Off To a Great Start With EDC’s Geotechnical Expertise

Engineering Design Consultants’ (EDC) geotechnical engineers play a key role in the early planning and design stages of large-scale land development, commercial building projects and residential development on sites that require specific site investigation. They identify the geological setting of a site and determine the geotechnical properties of underlying subsoil and rock strata.

Our geotechnical specialists appreciate and understand the variables of the environment, local council requirements and mitigation to minimise risks that are often unseen.

Whether you are planning a large-scale commercial development, building a new home on steep land or are required to obtain a report by a local council, our service will be tailored specifically to suit your development and budget.

By having such an extraordinary level of geotechnical expertise in-house, we can provide you with a comprehensive service from the earliest stages of your project. The entire EDC team is experienced in working alongside our geotechnical specialists and has immediate access to their skills. For you, this means fast co-operation, cost-savings and ease of communication between all our specialist engineers.

Our geotechnical engineering services are outlined below. If you require any further information or would like to speak with one of our engineers, please do not hesitate to call us on 09 451 9044.

Site investigations

We carry out site investigations for all sizes of projects. These range from small and medium residential and commercial projects that call for hand auger equipment, to large-scale commercial and land development projects that may require supervision of deeper, machine-drilled boreholes. We organise specific field and laboratory testing of subsoils and rock, engaging contractors for geophysical (using ground vibration, ground radar, magnetic or induced potential) investigations if necessary, to obtain a detailed understanding of the variability of the ground beneath a site and between exploratory hole locations. This provides a detailed understanding of the ground across the whole site.

Slope stability analysis

With our expertise in computer software to analyse the risk of future instability and our geological interpretation skills, we provide technically-sound and comprehensive advice for new developments on sloping land, and remedial work on land affected by past, present or possible future instability.

Geotechnical design

We provide specific geotechnical designs to suit specific structure and ground interaction requirements including shallow and deep foundations, mass, segmental and cantilevered retaining walls. Our geotechnical experts integrate with our structural engineering section to provide the detailed calculations, producer statements, design drawings and specifications.

Construction monitoring

We oversee earthworks projects, providing construction observation and field testing to examine and approve the progress in relation to the consent requirements. We certify the completed works and provide Producer Statements and Geotechnical Completion Reports, confirming the ground is appropriate for the foundation design. We also monitor retaining-wall construction, drainage, stormwater, sanitary and on-site wastewater disposal.

Reports

We provide geotechnical reports detailing site investigation and analysis findings, and provide comprehensive recommendations for earthworks, slope stability measures, retaining walls, and foundations, which are essential for detailed structural design and the building and Resource Consent application processes.

On-site wastewater disposal

Our geotechnical team works with our environmental engineers to carry out exploratory holes to identify soil types and suitability. This information is then compiled into a report to advise on solutions for on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems for rural developments.