Ground Investigation

Tetra Tech’s ground investigation services provide essential geotechnical data to support the planning, design, and delivery of infrastructure, energy, environmental, and development projects. Our expert teams deploy a wide range of site investigation techniques—drilling, trial pitting, sampling, and in-situ testing—to assess subsurface conditions and inform engineering decisions.

We combine decades of experience with digital innovation to deliver high-quality, actionable data. From remote monitoring to cloud-based reporting platforms, our solutions enhance efficiency and reduce risk across the lifecycle of a project. Our approach ensures that clients receive reliable, defensible data that supports better decision-making and contributes to long-term asset resilience.

Site Investigation Techniques

Our site investigation capabilities are tailored to suit project scale, complexity, and ground conditions, ensuring accurate geotechnical profiling.

• Borehole drilling using cable percussion, rotary, and window sampling methods
• Trial pitting for shallow investigations and geotechnical logging
• In-situ testing including standard penetration tests (SPT), cone penetration tests (CPT), and pressure meter testing
• Groundwater and gas monitoring installations

Laboratory Testing

Our accredited geotechnical laboratories provide detailed material characterisation to inform design and construction.

• Soil and rock classification and strength testing
• Contamination and leachability assessments
• Consolidation and permeability analysis
• Geochemical and geoenvironmental profiling

Instrumentation and Monitoring

We design and implement long-term monitoring strategies to manage geotechnical risks and validate design assumptions.

• Installation of piezometers, inclinometers, and extensometers
• Real-time data acquisition systems for remote access
• Longitudinal movement and settlement tracking
• Monitoring strategies for asset management and early warning

Digital Data and Project Management

Our digital tools streamline data capture, analysis, and reporting to support efficient, transparent decision-making.

• Cloud-based field data entry and validation
• Geographic information systems (GIS) and business information modelling (BIM) integration for spatial analysis
• Automated dashboards and progress tracking
• Centralised data repositories for multi-stakeholder access