If you wish to follow one of the specialist Geo-Sectors then your path is reasonably well defined for you. However, if you choose the Ground Investigation sector (as over 80% do), then there are more decisions to be made.
You will need to decide what type of employer to join. Ground Investigation companies come in all shapes and sizes and carry out different roles in an overall process. You need to choose between large, medium or small/local companies, and consider whether you want to work for a contractor, consultant, hybrid or other. To help you decide, Penguin present a summary of each company type’s role in the GI process.
Ground Investigations explained
Any landowner/client who wants to change the use of a piece of land or develop/build on a piece of land needs to know how much the development will cost. Ground conditions usually represent the greatest risk to any construction project, so a ground investigation is essential. A well-designed ground investigation can help understand both environmental and geotechnical risks by providing a well-defined ground model. The information gained through the ground investigation is used to satisfy authorities and provide information to engineers.
How does a ground investigation work?
Phase 1: Desk study and Walkover. The first phase of a ground investigation usually starts with a desk study that includes a review of all published information regarding the historical use of the piece of land and surrounding area. This helps to identify any existing geological and environmental studies. In addition, a walkover survey is completed. This information is used to help design the next stage of the Ground Investigation. Such as where to drill, test and dig, and any special requirements, with particular regard being paid to existing utilities.
Phase 2: Ground Investigations are generally intrusive investigations to assess the ground and sub surface structure (or geological profile) of a piece of land for both environmental and geotechnical purposes. This is achieved by collecting samples and information through intrusive or non-intrusive techniques for testing in the lab, or in-situ testing.
Intrusive techniques could include but are not limited to cable percussive boreholes, window sampling, rotary drilling, dynamic probing or trial pits.
In-situ testing includes CBR, plate bearing, penetration testing, density testing, soakaway testing and permeability testing.
Instrumentation and monitoring includes ground water and gases.
Report Writing
Factual Report
All of the samples are sent off to the labs and results are returned along with in-situ testing results. The numbers are compiled into a factual report, which as the name suggests reports on the uninterpreted factual findings of the ground investigation, which can be of both a geotechnical and environmental nature.
Interpretive Report
Experienced staff then use their expertise to interpret the information relevant to the project. The interpretive report will include a geo-environmental risk assessment and advice, as well as geotechnical foundation recommendations. This is where the industry splits a little. Geo-Environmental Engineers tend to provide advice on geo-environmental risks (contamination in both soil and water) and Geotechnical Engineers (ground investigation) provide advice on foundations. The combined role is often referred to as an Engineering Geologist.
Other Graduate Entry Level Routes into the Geo Industry
Remediation Contractor & Phase 3
If the Geo-Environmental information implies that the land is contaminated and legislation requires some remediation action to enable the project to go ahead, a remediation strategy is designed by the Geo-Environmental Engineer and is actioned by a Remediation Contractor.
These roles are often for large sites and may require lots of interesting travel around the UK.
Laboratory Work
Geologists are often employed by laboratories to test the samples and provide findings to the client.
Testing, Inspection, Certification & Compliance TIC.
At every stage, construction projects from pre-construction to completion need some form of construction monitoring
Ground Gas Monitoring
Ground Gas is a significant risk and with 2,700 old or existing landfill sites across England and Wales, as well as ground gas risk from old mining activity, this is a growing sector.
