Geotechnical Engineering

Geographical site conditions mandate the structural design and materials used for a construction project. Whether for a watershed or commercial development, it is important to establish a site’s current geological makeup and the overall effect of these conditions on a development.

Shively Geotechnical, a division of EOI, offers an expert and experienced team strongly qualified to identify and analyze subsurface conditions and to perform geotechnical studies for all types of developments within a broad spectrum of geological conditions.

Geotechnical Engineering assessments employ the following services:

Observational Method

The two-phase Observational Method starts with on-site data collection and subsurface reconnaissance and exploration. Soil and rock samples along with a review of published site geology information inform subsequent construction plans for a site.

Construction initiates the second phase of the Observational Method. Once excavation commences, more in-depth subsurface testing ascertains the validity of the first-phase test results and determines the need for any necessary modifications to the construction plan.

Foundation Design Studies

Borings are drilled at the construction site to obtain relevant soil and rock samples for geological testing. The results determine recommendations for suitable foundation types, construction design parameters and the engineering properties of the geological materials of a project site.

Slope Stability Analysis

To maximize usable ground surface, Shively Geotechnical provides slope stability assessments for embankment fills, cut slopes, new dams, impoundments and other planned slopes. In cases of slope failure, a cause-of-failure assessment informs stabilization or repair recommendations.

Coal Mine Subsidence

If not properly ascertained, abandoned mines can detrimentally affect a development’s stability. With more than 20 years of experience, EOI’s Shively Geotechnical division identifies and qualifies the risk of developing over abandoned coal mines and can assess the cause of structural damage due to the collapse of an existing coal mine.