Adding Value to Projects with Geophysical Ground Investigation: A Review of Three Project Case Histories

ABSTRACT: This paper seeks to contribute to the available industry literature on planning geophysical investigations to minimize ground risk and cost while maximizing value for engineering projects. This paper reviews the successes and challenges of three case histories from Hong Kong, Canada and Australia where geophysical ground investigations have been employed on buildings and infrastructure projects. Based on the successes, challenges, and lessons learnt a summary of considerations for planning geophysical investigations to minimize ground risk and cost, while maximizing value, is presented. The authors hope that this paper will encourage practitioners to take a big picture approach when including geophysics in a ground investigation campaign and will result in investigations being targeted, cost-saving and value-adding for projects.