Soil Consultants

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Site grading

Strategic Ground Development Plans

Site grading is the process that includes both feasibility and design studies that ultimately develop plans and specifications suitable for grading contractors to utilize appropriate equipment to excavate, create slopes and place engineered fill materials consistent with the approved plans and specifications and ultimately facilitate buildings, tanks, pipelines and bridge construction. G3Soilworks provides consulting services that can evaluate risk and provide mitigation solutions relative to engineering geologic and hydrogeologic considerations prior to grading and can also provide construction engineering geologic oversight.

Successful grading projects, whether commercial or residential, will require input from a professional team with site grading experience and the ability to develop a working strategic plan to facilitate production and reduce overlapping or redundant work efforts. Factors such as moisture levels and soil composition will be carefully considered to assess the overall scope of the project.

 

The Process

The construction team will utilize machinery such as excavators and bulldozers to prepare the surface before using a grader to create an even finish. A grader’s blade can be adjusted to the correct tilt, angle, and height to achieve accuracy and precision. G3Soilworks would not operate this equipment, but would provide engineering geologic oversight and consulting services.

Grading serves three purposes:

  • Re-forming the land to make it compatible with its intended use
  • Establishing and controlling surface and subsurface water pathways
  • Mitigating adverse engineering geologic risk (i.e. liquefaction, excessive settlement, ground faulting, slope stability to name a few)

Foundation testing for grading

Prior to construction of foundations, G3Soilworks provides density testing and other methods to ensure the soil materials the the vicinity of foundation excavations are suitable for the intended use, in accordance with the project plans and free of loose soil or debris prior to concrete placement.

 

Grading plan

Here at G3 SoilWorks, we offer all the advice you need when it comes to planning your site grading project. We’ll gather as much information as possible to find solutions to difficult problems before analyzing the information found to develop a working hypothesis for risk, engineering principles, and mitigation. We’ll then share what we’ve learned with the firm or construction company you’re working with.

Prior to the completion of a grading plan, potential risks would be identified, and reliable and defensible solutions would be provided relative to engineering geology, hard rock, hydrogeologic or other pertinent earth science considerations. Adjustment to plans are typically done prior to finalization. G3Soilworks is fully capable of completing appropriate documents and reports suitable for jurisdictional review and ultimate approval.

In regard to site grading, a good plan includes identification and mitigation of identified engineering geologic risks. The plan will also include all practices for the safe disposal of underground and surface run-off water, erosion control, slope stabilization and the minimization of long-term settlement considerations. Where necessary, facilities such as “V” ditches, water channels, retaining walls, diversions and subsurface drains will be included.

 

Site grading tools

The technology and tools needed to oversee hard rock, soil and landscape grading construction can vary. However, from a quality control and quality assurance perspective commonly used tools of G3Soilworks includes, Nuclear moisture density gauges, sand cone density apparatus, hand probes, levels, shovels, hand augers to name a few.

 

How G3 SoilWorks can help: Foundation Testing and Consulting

As ground engineering consultants, G3 SoilWorks is here to guide you on all aspects of land grading and foundation testing. Simply contact us on +1 (714) 707-3155, send an email to info@g3soilworks.com, or leave a message in our contact form to find out how we can help you.

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