GOL project: Final Paper

ID Name
1093925 Moustafa Ahmed Nouseir
1089542 Mohammad Rami
1090407 Saad Hussein Alarby

 Introduction:
Exploration and interpretation of subsurface geological and geophysical
characteristics are considered as key activities which add to our
understanding and knowledge about geological formation, geological
resources appraisal and environmental mitigation. These tests are crucial in
the investigation of Earth's subsurface properties and structures.
Furthermore, they play a significant role in collecting essential data to
understand geological formations and assist in the assessment of natural
resources, environmental, and geotechnical hazard mitigation.

 Geological Tests
In the construction industry, geological and geophysical investigations are
carried for various reasons. The exploration of resources is one of the
examples where prospective studies are used to identify mineral, oil, gas,
and water beneath the earth. Knowing where the major underlying faults are
and an understanding of the geology helps companies and governments
decide where to drill or where to mine and geophysical tools can detect
anomalies in the buried faults. In other terms, the care of the environment,
which is deeply connected with the geological and geophysical realms,
depends heavily on the knowledge of geology for the minimization of both
localized and regional geological and geophysical events, which are among
the most severe catastrophic phenomena, and most menacing for the
preservation of the ecosystem. The findings could help scientists to
understand the geological features of an area, and thereby assess how
human activities — such as construction, mining, waste disposal and others
— affect the natural environment. Various Geological and Geophysical tests
must be carried out before constructing anything on the site to ensure site
safety and stability. Construction-related applications include site
characterization to determine subsurface conditions, soil testing and rock
mechanics relating to the evaluation of rock strength. Seismic risk
assessments pinpoint fault lines and seismic activity, and geophysical
surveys employ ground-penetrating radars and other techniques to identify
sub-surface anomalies. Hydrogeological Analysis looks at the flow of water
underground, controlling water-related problems, while Environmental Impact
Assessment aims to guarantee sustainability. When combined, they give an
insight on the whole site, and then we know how to proceed with making a
construction site safer and more effective.
Soil sampling or soil boring are used for different purposes all over the world
in direct relation with construction, environmental assessment and
agriculture planning, this work will focus mainly on the analysis of soil
properties and the evaluation of subsurface conditions. Technically, soil
boring involves the drilling of holes into the ground to obtain an accurate
sample of the soil that would later be used to conduct tests to determine the
properties of the soil – texture, porosity, if it can retain water, and so on.
Basically, taking a small portion of sample or piece of sample to get tested is
soil sampling, simply testing the nutrient content and is in contrast to other
tests. It can be even tested for chemical, physical and biological properties,
which are very important factors affecting the in condition of the plant. For
example, during riprap evaluation, soil boring may be used to survey the soil
by securing many superficial cores of the sediment. In this type, drilling
jacket or jack-up rig are supported by soil and drilling will be implemented
into the ground. Conventional Soil BoringsTraditional soil boring after
material from the dislikes area, is used to ascertain the subsurface soil profile
& Specific gravity of soil. Alternatively soil sampling is also used to determine
the chemical and physical conditions of soil in a given location. In this way,
useful information for the optimization of plant growth is obtained, to provide
for the solution of problems related to soil or to better define the size of the
area contaminated for a plan of remediation.

Data from soil sampling and boring are differently applicable. A sample of
soil is tested and analyzed to study the nutrients, the ph levels and the soil
composition thereby helping farmers decide the correct fertilizer and crop
management strategies to be employed to ensure the proper growth and
maximum yield from the plant. It gathers information on ground stiffness and
consolidation, leading to the best foundation-time investment for security
and stabilization of structures. But soil boring is used by site engineers to
plan construction, and environmental assessments. In a nutshell, it is
necessary for safety, stability, and longevity of a civil engineering project.

 Geophysical Tests
One type of geophysical test are seismic surveys which are a type of
geophysical test used to investigate the ground conditions to considerable
depths and over large areas. It has application in a wide variety of
applications, including mineral exploration. The impulse goes into the motion
vibrating the ground that restricts it and as a result it generates seismic
waves in the subsurface that reflect or refract every time a geological
confines are experienced. They are used to map out sites for landfills, to
determine how much an area will shake during an earthquake, that solves
another problem, most of them are used for oilandgas exploration. Influence
decisions in construction, resource management, and hazard mitigation
across a diversity of applications, ranging from geophysics to engineering.
Seismic Surveys are based on shooting reflected sound waves into the Earth
to create a "CAT scan" of the planet underground. Seismic surveys are vital
for both finding and assessing potential oil and gas reserves by creating
detailed images of the layers that lie beneath the Earth's surface. This
process not only drives the energy market but also greatly supports business
growth in several ways.

Seismic surveys are normally carried out on land and in the ocean, the
service is in fact referred to and engaged principally by the oil and gas
sector, they utilize it to find gas and oil reserves on the land and on sea.
Globally, seismic surveying has been proven as an effective method for
almost 100 years, and our understanding and knowledge of it continues to
increase. ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, and the like are the conductors that
the seismic surveys love to roll out on a daily basis. They use it to pinpoint
the diameter of drilling and check the scope, depth and features.

Case Study: Geological and Geophysical Tests Investigation for a High-Rise

Building in Abu Dhabi

The site:
The designated site for a tall building in Abu Dhabi’s central business district, near the coast, is
characterized by complicated substructure conditions. The subsurface investigation yielded a
profile with three soil layers – loose to medium dense sand, with a low compressive resistance, at
five meters; medium dense to dense sand with intermittent clay and silt, at a depth of twenty
meters; and finally, at a level of twenty and 30 meters, hard shell limestone. The groundwater
level is high, down at two meters. The results from the SPT revealed an increasing level of soil
resistance to the advancing borehole. Geophysics techniques, such as seismic reading and
electrical conductivity readings, showed the transition to a hard shell at a level of 20 m.
Therefore, it was suggested that to build a tall building on that designated site one would need to
do the following: include an exceptionally long stake foundation, that would reach and terminate
in the hard shell, sump pumps to remove the water and the rock cleaning machinery.

Performed Tests and Results:

1. SPT(Standard Penetration Test )
Method: At 1.5 m distance compared to find the resistance of the soil.
 Results: N-values in the plastic 2nd fill (0-5 meters) were 10-20, clayey 1st fill (5-20
meters) 30-50, limestone bedrock (20-30 meters) N-values exceeded 50. These little
values mean rising level of density and power of soil with elevation.

2. Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

A Procedure: To get Dynamic Soil profile of resistance
Results: They recorded a detailed stratigraphy, which confirmed the presence of loose to medium
dense sand at the ground surface, then to dense sand interbedded with silt and clay, and lastly
into a stiff limestone. The CPT data agreed with the SPT results that the soil becomes stronger
with increasing depth.

3. Grain Size Analysis

Process: Gravity dried soil; sieved soil for particle size analysis.
Results: Division of soils in to well graded sands, poorly graded sands, silts and clays The sand
was the dominant particle class on the top layers and some silty lenses were observed, whereas
the particles on the middle layers were finer.

4. Atterberg Limits
Methodology: Assessed the fine-grained soil samples, for plasticity characteristics.
Results: The intermediate layers containing silts and clays had a low to medium plastic state
which is a sign of a moderate problem of volume change with changing moistures.

5. Consolidation Tests
Method: Soil Test for Compressibility Under Load
Results: The silt and clay layers were of moderate compressibility, thus allowance had to be
made for settlement, but the intermediate sand layers generally showed a low compressibility.

6. Unconfined Compression Tests

Test Method: Unconfined uniaxial strength of cohesive soils.
Results Contain: Values for including unconfined compressive strength, representing medium to
high in strength for intermediate layer cohesive soils.

7. Seismic Refraction
Method: Seismic waves were used to detect the subsurface layers to measure the rate of the
seismic wave translation.
Results: Pointed to an abrupt change from loose sands and silts to solid limestone at a depth of
about twenty meters, a key confirmation of the depth of sound bedrock.

8. Electrical Resistivity
Method: Evaluated changes in resistivity of soil and rock.
Results: Showed high resistivity for the upper sandy layers (indicating low water content) and
low resistivity in the limestone (indicating high water content). The data that was gathered also
identified changes in subsurface material as well as variations in moisture content.

Summary of Findings:
 Subsurface Stratigraphy: Loose to medium dense fine sand (0-5 metre), medium dense to
dense fine sand with silt and clay (5-20 meter) and very dense, to hard fresh limestone
bedrock (20-30 meters).
 Groundwater Table: 2-meter depth, high.
 Soil Strength: improving with the depth, as measured by the Stresses the Penetration Test
(SPT) and Cone Penetration Testing!
 Plasticity & compressibility: Intermediate silt and clay layers characterized by medium
plasticity and compressibility.
 Deep foundation termination at 20 m using bedrock (hard limestone).

 Conclusion
n Conclusion Developed understanding of the geologic formations of Earth, resource appraisal
and environmental mitigation cannot be materialized without exploration and interpretation of
subsurface geologic and geophysical features. These involve detailed site characterization and
the assessment of hazards to conduct safe and practical construction. Subsurface information
helps determine of soils and subsurface conditions are: a. environmentally safe; b. agriculturally
sound; and c. constructible. Seismic surveys are one of the mainstays of geophysical surveys in
offering deep insight into structures in the subsurface. Seismic surveys are some of the most
common ways insight is gotten into the interior of structures. Seismic surveys not only find
applications on land but worldwide in the marine environment, serving the oil and gas sector that
services the energy market worldwide. Integration in geological and geophysical exploration will
ensure safer building practices, optimized management of resources, and use of land that is
environmentally friendly; therefore, this makes geological engineering a central and imperative
field in modern engineering and related environmental sciences.

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