Engineering Considerations of
Subsurface Investigations
1. Subsurface investigations provide detailed information about
the depth and thickness of various soil and rock units, depth to
groundwater table and depth of bedrock.
2. Inadequate subsurface investigations can result in increased
cost, delays in the construction schedule, and, in some cases,
failure of the structure.
3. Where alternate sites are considered such as dams etc.,
subsurface investigation can provide the basis for final site
selection
4. Samples of various soil and rock units obtained during the
investigation are used for determining the relevant engineering
properties required for stability analysis.
5. If any problems may arise after the construction of the
structure, detailed information about subsurface conditions is
necessary to investigate the causes.
6. Records of subsurface investigations are needed for legal
cases involving partial or complete failure of an engineering
structure.
End of Topic