Geotechnical Services
Geotechnical services across the whole project
Service areas covering everything from early site investigation through to ground improvement, settlement and excavation design, crack assessment and construction-phase support.
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01
Site Inspections & Engineering Advice
On-site inspections, practical engineering advice and independent review at any project stage.
Construction-phase decisions often need a geotechnical eye on site. We attend when conditions do not match the report, before critical cover-ups, or when a builder or certifier needs confirmation that the ground works match the design intent. Our advice is practical, proportionate and aimed at keeping the project moving without compromising safety or compliance.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Construction Inspections
Independent construction-phase observation of earthworks, footings, retaining systems and drainage against approved drawings and specifications.
Foundation & Excavation Inspections
Visual and documented review of foundation conditions, excavation stability, founding material and temporary support before concrete or backfill.
Earthworks & Compaction Review
Field review of fill placement, compaction effort, moisture conditioning and density verification during earthworks.
Engineering Advice
Practical geotechnical guidance for builders, developers and designers responding to unexpected ground conditions or design queries.
Independent Design Review
Second-party review of geotechnical designs, reports and specifications for completeness, risk and constructability.
Site Troubleshooting / Remedial Advice
Rapid on-site diagnosis of cracking, settlement, seepage or instability, with proportionate remedial options.
02
Geotechnical Site Investigation & Full-Scale Testing
Understanding what is actually under your site before design begins.
Geotechnical work establishes what the ground is made of, how strong it is, how it drains and how it will behave once loaded. GeoStructCiv scopes investigation, field testing and laboratory work around the decisions you actually need to make, then reports the outcome as usable design advice.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Site Investigation
Boreholes, test pits and in-situ testing to build a soil and rock profile, groundwater picture and strength parameters for design.
Geotechnical Field Testing
DCP, SPT and CPT probing, vane shear and in-situ density testing carried out on site to profile soil strength and verify compaction.
Full-Scale Pile Load Testing
Static load tests on bored, driven and screw piles to confirm capacity and settlement under real design loads.
Helical & Screw Pile Load Testing
Compression and tension load tests on helical and screw piles, with torque records checked against design capacity.
Plate Load Testing
Plate bearing tests on footings, slabs and pavements to measure bearing capacity and ground stiffness.
Groundwater Level Monitoring
Standpipe installation, water level readings and permeability testing to define groundwater for design and excavation.
Laboratory Testing
Classification, grading, moisture-density and strength testing that converts recovered samples into design numbers.
Geotechnical Reports
Clear reporting of findings, interpretation and recommendations for designers, builders, certifiers and councils.
03
Geotechnical Design
Ground-related design your structural engineer can use immediately.
Once conditions are known, the ground has to be designed for. We produce retaining, footing, slope and excavation design and the supporting parameters — earth pressures, bearing values, friction and stiffness — in a form that integrates directly with structural and civil design.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Special Retaining Wall Design
Wall type selection, earth pressure design, drainage detailing and footing or embedment requirements.
Foundation Design
Footing, raft and pile design recommendations based on measured bearing and settlement behaviour.
Slope Stability Analysis
Limit-equilibrium assessment of cut, fill and natural slopes with stabilisation or setback options.
Excavation & Shoring Design
Temporary and permanent support design for basements, batters and constrained excavations.
Geogrid Design
Reinforced soil and subgrade reinforcement design using geogrid layers, spacing and anchorage detailing.
04
Ground Improvement
Practical options where the existing ground is not good enough.
Weak, variable or filled ground can often be improved rather than avoided. We compare improvement strategies against deep foundations on cost, programme and risk, then design and verify the selected approach.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Helical Piles
Screw pile solutions for light structures, tight access sites and rapid installation with minimal spoil.
Piling Solutions
Selection and design guidance across bored, driven and screw piling systems for variable ground.
Ground Stabilisation
Chemical and mechanical stabilisation of subgrades and fills to lift strength and reduce moisture sensitivity.
Soil Replacement
Removal and engineered replacement of unsuitable material, with material specification and testing frequency.
Compaction & Earthworks
Earthworks specification, compaction targets and verification testing through the filling programme.
Reinforced Soil Solutions
Reinforced fills, working platforms and steepened slopes using geosynthetic or granular reinforcement.
Micropiles
Small-diameter drilled piles for underpinning, restricted-access sites and transfer of loads through weak near-surface soils.
Jet Grouting
High-pressure grout mixing to form soil-cement columns for ground strengthening, seepage control and localised underpinning.
Deep Soil Mixing
In-situ mixing of soil with cementitious binders to improve strength, stiffness and settlement performance in soft ground.
Stone Columns / Vibro Replacement
Vibro-installed granular columns to improve bearing capacity, reduce settlement and support drainage in weak cohesive soils.
05
Settlement Assessment & Design
Quantifying how much the ground will move — and designing for it.
Most serviceability problems are settlement problems. We assess total and differential movement, check bearing performance against the proposed loading, and design mitigation where predicted movement exceeds what the structure can tolerate.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Settlement Assessment
Prediction of magnitude and timing of settlement under proposed loads and fill heights.
Bearing Capacity Assessment
Allowable bearing pressures for the founding material at the proposed founding depth.
Differential Settlement Analysis
Assessment of variation across a footprint where soil profile, fill depth or loading changes.
Foundation Performance Assessment
Review of how existing foundations are performing and whether movement is ongoing.
Settlement Mitigation Design
Preloading, surcharge, stiffening, improvement or piling options to control predicted movement.
06
Crack Assessment & Retrofit
Finding the ground-related cause behind cracking and movement.
Cracking is a symptom. We investigate the mechanism behind it — reactive soils, poorly compacted fill, drainage, tree influence, subsidence or foundation inadequacy — and set out remedial options proportionate to the cause and the risk.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Crack Investigation
Survey and interpretation of crack patterns, widths and distribution across the structure.
Building Movement Assessment
Level surveys and inspection to establish direction, extent and likely continuation of movement.
Foundation Movement
Footing exposures and ground testing to compare actual founding conditions with design assumptions.
Subsidence Investigation
Investigation of localised settlement, collapse or loss of ground support beneath structures.
Cause Assessment & Retrofit Recommendations
A reasoned conclusion on cause with practical repair, underpinning and drainage recommendations.
07
Geosynthetics Services
Geogrids, geotextiles, geomembranes — specified, designed and verified.
Geosynthetics let you build on ground that would otherwise be uneconomic: separating soft subgrades, reinforcing steep fills, lining dams and containment cells. We advise on product selection, design the application and support installation so the installed product performs as designed.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Geogrids
Reinforcement of subgrades, working platforms, reinforced fills and steepened slopes.
Geotextiles
Woven and non-woven fabrics for separation, filtration and subgrade protection.
Geomembranes
Lining systems for dams, ponds and containment, including seam and detailing requirements.
Reinforced Soil Systems
Layered reinforced soil structures where conventional walls or batters are not practical.
Separation & Filtration
Preventing intermixing of layers and migration of fines while allowing drainage.
Drainage Applications
Geocomposite and drainage layers behind walls, under pavements and within embankments.
Concrete Blankets
Fabric-form concrete mattresses and articulated blocks for erosion protection, channel lining and scour control.
08
Bioengineering Services
Vegetation-based erosion control and slope stabilisation.
Bioengineering combines vegetation with engineered elements to control erosion and shallow instability. It suits watercourses, batters and landscaped slopes where a hard structural solution is unnecessary, visually intrusive or environmentally unsuitable.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Erosion Control
Surface protection measures for batters, channels and disturbed ground during and after construction.
Slope Stabilisation
Treatment of shallow instability using vegetation, matting and surface reinforcement.
Vegetated Reinforcement
Combined root-zone and geosynthetic reinforcement for durable surface stability.
Soil & Vegetation Systems
Topsoil, growing medium and species-suitability advice matched to the underlying soil profile.
Sustainable Drainage / Erosion Solutions
Vegetated swales, filtration and flow-control measures that reduce erosion at source.
09
Landslide Services
Assessment, monitoring and remediation of unstable and failed slopes.
Landslides and slope failures need a clear answer to three questions: what moved, why it moved, and what will stop it moving again. We investigate the failure mechanism, assess the risk to people and property, and design remediation sized to the actual instability rather than the worst case.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Landslide Investigation
Mapping of the failure surface, ground profile and groundwater conditions behind the movement.
Landslide Risk Assessment
Assessment of likelihood and consequence for buildings, roads and people below and above the slope.
Slope Failure Remediation Design
Regrading, drainage, soil nails, anchors, piles or retaining solutions matched to the mechanism.
Slope Monitoring
Survey points, inclinometer and groundwater monitoring to confirm whether movement is ongoing.
Emergency Slope Advice
Rapid site attendance, stabilisation priorities and interim protection advice after a slip.
10
Retaining Wall Engineering
Design and guidance for residential and civil retaining walls.
Retaining walls need more than a wall type choice — they need earth-pressure analysis, drainage design, footing embedment and compliance with local authority requirements. GeoStructCiv selects the right wall type for the site conditions and retained height, then provides the geotechnical design, details and certification inputs your builder or certifier needs.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Wall Type Selection
Comparison of concrete sleeper, timber, reinforced concrete, block, gabion, soldier pile, sheet pile, soil nail and geogrid options against site constraints and budget.
Earth Pressure & Stability Design
Lateral earth pressure, sliding, overturning and global stability checks sized to the retained height, slope, surcharge and groundwater conditions.
Drainage Design
Agricultural drains, free-draining backfill, geotextile separation and discharge detailing to prevent hydrostatic build-up behind the wall.
Approval & Certification Support
Design documentation, footing/embedment details and certification inputs aligned with local authority and certifier requirements.
11
Excavation Design
Engineered support for temporary and permanent excavations.
Excavation design keeps deep cuts, basements and batter faces stable while work proceeds. GeoStructCiv assesses lateral earth pressures, groundwater, surcharge loads and staged construction sequencing, then designs soil nail, ground anchor, strand anchor and shoring solutions that are constructable on site.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Soil Nails
Passive reinforcement for cut faces and steep batters, designed with facing, drainage and corrosion protection appropriate to the exposure.
Ground & Strand Anchors
Active anchor and strand systems for retained excavations, including load capacity, spacing, inclination and testing requirements.
Temporary & Permanent Support
Shoring and retention concepts for temporary works or permanent walls, with clear design life and durability assumptions.
Staged Excavation & Constructability
Sequencing, surcharge and groundwater checks stage by stage so the design matches how the excavation is actually built.
12
Soil–Structure & Pipe Interaction Design
Geotechnical and structural interaction design for sewer, gas and water pipes.
Buried pipes and the ground move together. GeoStructCiv designs for soil–pipe and soil–structure interaction — loads from soil, traffic and nearby footings, settlement and ground movement — so new structures can be built over or beside sewer, gas and water pipes safely.
Request a quoteIncluded services
Build Over or Near Sewer
Engineering assessments and footing design for building over or near sewer and stormwater infrastructure in Brisbane and QLD.
Sewer & Gas Pipe Interaction
Pipe stress, strain, deflection and joint rotation checks for sewer, gas and water mains under soil and surcharge loads.
Geotechnical Interaction Design
Settlement, heave, reactive clay and excavation-induced movement effects on buried pipes.
Structural Interaction Design
Piled footings, bridging beams and pipe protection slabs designed around existing pipes.
Numerical Modelling (Plaxis)
Finite element soil–pipe–structure models to predict movement and loads before construction.
Not sure which service you need?
Describe the project in a couple of sentences. We will tell you what scope is appropriate — and what is not necessary.