Site investigation — also called ground investigation or geotechnical investigation — characterises the ground conditions at a construction site before design begins. It tells your structural engineer what the soil can carry, how deep to take foundations, what groundwater to expect, and whether contamination risks are present. In Ghana, inadequate site investigation is the most common reason buildings crack, roads fail and projects overrun budgets.
Types of Site Investigation
Phase 1 — Desk Study
Review of maps, aerial imagery, land use history. Identifies risks before any physical investigation.
Phase 2 — Intrusive Investigation
Boreholes, trial pits and in-situ testing. Provides soil data for foundation design.
Geotechnical Investigation
Full investigation with lab testing, SPT, bearing capacity and geotechnical report.
Trial Pits
Shallow excavations (1.5–4m) for direct soil inspection. Fastest method for shallow foundations.
Environmental Investigation
Contamination assessment for brownfield or industrial sites.
Geophysical Survey
Non-invasive subsurface imaging using GPR or electrical resistivity.
When Is Site Investigation Required
- Multi-storey buildings, hotels, commercial developments and factories
- Road and highway construction
- Bridge foundations — deep boreholes at each pier
- Dam and reservoir construction
- Bank and mortgage applications — increasingly required by Ghanaian lenders
What a Report Contains
- Borehole and trial pit logs with full soil descriptions
- SPT N-values and in-situ test data
- CSIR-accredited laboratory test results
- Groundwater levels and seasonal variation
- Bearing capacity values and settlement analysis
- Foundation type and depth recommendations
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