Undertaking a Phase 1 Desk Study prior to ground investigation can ensure subsequent intrusive work is accurately targeted, or even precluded altogether, thus helping to keep overall costs down.
We regularly produce Contamination Desk Studies, as well as those concentrating on Geotechnical ground conditions which assess geological hazards and identify specific engineering considerations.
To ensure our reports are accurate and detailed, we interrogate a wide range of sources, including the following:
- Specialist environmental data packs
- Historical maps
- Our own, extensive, project archives
- Enquiries to Environment Agency and Local Authority Planning, Building Control and Petroleum Officers
- Library and on-line archives
- Coal mining, chalk cavity and radon records
- Unexploded Bomb risk assessment
- National borehole and trial pit records
- Published literature
Recent Case Studies
A Contamination Desk Study for a residential redevelopment at a former hospital reviewed previous ground investigation data and former land uses. We concluded that no further assessment was required to safely develop the site, thus saving the cost of unneeded investigation.
A Geotechnical Desk Study for a proposed development at the foot of a significant landslip on the south coast looked at published material, including national borehole records, to model anticipated ground conditions. Our initial slope stability recommendations for preliminary design allowed the developer to cost the engineering.