Ingenious Design and Consultants — Geotechnical Services
What lies beneath matters most.
Our geotechnical team conducts thorough soil investigations and laboratory testing to give structural and foundation engineers the data they need to design with confidence.
Soil testing services
Field investigation and laboratory analysis
Borehole drilling
Rotary and percussion drilling to extract undisturbed soil and rock samples at depth
Standard penetration test
In-situ SPT to measure soil resistance and estimate bearing capacity at multiple depths
Cone penetration test (CPT)
Continuous soil profiling with friction ratio and pore pressure data for detailed stratigraphy
Soil classification and grading
Particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, and USCS classification of sampled materials
Compaction and CBR testing
Proctor compaction tests and California Bearing Ratio for road, pavement, and earthworks design
Permeability and consolidation
Falling head and consolidation tests to assess drainage behaviour and settlement potential
Chemical and contamination analysis
pH, sulphate, chloride, and hydrocarbon screening for aggressive ground assessment
Geotechnical report
Comprehensive bore logs, test results, and design recommendations for foundation engineers
Our investigation process
A structured approach from desk study to final report — so your structural engineers receive data they can act on, not just numbers they have to interpret.
Why our geotechnical team
Accredited laboratory testing
All laboratory tests are conducted under quality-controlled procedures, with results traceable to national standards — so engineers can rely on the numbers.
Directly feeds structural design
We work alongside our structural engineers from day one, tailoring the test program to exactly what the foundation design needs — no excess, no gaps.
Ground risk identification
We look beyond the numbers — identifying expansive clays, soft zones, contamination, and groundwater conditions that could affect construction cost and programme.
Fast mobilisation
Geotechnical data sits at the very start of the design critical path. We mobilise field teams quickly and turn around laboratory results without unnecessary delay.
Common questions
Unsure what investigation your site needs? We’ll advise you before any drilling begins.
When in a project should soil testing be carried out?
As early as possible — ideally before detailed structural design begins. Ground conditions directly influence foundation type, depth, and cost, and surprises discovered during construction are far more expensive to resolve.
How many boreholes does my site need?
It depends on site size, ground variability, and the structure type. We recommend borehole locations and depths based on your project brief and any existing ground data — we’ll advise a cost-effective scope before mobilising.
Do you test for soil contamination?
Yes. We carry out chemical screening for pH, sulphates, chlorides, and hydrocarbons — important for sites with a history of industrial use or where aggressive ground conditions could affect concrete and steel foundations.
Can your report be used directly by structural engineers?
Yes. Our geotechnical reports include bore logs, interpreted ground models, and design parameters — bearing capacity, settlement estimates, and foundation recommendations — structured for direct use by the structural design team.
Do you work on both small residential and large commercial sites?
Yes. We scope investigations to suit the project — a targeted two-borehole study for a residential plot or a multi-point investigation across a large commercial or industrial development.
Build with confidence
A strong building starts below the surface
Tell us about your site and our geotechnical team will design an investigation that gives your engineers exactly what they need — nothing more, nothing less.