Effective Site Investigation

ISBN 978-0-7277-3505-8

ICE Publishing: All rights reserved

doi: 10.1680/esi.35058.071

Appendix G
Advantages and disadvantages of some
different methods of exploration

Method of exploration Advantages Disadvantages

Desk study and Provides vital, early, relatively

walk-over survey low-cost information for
conceptual design and planning of
site investigation
An essential part of all site
investigations
Hand augering Low-cost portable equipment
Can access remote sites
Trial pit excavation Low cost
Fast mobilisation using readily
available plant
Excellent soil profiles
Can be used to investigate very
coarse soils, weak rocks, etc.
Highest-quality (block) sampling
possible
Drive sampling rig with Small track-mounted rigs have
window/windowless excellent access to ‘tight’ sites
sampling Sealed (windowless) samples good
for contaminated land
Installation of groundwater or
gas-monitoring/sampling systems
possible
Rig can also be used for dynamic
penetration testing (dynamic
penetration test, DPT; standard
penetration test, SPT)
Dynamic probing (DP) Rapid continuous dynamic
penetration testing possible with
different drop weights (DPT, SPT)
Light, easily transportable rig and
equipment
Very restricted depth of
penetration
Can only produce small disturbed
samples
Cannot be used in coarse soils and
strong ground
Potential exposure of workers to
contaminants
Limited depth
Need to dispose of arisings, if
contaminated
Health-and-safety risks associated
with pit face instability, gas and
toxic chemicals
Impossible to excavate below the
water table
Limited depths of investigation
High tube thickness may cause
excessive sample disturbance
Limited control of cross-
contamination
Hole size and stability may prevent
the installation of water/gas-
monitoring wells
Obstructions will restrict the depth
of investigation
Sampling not possible

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 Effective Site Investigation

Method of exploration Advantages Disadvantages

Dynamic probing (DP) No need for a borehole

(continued) Low exposure to contaminated
ground
Installation of groundwater- or
gas-monitoring/sampling systems
possible
Cone penetration Rapid rates of progress
testing (CPT)
Precise profiling of soil types using
a friction cone
A piezocone may be used to
enhance soil profiling, determine
groundwater conditions and
consolidation parameters
Many types of rig for different
access conditions (e.g. rail sites)
In familiar ground, can be used to
obtain most geotechnical
parameters
Small-diameter sampling (e.g.
MOSTAP) may be possible
Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)
can detect and speciate
hydrocarbon contamination
Membrane interface probe (MIP)
cone can detect oil-derived
hydrocarbons and other
contaminants via spectroscopy
Light cable percussion Modest cost
boring with tube
sampling and SPT ‘Standard’ plant for UK site
testing investigation
Capable of drilling to the required
depth (30–60 m) in most UK soil
conditions
Can take large-diameter (e.g.
100 mm) samples
Routinely used for in-situ dynamic
(SPT) testing in granular soil, stiff
clay and weak rock
Suitable for water-monitoring
wells (piezometers), and in-situ
permeability tests in permeable
ground
Rotary drilling Routinely used in the UK to
investigate rock
Can provide high-quality samples
through double/triple barrel coring
With care, can be used to obtain
very high-quality samples of stiff
clay
Rigs capable of necessary depth
may not be able to gain access to
‘tight’ sites
No guarantee that a cone will
penetrate to the required depths
Results in coarse sands and gravel
may be significantly affected by
particle size
In unfamiliar ground, needs
correlation with boring and
sampling data
No ability to install aquifer
protection measures
Relatively poor working conditions
for rig operatives
Borehole disturbance affects SPT in
sands and gravel
Cannot penetrate significant
thicknesses of rock (or concrete)
Granular fine and coarse fractions
not sampled effectively
Tube samples generally disturbed
Need for controlled disposal of
contaminated spoil
Relatively expensive, especially
reverse circulation rigs used for
high-quality stiff clay sampling
Relatively few experienced drillers
in the UK compared with light
cable percussion
Flush (especially air) can spread
contamination to different
horizons during drilling

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 Advantages and disadvantages of some different methods of exploration
Method of exploration Advantages
Rotary drilling Suitable for water-monitoring
(continued) wells and in-situ permeability
(Lugeon) tests in rock
Open holing can be used to core
through obstructions, or to reach
the rock-head before coring
Surface geophysics Low cost and high output
Useful in locating some forms of
contamination (buried oil drums,
saline intrusion, etc.)
Can be used to locate voids,
boundaries between different
types of ground, extent of fill,
location of metallic objects, and
utilities without intrusive work
Seismic (cross-hole, Can provide valuable profiles of
down-hole and surface ground stiffness
wave) geophysics
Rotary flight augering Quick and relatively cheap once
equipment has been mobilised
May be useful for installation of
instrumentation and monitoring
equipment
Sonic drilling Can penetrate most materials
quickly, including rock and
concrete
Generally no flush is required
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Disadvantages
Need to dispose of flush fluid
returns
Limited depth of penetration
Care and expert advice required in
selecting methods suitable for the
target
Background ‘noise’ can result in
significant uncertainty of
interpretation
Results can be ambiguous
Expert interpretation required
Significantly affected by noise
(vibration) from nearby plant or
traffic
Difficult to identify strata as
samples are obtained from
arisings, which are a mix of
materials from different levels
Potential for cross-contamination,
and exposure to ground
contaminants
Emerging technology, so is not yet
in widespread use
Care may be needed to avoid
sampling disturbance due to
generated heat and displacement
of soil ahead of the drill
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