Identify the problems and difficulties that can be encountered on site.

Soil Investigation

Soil investigation obtaining data regarding the properties and characteristic of subsoil by
providing samples for testing or providing a means of access inspection. Soil investigation
involves the investigation at the surface and subsurface that acquiring all types of ground
information or data effecting design and construction of the project. It is carried out at early
of the building project (preliminary design stage).

The problem and difficulties

1. failure to discover a conflicting underground utility.

In some instances, the designer has not been given accurate utility
locations by the owner. When utility conflicts are discovered during
construction, they result in extra costs—either for redesigning the
proposed utility or relocating the existing utility—depending on
which option seems more feasible at the time of discovery.

2. excessive moisture content of the excavated soil.

Soil that contains excessive moisture will require additional

compaction effort and drying time. Those efforts and the time
associated with them are usually not considered in the contract
time limits. Absent an extensive subsurface investigation, such soil
conditions may not be known until the contractor starts its
excavation work. A designer could have forewarned the contractor
about the problems or could have incorporated lime or some other
soil treatment in the design to facilitate the drying process.

3. An inadequate subsurface investigation may fail to identify

hazardous materials.
An inadequate subsurface investigation may fail to identify
hazardous materials which require special handling for removal
and disposal. A contractor may discover materials unknown to it at
the designated excavation area and determine they are hazardous.
Because it had no prior knowledge of the presence of
contaminated material, it will not have contemplated acquiring a
special permit for its disposal, or the special handling necessary.
Consequently, the contractor’s work may be delayed while it
obtains approval of a disposal site and the disposal method.