Ground Investigation Specialists Ltd

Ground Investigation Specialists Limited (GIS) was established in 2000 by Howard Lister, a Geotechnical Advisor with 35 years' experience.

Operating throughout mainland UK, geotechnical and geoenvironmental investigations are undertaken for a variety of Councils, engineering practices and corporate companies within both the private and public sector. Contract values range from £1,000 to £100,000.

G.I.S. offer a wide variety of services from large industrial investigations to smaller individual studies. Our team is trained to carry out the following:

• Desk Studies and Literature Reviews | Site Walkover Surveys
• Site Investigation Design | Phase 1 Risk Assessments
• Trial Pitting/Trenching | Hand Auger Boring | Window Sampling
• Dynamic Probing | Cable Percussive Drilling | Rotary Open Hole and Core Drilling
• In-situ Penetration Strength Tests | Plate Bearing Tests | In-situ Density Testing
• Soakaway (Infiltration) Testing | In-situ C B R Testing | Variable Head Permeability Testing
• VOC Gas Monitoring (PID,FID) | Landfill Gas Monitoring
• In-situ Groundwater Testing and Sampling | Soil Sampling

Desk Studies

Want to identify any geotechnical, geoenvironmental or mining hazards before you start your development project anywhere in Mainland UK? Contact Ground Investigation Specialists Ltd for details.

We are here to help make your project work, which is why we offer you the opportunity to utilise our expert team to analyse available data, and identify at an early stage the potential geotechnical, mining and geoenvironmental hazards which could affect your site and development, and what to target as part of any ground investigation.

Thorough Ground Investigation Solutions

Whether you want to determine the quality or composition of the ground, Ground Investigation Specialists Ltd can carry out a full investigation, and offer you a detailed report.

There are a variety of reasons why you might need to conduct a ground investigation at your individual or commercial property. For example, to check for the presence of shallow mine workings or abandoned mine shafts, to determine the geotechnical characteristics of the ground (its classification, strength and compressibility) or to assess whether the soils/groundwater are contaminated.

Available Exploratory Techniques

• Trial pitting/trenching by hand or mechanical excavator
• Hand auger boring
• Window/Windowless sampling
• Dynamic probing
• Cable percussion drilling
• Rotary open hole and core drilling

In-Situ Testing

GIS can guide you through the entire ground gas analysis process, from installing standpipes, gas monitoring and site characterisation, to the validation of the protection measures.

GIS also carry out a wide range of in-situ testing services, including:

• Dynamic Probing
• Mackintosh Probing
• Standard and Cone Penetration Tests
• California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Tests
• Plate Bearing Tests
• Density Tests
• Vane Testing
• Soakaway (Infiltration) Testing
• Variable Head Borehole Permeability Testing
• Groundwater Testing and Sampling
• VOC Gas Monitoring (PID, FID)
• Landfill Gas Monitoring

Geotechnical Consultancy

In terms of the geotechnical considerations, we are trained and experienced in a wide range of studies including:

• Providing Coal Mining Risk Assessments
• Investigating Shallow Mine Workings and Entries
• Looking for Solution Features
• Determining Cost Effective Foundation Solutions
• Assessing Ground Treatment Options
• Carrying out Slope Stability Assessments and Failure Investigations
• Investigating House Subsidence Claims
• Advising and Supervision on Earthworks Contracts

Geoenvironmental Consultancy

Within Geoenvironmental Consultancy, GIS can cover all aspects of the planning and development process, from preliminary desk study assessment to site investigation and the design and validation of appropriate remediation schemes.

We are familiar with the regulatory planning process and the need to submit applications to the Local Authority and Environmental Health Officer, all in accordance with DEFRA and the Environment Agency’s ‘Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination, CLR 11’.