.

Oh, and if you’d like to learn more from us about the construction process, why not check out some of our other blog posts?

• Commercial Building Regulations in the UK
• What Are the Advantages of Design and Build Contracts?
• What Is Commercial Construction? Everything You Need to Know
• What Does an Office Refurbishment Typically Include?