Geophysical Survey Services

Non-Destructive and Effective Geophysical Surveys

Geophysical surveys enhance our subsurface explorations, by determining soil and rock properties, with minimal destructive testing or invasive exploration. They can reduce the risk of surprises during construction and can also supplement or even accelerate data acquisition of a conventional subsurface exploration program consisting of soil borings and test pits.

The additional information obtained using geophysical methods at your site can serve to reduce the potential for unknown or changed subsurface conditions, which can lead to costly construction overruns and project delays. ECS’ investment in technology, equipment and training, is meant to make your projects more cost efficient, with fewer surprises.

Geophysical surveys are non-destructive, non-intrusive technologies applicable in most geologies that expand our subsurface exploration methods and analytical tools. We utilize different technologies to explore known or suspected subsurface anomalies, gauge depth to rock and to determine the soil shear wave velocity parameters, site seismic classification and more.

Optimal Scenarios for Applying Geophysical Surveying

Geophysical surveys can be valuable for a wide range of construction projects. These assessments are especially useful for areas with unpredictable surface and soil behaviors. These areas might include regions prone to earthquakes, construction sites located on or near slopes and areas close to bodies of water. 

Geophysical surveying is recommended during the planning stage of a process to uncover all the information you need for construction. Surveys can be conducted after a building is complete, but in this application, they are typically only used to analyze failures and determine where a project went wrong. A well-timed survey enables crews to get ahead of failures before they happen and assess the ground before building.

Typical parameters geophysical surveys can reveal include:

• Thickness of soil layers
• Physical properties of these layers
• Layer variability
• Structures underground
• Presence of contaminants, utilities and other human-made substances

These factors are all standards in the construction process, but geophysical surveys can reveal more in-depth information about a site’s surface than a standard subsurface exploration. Using geophysical surveying methods can remove uncertainties about your project, like how the ground will behave in seismic activity and how to lay out your structure for the longevity of the investment.

Geophysical surveys also play a role in our value engineering services. When you need to reduce costs while retaining function, ECS can use these surveys to determine the right materials and methods for your project. These assessments can help us find the most cost-effective choices for the final product. Geophysical surveying as a service is also cost-effective given the value of the information we can gain for the ease of the process.