Geotechnical

Geotechnical engineering evaluates the behaviour of soil, rock and groundwater to ensure safe, stable and efficient construction. It underpins:

• Foundation design (e.g. spread footings vs. piles, allowable bearing pressures)
• Earthworks and compaction (ensuring settlement and performance)
• Slope stability and retaining structures (preventing slips and failures)
• Pavement and subgrade design (durability of roads and hardstands)
• Risk management (identifying geohazards like expansive clays, fill, acid sulfate soils)

In Sydney and NSW, variable ground conditions – from Triassic shales and sandstones to coastal sands and alluvial deposits – require experienced local insight to make sure the best construction solution is adopted. Spending money upfront and getting the ‘foundation right’ for your project also avoid cost overruns, construction delays and post-construction performance issues.

We deliver end-to-end geotechnical services, including:

• Desktop reviews and geotechnical risk screening
• Drilling, sampling and in-situ testing (SPT, CPT, DCP, shear/plate load tests)
• Borehole logging and stratigraphy modelling
• Laboratory testing (Atterberg limits, PSD, compaction, CBR, UCS, triaxial, permeability)
• Foundation and footing recommendations (bearing capacities, settlement analysis)
• Slope stability analysis (limit equilibrium modelling, remediation options, working with and directing stabilisation contractors)
• Retaining and earthworks advice (temporary/permanent support, compaction specs)
• Pavement design and subgrade assessments
• Construction phase services (earthworks verification, density testing, inspections) All advice adheres to relevant Australian Standards and state/local guidelines.

Yes. We operate comprehensive in‑house geotechnical laboratories located in Seven Hills, Wollongong and the Gold Coast. Our labs are NATA‑accredited and equipped with advanced geotechnical, geo‑environmental and materials testing systems. This allows us to deliver high‑quality, repeatable and fast‑turnaround results that support design, construction, mining and infrastructure programs.

Our laboratory capabilities include:

Soil Testing

We provide a full suite of geotechnical soil characterisation tests essential for design, classification and construction control, including:

• Atterberg limits, moisture content, particle size distribution
• Standard and Modified Proctor compaction
• CBR (California Bearing Ratio)
• Permeability (falling head, constant head, triaxial permeability)
• Shrink–swell behaviour, linear shrinkage, plasticity index
• Emerson class number, dispersivity/pinhole erosion testing
• Geo‑environmental testing for contaminated soils and geosynthetics (e.g., interface shear, swell index, consolidation of contaminated specimens)

These tests support geotechnical design, foundation assessments, pavement design and bulk earthworks quality assurance.

Rock & Aggregate Testing

Our rock mechanics specialists deliver testing for civil structures, mining and quarry assessments, including:

• UCS (uniaxial compressive strength) – soil, rock and concrete
• Point load testing (axial, diametral)
• Indirect tensile strength (Brazil test)
• Direct shear of intact rock and discontinuities
• Rock durability indices (slake durability)
• Rock modulus and Poisson’s ratio
• Aggregate grading, bulk density and conformance testing

These services help characterise strength, deformability and long‑term performance of rock and aggregate materials.

Construction Materials Testing

We support civil construction projects with materials conformance testing to Australian Standards, TfNSW, ASTM and ISRM methods, including:

• Pavement subgrade/support assessment
• Base and subbase compliance testing
• Concrete compressive strength
• Soil stabilisation testing
• Thermal resistivity, conductivity
• Chemical parameters (pH, chloride, sulphate, organic content)

Our laboratory teams and specialist geomechanical section provide rapid, accurate compliance data for critical construction decision‑making.

Earthworks & On‑Site Testing

To keep construction programs progressing, we offer:

• Field density testing (nuclear gauge, sand replacement)
• In‑situ compaction verification
• Level 1 and Level 2 AS3798 supervision
• TfNSW Level 3 accredited earthworks testing
• Foundation inspections, test rolls, stripping checks
• Pavement and drainage testing, Benkelman beam assessments

Our workflows use industry‑leading CMT software and paperless systems to deliver fast reporting, productivity gains and smooth end‑of‑month invoicing.

Speciality and Advanced Testing

As one of Australia’s leading specialty geomechanics laboratories, we deliver:

• Consolidated, undrained and drained triaxial testing (UU, CU, CD)
• Unsaturated soil mechanics testing (SWCC, axis translation, unsaturated triaxial)
• Consolidation with creep, rebound, customised load paths
• Triaxial permeability with contaminated fluids/toxic interfaces
• XRD mineralogy, petrography, SIROQUANT
• Acid sulphate and acid mine drainage testing (SPOCAS, NAPP, NAG)
• Bespoke, project‑specific testing programs for research or complex design inputs

Our technical specialists regularly develop custom testing methodologies to solve unique engineering challenges.

Our Commitment

Across all locations, we prioritise:

• High quality and repeatability
• Industry‑leading technical capability
• Rapid turnaround for time‑sensitive programs
• Clear, practical reporting tailored to engineer and contractor needs

Our team of geotechnical engineers, scientists and specialist laboratory managers ensures every project receives expert attention from sampling through to final reporting.

Yes. We provide desktop reviews, risk screening and targeted site investigations for due diligence, helping developers and investors understand foundation risks, earthworks volumes, contamination potential and likely design constraints before committing.

We regularly work alongside structural engineers, civil designers, planners, certifiers and builders. Our reports and ongoing advice are structured to integrate with other engineering disciplines, your design development, tender documentation, and construction methodologies.

Helpful inputs include: site address, proposed structure layouts/loads, earthworks plans, access constraints, previous reports, program dates, and council or certifier requirements. We’ll confirm a sampling plan and test schedule that fits your budget and timeline.

You can request a quote in three quick ways:

1. Call our team at your nearest office (Seven Hills, Wollongong, Gold Coast)
2. Email project details (site address, scope, timelines, drawings if available)
3. Submit an online enquiry via our website contact form

To speed up pricing, include: site location, project type (e.g., DA, CC, detailed design, construction), desired testing/assessment, key dates, and any previous reports. We’ll respond quickly with a clear scope, deliverables, and turnaround times.