Geotechnical Engineering

G&D provides geotechnical engineering services on public works/utilities, commercial construction, and residential construction projects.

G&D team has a lengthy track record in working with clients on fast-paced projects where responsiveness is critical to project success. For example, dozens of contractors have turned to us when in need of help with problematic soil conditions - when footings have been excavated but unforeseen conditions warrant either altered treatment of the soils, the foundation, or both.

We provide services to many small contractors whose repeat business is a testimonial to our responsiveness. One such client has been Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte, for whom we have provided assistance and direction on the construction of dozens of foundations. For them, we have assessed soils conditions that warranted deep foundation systems, or other modifications of the foundation systems.

Typical Services in this area include:

  1. Geotechnical exploration (soil borings and standard penetration testing) for residential, commercial, and public construction;
  2. Footing subgrade/foundation soils verification (either with standard drill rig or hand auger/DCP);
  3. Foundation engineering, including design of deep pile foundations and reinforced concrete slabs to mitigate poor or weak foundation soil conditions; as well as design of underpinning systems utilizing helical piers and other systems;
  4. Evaluation and rehabilitation of earthen dams and spillways including seepage and slope stability analysis.
  5. Pavement condition surveys, and recommendations for flexible or rigid pavements and/or pavement overlay or repair;
  6. Earthwork and grading technical specifications.

Nightingale Storm Drainage Improvements Project - Charlotte Stormwater Services

G&D recently provided engineering support on the City of Charlotte's Nightingale Lane storm drainage improvements project. Working for one of the project's subcontractors, Carolina Foundation Solutions, G&D performed pre-inspections of houses adjacent to the proposed storm sewer route and made recommendations for providing the specified shoring and protection of the houses during construction.

Chestnut Sewer Realignment Project - City of Shelby

This project for the City Shelby involves the installation of a 20-inch diameter ductile iron pipe (DIP) gravity flow sewer and connecting manholes to replace an existing sewer system that is at or near the end of its service life. The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the general subsurface conditions along the proposed sewer alignment.

G&D performed soil test borings and conducted pertinent field and laboratory tests to assess the engineering characteristics of the subsurface materials, and to provide recommendations regarding the design and construction of the proposed sewer system.

Based on the resultant subsurface information, G&D provided recommendation for both the open-cut excavation of the sewer and the bored or tunneled section under the road.