Geotechnical Site Investigation and In-situ Testing

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the principles and procedures for geotechnical site investigation.
• Select the right type of in-situ testing tool.
• Be knowledgeable about the observational method in geotechnical engineering and state-of-the-art technologies used for geotechnical investigation.
• Review applications of site investigation, observational method, and in-situ testing for slopes, settlement, fills, excavations and walls.

Description

Before any structure can succeed, the ground beneath it must be properly understood. Geotechnical engineering deals with soil and rock, materials shaped by nature, inherently variable, and often unpredictable. As Terzaghi famously noted, “Nature has no contract with mathematics,” underscoring why inadequate site investigation is a leading cause of costly delays, structural failures, and legal disputes.

Over two intensive days, participants gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of geotechnical site investigation planning, execution, and interpretation. This course explores why careful observation, in‑situ measurement, and informed interpretation are essential to transforming subsurface uncertainty into reliable engineering decisions. Drawing on real-world examples and Canadian case studies, the course bridges theory and practice, emphasizing how investigation methods directly influence design assumptions, construction performance, and risk management.

Designed for professionals involved in design, construction, and project oversight, this course equips participants to reduce uncertainty, control costs, and make defensible engineering judgments grounded in sound geotechnical data. Strengthen your ability to identify hazards early, avoid common investigation pitfalls, and improve project outcomes from the ground up

Who Should Attend
Designers • Planners • Construction Managers • Geotechnical Engineers • Municipal Engineers • Contractors • Owners and Other Technical Personnel Interested in Geotechnical Site Investigation and in-situ testing of soils

Day 1: Fundamentals and Investigation Methods

Session 1: Introduction to Geotechnical Site Investigation

Definition & Objectives

• Importance of site investigation
• Site investigation objectives: stratigraphy, groundwater conditions, material properties, geotechnical hazards

Challenges & Costs

• Common geotechnical failures due to poor investigation
• Cost implications and planning considerations
• Examples of failures due to inadequate site investigation

Session 2: Site Investigation Planning & Preliminary Studies

Planning a Site Investigation

• Desk study, reconnaissance, subsurface exploration, testing, interpretation
• Required geotechnical parameters for design

Desk Study & Walkover Survey

• Literature review, geological maps, satellite imagery
• Identifying hazards, previous land use, site topography

Observational Method (Peck, 1969)

• Adaptive approach in geotechnical design

Session 3: Subsurface Exploration Methods

Preliminary vs. Detailed Exploration

• Borehole placement strategies
• Number and depth of boreholes for different projects (buildings, roads, dams)

Drilling Methods

• Trial pits & hand auger drilling
• Rotary drilling techniques (hollow-stem, solid-stem augers, tricone bits)
• Core drilling and rock coring

Session 4: In-Situ Testing Methods (Part 1)

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

• Procedure, correction factors, correlation with soil properties

Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

• CPT equipment and interpretation
• Soil classification from CPT data

Field Vane Shear Test (FVST)

• Shear strength determination in soft clays

Q&A and Discussion

Day 2: Advanced Investigation Techniques & Case Studies

Session 5: In-Situ Testing Methods (Part 2)

Pressuremeter Test (PMT)

• Menard pressuremeter and its applications

Dilatometer Test (DMT)

• Marchetti dilatometer for soil profiling

Borehole Shear Test (BST)

• Shear strength determination in situ

Session 6: Geophysical and Hydraulic Conductivity Testing

Geophysical Techniques

• Seismic refraction and reflection
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
• Electrical resistivity testing

Hydraulic Conductivity Testing

• Slug test, packer test, and pumping test
• Interpretation of permeability results

Uncertainties & Risk Management

• Geotechnical claims and litigation examples from Canada

Best Practices in Site Investigation

• Lessons learned and improving industry practices

Q&A, Discussion, and Wrap-up