Tests conducted in Kerala Engineering Research Institute(KERI)- Organisation under Chief Engineer,Investigation&Design(IDRB),Trivandrum

SOIL INVESTIGATION

• Field and laboratory investigation is required to obtain the necessary data of the soils for the successful construction of any structure at the site are collectively called soil exploration or Sub surface Investigation .
• The choice of the foundation and its depth, the bearing capacity, settlement analysis depend very much on the engineering properties of the soil .

The primary objectives of soil exploration are

• To assess the general suitability of site
• To Find the Bearing Capacity of the soil
• To select type and foundation for a given structure
• To Investigate the nature and depth of each stratum and assess required properties.
• To Predict possible difficulties and problems in site  and suggest remedial actions
• To Select a suitable construction materials in site and suggest remedial actions
• To Study shrinkage and swelling potential
• To Study ground water conditions .
• To determine the depth and nature of bed rock
• To determine the water table and its fluctuation

GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY TESTING

• Soil, the most unpredictable of all engineering materials also happens to be the most important material in civil engineering because all structures need to be founded on earth. In addition to being the founding medium, soil is also used as a material of construction. It is critical to quantify the various properties of soil in order to predict its behaviour under different loading conditions for the safe design of structures.
• Major difficulties encountered in foundation work are due to the nature of soil under different weather conditions. The behaviour of soil underneath the foundation should be studied for safe functioning of building. The investigation for any foundation engineering problem may range from a simple examination of soil to a detailed study of the soil and ground water by means of bore holes and laboratory tests on the materials encountered. The extent of the work depends on importance and foundation arrangement of structures, the complexity of the soil conditions and already available information of existing foundations on similar type of soils.

TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS

Topographic survey is simply the recording of coordinates and height data for a particular survey area. This data can be used to create spot height maps, contour maps, or more complex terrain models of the surveyed area.

Topographical Survey can help you visualise the land you intend to develop. Contours, spot levels and feature lines accurately define the ground and boundaries so that you can design with confidence

Topographical surveys will help you to make plans or maps of an area that show the main physical features on the ground, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, roads, forests or large rocks; or the various features of the fish-farm, such as ponds, dams, dikes, drainage ditches or sources of water; the difference in height between land forms, such as valleys, plains, hills or slopes; or the difference in height between the features of the fish-farm

Use of Topographic Surveying

• Producing Topographic Maps.
• Constructing Topographic (cross-sectional) profiles.
• Establishing vertical and horizontal control for accurately defining locations.