GEOGUIDES 2 & 3 http://www.cedd.gov.

hk/eng/publicat
ions/manuals/geo_publications.htm

A C S Lai

1 2

Geoguide 2

Part I – Introduction
Part II – General Considerations Stages of a Site
Investigation
Part III – Planning the Ground Investigation
Part IV – Ground Investigation Methods
Part V – Field and Laboratory Tests
Part VI – Reports and Interpretation
3 4

General Considerations General Considerations (Cont’d)

- magnitude and nature of proposed work
1. Extent – how many drillholes, trial pits - nature of site
2. Land – status, adjacent property - overall costs of a SI are low in relation to
3. Useful Information - Desk Study the overall cost of a project

4. Site Reconnaissance - cover adjacent areas – buildings, services

etc.

5 6

1
Planning The Ground Investigation

Collection and review of information required for the

planning of the project. Stages of a
Site
Obtain basic knowledge of ground conditions (Figure 1 Investigation
Geoguide 2)

7 8

0
BH1 BH3

BH1+
Fill
Fill

Residual Soil
Residual Soil
Site

Completely
BH3+ Completely Decomposed
Decomposed Granite
Granite
BH2+
Slightly
Slightly Decomposed
Decomposed Granite
0 200 m Granite
30m
9 10

0
BH1 BH2 BH3

BH1+
Fill
Fill Fill

Residual Soil
Colluvium
Residual Soil
Site
Completely
Decomposed Completely
Completely Volcanic Tuff Decomposed BH3+
Decomposed Granite
Granite
BH2+
Slightly
Fault
Slightly
Slightly Decomposed
Decomposed
Decomposed Volcanic Tuff
Granite
Granite 0 200 m
30m
11 12

2
 Desk Study

13 14

1. Topographic Maps

(Obtainable from Survey and Mapping Office,

Lands Department

Hard copy and digital form

Scale
from 1: 1 000 to 1:200 000

1:5 000 (useful as location map)

1:1 000 (useful to study detailed site topography
and development)
(http://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/mapsale/index.htm)
http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/pres/map/mapsca.html
15 16

17 18

3
 1. Topographic Maps (Con’t)
Other Useful Sources of Topographic Information
- identify ground features of engineering significance
e.g. slopes, retaining structures, tunnels, graves,
pylon, pipeline (obstruction)
Goggle Map http://maps.google.com.hk/
- adjacent properties, structures
Goggle Earth http://earth.google.com/
- Identification of works areas, storage areas. Centamap, Hong Kong Map Guide. 中原地圖
- Footpath, access for site visit (walk over survey) http://www.centamap.com/cent/index.htm

Important Note – due to rapid development in Hong

Kong, walk over survey is required to confirm the
existence of such features 19 20

2. Nautical Charts, Harbour Facilities & Layout and

Tidal Information

- for marine projects such as reclamation, degrading

construction of seawall and piers etc.

Natuical Charts
- mainly gives water depth
- obtainable from Marine Department

Harbour Facilities & Layout Plan

- gives locations of berths, mooring buoys, fairways,
anchorage and lights
- obtainable from Marine Department Natuical Chart
(http://www.hydro.gov.hk/main.htm) 21 22

2. Nautical Charts, Harbour Facilities & Layout and Tidal

Information (Cont’d)

Tidal Information

- Predicted Tide Charts & Tables at selected locations

- only the times and heights of high and low tides which
occur each day are shown.
- obtainable from Hong Kong Observatory

Harbour Facilities & Layout Plan (http://www.weather.gov.hk/tide/estation_select.htm)

23 24

4
 Tidal infomation at Quarry Bay in 2002
Predicted times and heights of high and low tides
Date Time Height(m) Time Height(m) Time Height(m) Time Height(m)
0101 0501 0.2 1150 1.4 1506 1.2 2220 2.6
0102 0546 0.2 1245 1.4 1557 1.2 2312 2.5
0103 0632 0.3 1340 1.5 1701 1.2
0104 0004 2.4 0718 0.4 1435 1.5 1806 1.3
0105 0059 2.2 0804 0.6 1529 1.6 1914 1.3
0106 0210 1.9 0851 0.7 1623 1.7 2039 1.3
0107 0355 1.7 0939 0.8 1713 1.8 2245 1.2
0108 0526 1.5 1028 1.0 1758 1.9
0109 0018 1.0 0654 1.4 1116 1.1 1837 2.1
0110 0130 0.8 0820 1.4 1203 1.1 1912 2.2
0111 0224 0.6 0926 1.4 1249 1.2 1945 2.3
0112 0311 0.5 1015 1.4 1332 1.2 2019 2.3
0113 0354 0.4 1055 1.4 1412 1.2 2054 2.4
0114 0433 0.4 1132 1.4 1450 1.2 2129 2.4
0115 0508 0.4 1207 1.4 1526 1.2 2203 2.3

25 26

3. Old Maps

– Old seawalls, stream courses, archaeological site

– Site history

– Antiquities & Monuments Office, Leisure and

Cultural Services Department

(http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/about.php)

27 28

Ordinance Map of Hong Kong in 1896

29 30

5
4. Aerial Photographs (vertical or oblique)

Oldest photos - 1924

Stereopair – 3D images

can delineate
– Topography
– Geomorphology
– Erosion
– Geology
– Photolineament
– Extent of colluvium
– Past instability
– Site development history

(http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/organisation/org_geo 31 32
_pln_serv.htm#Aerial Photograph Library)

33 34

Oblique Aerial Photo - Hong Kong (6 000’) 1996 35 Oblique Aerial Photo - Tuen Mun (4 000’) 1996 36

6
Vertical Aerial Photo - Tuen Mun (4 000’) 2000 37 Vertical Aerial Photo - Nam Chung (3 500’) 1999 38

Infrared Aerial Photo – Sai Kung (6 000’) 2008 40

Stereoscope Pocket Stereoscope

41 42

7
4. Aerial Photographs (vertical or oblique) (Cont’d)

can delineate
5. Old Photos and Publications
– Locations of boulders
– Drainage lines - Site history
– Rockhead
– Site development history - from Public Record Office, Antiquities and Monuments
Office and Libraries etc.
– Slope gradient
– Weathering
– identification of slope condition (natural, cut or
fill)
– Erosion
43 44

1880

1988

45
Ho Man Tin 1949 46

Kai Tak
1954

Kai Tak
1964

47 48

8
 Chater Hall
Conduit Road
1966

49 Po Shan Road Landslip in 1972 50

9
 5. Geological Maps (Cont’d)

Available at three scales in Hong Kong

5. Geological Maps
1:50 000 - Allen & Stephen, (1971)
- provide geological information of the site - outdated

1:20 000 - Hong Kong Geological Survey, Geotechnical Engineering Office

- used as a basis for evaluating the likely influence of the local
geology on the proposed works and in the selection of the GI (since 1982)
methods. show a regional interpretation of geology (does not necessarily
show the important variations in lithology and structure occur on

site)

1:5 000 - Hong Kong Geological Survey, Geotechnical Engineering Office

North Lantau and marble areas (Yuen Long, Ma On Shan)
51 52

5. Geological Maps (Cont’d)

Geology – surface geology (distribution of rock types)
- rock type (lithology) (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)
- joint pattern – geological structure
- extent of fill
- extent of colluvium
- geological structures joints, faults, bedding planes
- metamorphic zone
- degree of metamorphism
- contact between different rock types
- marine deposit – thickness, type
- reclamation
- marble
- stratigraphy (geological history)

53 54
http://www.fossilshk.com/scale.html

1:20 000 Geological Map - Lantau Island

General Geological Map of Hong Kong 55 56

1
 Geological Section

57 Structural Geological Map of Hong Kong 58

6. Geological Memoirs

Describe the solid and superficial geology

– lithology

– distribution of rock types

– relationship between rock types

– engineering geology problems

– marble

– fault zone

– hydrothermal alteration area – clay seam, relict joint

(http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/publications/services/index
.htm) 59 60

The Geology of Hong Kong (Interactive On-line)

http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/organisation/org_geo_pln_map.htm

61 62

2
Geological Advisory Services

The Planning Division provides a geological consultative 7. Geological Data

service to all Government departments, the private sector and
the general public. Geological Society of Hong Kong Newsletters

The service includes advice on engineering geological aspects Engineering Geology – Geological Society of London
of land use planning and development in Hong Kong,
particularly where such aspects may pose a significant
constraint on project feasibility or public safety.

(http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/organisation/org_geo_pln_cont.htm)
63 64

8. Geotechnical Area Studies Program (GASP)(Cont’d)

5 maps derived
8. Geotechnical Area Studies Program (GASP)
i) Landform Map – summarise the geomorphology
- based on terrain classification techniques using aerial photographs information into easily read form
supplemented by site mapping
ii) Erosion Map – broad pattern of erosion or slope instability
- give regional geotechnical information for territory-wide planning
purposes iii) Physical Constraint Map – general physical constraints
which affect the terrain
- provide a basis for engineering feasibility studies of large sites.
iv) Geotechnical Land Use Map – compiled from the above
- 1:20 000 scale map map to give general information on the geotechnical difficulty
for development. Designed for use by non-technical users.

v) Engineering Geology Map – shows geological and site

investigation data
65 (http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/publications/studies_programme/index.htm) 66

67 68

3
 69 70

71 Base Map Terrain Classification Map 72

Landform Map Erosion Map

73 74

4
 Physical Constraints Geotechnical Land
Map Use Map

75 76

9. Existing GI Records

Geotechnical Information Unit (GIU) - LG1 Civil

Engineering and Development Building

- a collection of GI & Lab testing reports

- also GIU contains records of landslides, rainfall at
Engineering piezometric data.
- computer data search system based on input of map
Geology Map coordinates
- GI records – for establishment of geological profile
- geological structure
- groundwater level
- laboratory testing
- soil parameters
77 78

Geotechnical Information Unit

Geotechnical Information Unit (GIU)
The following GIU materials are among those
available for inspection by the public:
Established in 1983
Ground investigation reports, including geophysical
Forms part of the CEL and houses a
surveys
comprehensive collection of geotechnical
data from ground investigations throughout
Reports on the laboratory testing of soil and rock and
the Hong Kong SAR.
chemical & biological testing

Landslip record cards

5
 Geotechnical Information Unit Digital Geotechnical Information Unit (DGIU)

Piezometric monitoring data
An inventory of landslides on natural terrain
Location plans for government slopes and hillside
catchments which have been upgraded and mitigated
or which are included in current Works contracts
under Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme
(LPMitP).
System is available for fast retrieval of these reports in
the CEL and developed to replace GILS
Launched in July 2009
This system has a GIS engine to support spatial and
textual searches to help users locate the needed
information efficiently, and to view and print digital GI
reports

A user’s manual for the DGIU is provided in the CEL.

Digital Geotechnical Information Unit

Over 46,000 GI and Lab Testing reports kept in the

GIU

Over 40,000 reports are in pdf format and can be

retrieved from DGIU

Conversion of the remaining printed reports to

electronic format is on-going

83

Digital Geotechnical Information Unit

GInfo

http://ginfo.cedd.hksarg/arcgisweb/admin/homepage.aspx#

6
 Digital Geotechnical Information Unit

87

10. Enhanced Natural Terrain Landslide Inventory

(ENTLI)

The ENTLI contains information on over 108,985 Enhanced Natural Terrain Landslide Inventory
landslides occurred on natural terrain. (ENTLI)

Comprehensive information is recorded in GIS The ENTLI is available for inspection as 1:5 000
System for each landslide record including the dates scale map sheet paper copies in the CEL and the
of the aerial photographs when the landslide was first digital copy of the data is by the PTE Section
observed, width and length of the landslide scar, slope
gradient, and nature of vegetation cover across the
landslide source.

Enhanced Natural Terrain Landslide

Inventory (ENTLI) Updating

Previous Update – up to 2006 aerial photos

This Update – 2007, 2008 & 2009 aerial

photos

7
11. Construction Records

Seawall – as built drawing (geometry, materials

etc.)

Foundation - location of piles, foundation levels

Slope installation - ground anchors, soil nails,

horizontal drains.

Slope movement records – tell-tale, inclinometer-

monitoring records

93
Tell-tale 94

Retaining Wall -
Tell-tales at The L-Bend,
Hong Kong
University Hong Kong University

95 96

11. Construction Records (Cont’d)

Slope and Retaining Walls

All man-made slope and retaining wall information is containing in a
computerised Slope Information System (SIS) maintained by GEO

(http://hkss.cedd.gov.hk/hkss/index.htm)

Retaining wall - Hong Kong University 97 98

8
 10. Construction Records (Cont’d)
Tunnel and disused tunnels (alignment & conditions) -
GEO
Private Buildings - Building Department
Government Buildings - Architectural Services
Department
Quarries and Mines – GEO
Road and road tunnels –Highways Department
Landfills – EPD
Sewerage pipes – Drainage Services Department
Electricity cables, Gas pipes, telephone cables, cable TV
99 etc 100

11. Other useful Information (Cont’d)

11. Other useful Information
Land Use (Planning Department)

Land Matters (Lands Department) (http://www.pland.gov.hk/)

(http://www.landsd.gov.hk/) Outline Zoning Plan (OZP)

- Lease and Engineering Conditions – prepared by Town Planning Board

- Layout of site – shows the proposed land-use zoning and major systems of

- Site boundary individual planning scheme areas

Development Permission Areas (DPA)

Environmental Restriction (Environmental Protection Department) - prepared for an area not previously covered by OZP

- land use information not as detailed as an OZP

(http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/)
- serve as a control to unauthorized development in the rural

area
101 102

12. Other GEO Publications

GEO Technical Gudiance Note No. 5
(http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/publications/index.htm)
Issue No. 4 (issued on 28.9.2009)

Many useful documents can be obtained, such as: Geoguide 2-Guide to Site Investigation
GEO Technical Guidance Notes Updated Appendix B: Sources of Information
http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/publications/guid
GEO Reports ance_notes/index.htm
Standards, Specifications and Handbooks
Information on Laboratory Testing

103 104

1
 Cut Slope - Kwai Chung

Cut Slope - Kwai Chung

105 106

Site Reconnaissance Site Reconnaissance (Cont’d)

Confirm and supplement the information gather from desk study
- Site accessibility
- Topography – gradient
- Drainage pattern possible environmental impact – wetland, mangrove, birds
- Geology – lithology, thickness of soil mantle
- Graves, temples, Tse Tong

- Rock joints - Vegetation – tree survey

- Catchwater – possible diversion
- Weathering
- Access road - future land access
- Fault zones
- Existing structures

- Fill - Illegal occupation of land

- Availability of water and electricity
- Erosion
- Possible objection to the development (village visit)
- Potential geotechnical hazard
107 108

Walk over survey - Penny’s Bay Walk over survey - Lamma Quarry
109 110

2
 Ground Investigation
Purposes:
Site Reconnaissance (Cont’d) (a) Recovering soils and rocks for establishment of geological profiles,
weathering intensity
Need (b) Field Installation - Piezometers (Water Pressure)
- Observation Wells (Water Levels)
Note book - Inclinometers (Slope Movements)
Compass clinometer (c) Sampling
Global Positioning System (GPS)
(d) Field Testing - Standard Penetration Test (N Values)
Tape measure
- Permeability Tests (Falling, Rising or Constant Heads)
Topographic map
Aerial photos - Impression Packer
Pocket stereoscope - Vane Shear Test
Camera - Dynamic Probe
- Sand Replacement (in Trial Pits)

111 112

School

School

113 114

115 116

3
117 118

119 120

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

GUIDANCE NOTE – October 2007
Guidance Note for Contaminated Land Assessment and
Remediation
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/envir_standards/non_sta
tutory/files/GN_for_land_contamination_e.pdf

http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/environmentinhk/waste/g
uide_ref/files/gmc.pdf

121 122

4
 123
125
(i) Soil Testing – Background (Cont’d)
Laboratory Testing
(i) Soil Testing - Background
The current international standards for soil testing
are based on classical soil mechanics, which has
been developed mainly for sedimentary,
transported and re-deposited soils.
Modification of these standards are needed for use
on tropical soils formed by in-situ weathering of
rock.
127
124
126
The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) embarked
on a study of BS 1377 (BSI, 1990), with a view to
adapting it for use in Hong Kong in the early 1990s.
GEO Report No. 36 (GEO, 1994), which describes
recommended procedures for nineteen “Phase I soil
tests”, was issued.
GEO Report No. 36 subsequently became the standard
reference specified by the Works Bureau (Hong Kong
Government, 1994) and the Building Department
(Hong Kong Government, 1996).
128
5
 (i) Soil Testing – Background (Cont’d)

In the late 1990s GEO carried out a second phase of

study to expand the scope of the Phase I soil tests
and to include the soil shear strength and http://www.c
compressibility tests (viz. the “Phase II soil tests”). edd.gov.hk/e
ng/publicatio
Geospec 3, which has been issued contains thirty- ns/geo/manu
two standard procedures for Phase I tests and seven _eg3.htm
standard procedures for Phase II tests.

129 130

Rock Tests

Determination of Point Load Strength of Rocks

ASTM D 5731-95

an index test intended to be used in rock classification or as

an indirect estimation of uniaxial compressive strength.

131 132

Determination of Unconfined Uniaxial Compressive

Strength

ASTM D2938-95.

Unconfined compressive strength of rock is used in many

design formulas and is sometimes used as an index to
select the appropriate excavation technique.

133 134

6
 Determination of Direct Shear Strength of Discontinuities

ASTM D5607 – 95

Determination of shear strength of a rock discontinuities is an

important aspect in the design of structures such as rock slopes,
dam foundations, underground structures and other rock
structures.

135 136

Constant
Normal Load

Gap
Encapsulating
5 mm min. material Water
0.2 L min.

Pinned
Shear Rock reaction
load Joint load

Encapsulating
material
Test horizon

Linear bearing

A schematic of an example shear box

137 138

GI Reports

139 140

7
 141 142

http://www.cedd.g
ov.hk/eng/publicati
ons/manuals/manu
_eg3.htm

143 144

Geoguide 3
Part I – Introduction
Part II – Description of Rocks
Part III – Description of Soils
Part IV – Engineering Classifications of Rocks and Soils
Part V – Legend for Maps, Plans and Diagrams
Appendices
Glossary

145 146

8
Description of Rocks
Rock Materials
Rock Strength
Material Characteristics – rock samples & cores
(other structural features not normally considered (Table 2, Geoguide 3)
unless spacing less than 200mm
Uniaxial Compressive Strength Test
1. Strength
Point load Test
2. Colour
Field Identification
3. Texture and Fabric
4. Weathering and Alternation Extremely Weak, Weak, Strong
5. Rock Name
147 148

Rock Colour
Parameters
Value - Light, Dark
Chroma - Pinkish, reddish
Hue - Green, Brown

149 150

Rock

Texture and Fabric

Size, shape of component grains or crystals and
relationship between them
Grain size – fine, medium, coarse

151 152

9
 Porphyritic Texture in Feldsparphyric Rhyolite
Equigranular Texture in Granite
153 154

Weathering and Alternation

Mechanical – fracturing
Chemical – hydothermal alteration
0.06-2mm 2-6mm 6-20mm

Grainsize
155 156

Calcite filled Fractures in Limestone Hydrothermal Alteration in Volcanic Rock

157 158

1
Rock Material Weathering
Classification of Decomposition Grades
Grade I, II, II, IV, V & VI

Grade VI – Residual Soils

Saprolite – Soil retains original rock
texture i.e Grade IV & V

159 160

Description of Rock Mass

1. Structural
2. Discontinuities
3. Rock Mass Weathering

161 162

Rock Mass
Structure - Larger scale
Laminations in
Lamination Sandstone
Bedding
Foliation

163 164

2
 Bedding
Planes
Limestone

Foliation in Phyllite
165 166

Rock Mass – Field Exposure

Discontinuities
Joints
Faults
Description : Orientation (dip/dip direction, Spacing,
Roughness, Aperture, Infilling, Seepage, Fracture
State)

167 168

169 170

3
Rocks

Fracture State Fracture State (Cont’d)

- A number of indices can be used for quantitative
description of the fracture state of the rock mass as
determined from borehole cores.
- These are Total Core Recovery, Solid Core Recovery,
Rock Quality Designation and Fracture Index.
- These indices should be used whenever possible to
supplement the description of discontinuities in rock
core.
- Only natural geological fractures should be taken into
account for the description of fracture state.
- Artificial fractures produced, for example, by drilling or
blasting should be excluded from the assessment
- A generally smooth or weathered surface, or a surface
coated with infill materials such as calcite or kaolin,
clearly indicates a natural discontinuity.

171 172

(a) Total Core Recovery, TCR (%)

Solid core
- is the percentage ratio of core recovered (whether solid,
- is the key term to be defined in the assessment intact with no full diameter, or non-intact) to the total
of fracture state. length of core run.

- regarded as core with at least one full diameter (b) Solid Core Recovery, SCR (%)
(but not necessarily a full circumference)
measured along the core axis between two natural - is the percentage ratio of solid core recovered to the
fractures. total length of core run.

- On the basis of this definition, the four (c) Rock Quality Designation, RQD (%)
quantitative fracture indices are defined as
follows : - is the total length of solid core pieces, each greater than
100 mm between natural fractures, expressed as a
173 percentage of the total length of core run. 174

(d) Fracture Index, FI (No./m run)

- is the number of clearly identifiable fractures per metre

run of intact core pieces, measured over core lengths of
reasonably uniform character.

- This index does not necessarily apply to whole core runs.

- If there is marked change in fracture frequency during a

core run, the fracture index should be calculated for each
part of the run separately.

- The term 'non-intact' (NI) should be used when the core is

fragmented.

- Additional detail can be given by quoting the maximum,

mean and minimum length of core pieces recovered for
any core length of reasonably uniform character.
175 176

4
 Faults

A geological fault is a planar rock fracture

which shows evidence of relative
movement.

177 178

Rock Mass Weathering

Complex weathering profiles

Zonal classification schemes

Geological Fault
179 180

Rock Mass Weathering

181 182

5
 183 184

Rock Name
Igneous Rocks – grainsize, orgin & composition
Appendix to Geoguide 3
Intrusive - fine, medium, coarse
Nature and Occurrence of Hong Kong Rocks
e.g. Fine-graine granite (0.06-2mm, quartz rich,
and Superficial Deposits
intrusive rock)
Volcanic – Lapilli tuff, fine ash-tuff
http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/publications/geo/doc/eg3_appendices.pdf
Sedimentary Rocks – grainsize, conglomerate,
sandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Metamorphic Rocks – schist, marble, quartzite
185 186

Description of Soils
Material Characteristics
1. Strength
2. Colour
3. Particle Shape and Composition
4. Soil Name

187 188

6
Soil Strength
Granular Soils
Loose, dense – use SPT N values
Cohesive Soils – use vane shear test values
Soft, Firm, Stiff

189 190

Soil - Colour Soil Particle Shape and Composition

Parameters
Value - Light, Dark Form – elongate, flat
Chroma - Pinkish, reddish Angularity – angular, subangular
Hue - Green, Brown Surface Texture – smooth, rough

191 192

Soil Name
Clay, silt, gravel
Based on particle size distribution and
plasticity properties

193 194

7
 195 196

Description of Soils
Mass Characteristics
Soil Structure
1. Structure
2. Discontinuities
Bedding in superficial deposits
3. State of Weathering
Relict joints
4. Soils derived from insitu rock weathering
5. Colluvium
6. Fill
197 198

Alluvium
199
Relict Joints 200

8
 State of Weathering
Discontinuities
Bedding Plane
Transported Soils - Alluvium and colluvium
Lamination
Generally limited to old Alluvium and colluvium in
Fissure Hong Kong
Relict joints Weathering of fragments, minerals, discoloration,
cracking

201 202

Colluvium
Soils derived from insitu rock weathering
Mass wasting deposits
Saprolites – Grade IV, V , retain original rock texture Formed by rapid downslope movement
Structureless
Residual Soils – Grade VI, no original rock texture

203 204

Fill

Manmade deposits
Layers
Foreign Materials

Colluvium 205 206

9
Fill End

207 208

10