Geohazard Evaluation

Assessment of potential geologic hazards, or geohazards, for a project site is an integral part of our Geotechnical services. Whether for new development or retrofitting existing structures, a delineation of geologic hazards at the site is necessary to determine the potential impact to occupational safety and capital investments made in a project.

Curved tree indicating the slow movement of soil (creep)

Potential geohazards can include (but are not limited to):

  • Ground rupture and liquefaction-induced settlement and lateral displacement strong earthquake ground motion
  • Slope movement (creep and landsliding)
  • Excessive differential settlement due to fill or poor soil conditions
  • Expansive soils

Evaluation of geohazards typically require:

  • Research of published geologic literature for the area including the project site
  • Evaluation of earthquake ground motion sources
  • A geotechnical site investigation that can explore and sample soils, groundwater, and rock to the depth necessary to adequately characterize site conditions – this almost always requires geotechnical probes and borings
  • Up-to-date analytical tools and methods to model the magnitude and direction of ground motions triggered by the hazard

Beyond the academic interest of identification and characterization of hazards, we provide our clients with:

  • The practical implications of the identified hazards
  • Alternatives for hazard mitigation including analysis of relative risk versus benefit
  • Coordination with the project structural engineer to implement mitigation in the structural design
Our Geotechnical site investigations give us the data to reasonably estimate immediate, consolidation, and liquefaction induced settlement.
We perform slope stability analyses to pinpoint geologic hazards at your project site.