Southern Geophysical Ltd provides invasive ground testing services to give an accurate and detailed description of shallow subsurface materials. The invasive ground testing is often undertaken in conjunction with our non-invasive geophysical testing methods, such as GPR and MASW, in order to “Ground truth” results. We offer several invasive testing methods including: Scala Penetrometer Tests (DCP), hand auger soil sampling, machine auger drilling, core drilling and test pitting.
Southern Geophysical Ltd also offers GPR scanning which is commonly undertaken before digging/drilling to clear invasive testing locations of utilities and subsurface structures.
Hand Auger Soil Sampling
Hand auger drilling is a simple method to measure subsurface soil properties (to depths up to 3 m). This method allows us to accurately calculate depths to soil horizons and determine the depth of the ground water table.
Core Drilling (concrete and in-situ rock) and Camera Investigation
Core drilling is a useful testing method undertaken by southern Geophysical to provide correlative results for non-invasive methods. Holes can be cored or drilled through concrete or in-situ rock to recover a core or simply to inspect behind a surface. Southern Geophysical has specialised side-facing cameras for investigating core/drill holes (as small as 14 mm), in particular for investigating voiding beneath concrete floor slabs. Prior to drilling, Southern Geophysical can use Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) to determine the location of reinforcing and utilities within the concrete to provide suitable locations for core drilling.
