The Importance of Geotechnical Investigation and Hydro Excavation in the Commercial Sector

Aussie Hydrovac Services
4 min readOct 10, 2023

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Hydro excavation is a form of digging technology used in construction and excavation activities to remove dirt and waste as well as break up soil particles. Hydro excavation requires highly updated equipment, which often includes large trucks. These large vehicles are also outfitted with water tanks, a vacuum system, and water pumps to facilitate hydro excavation.

Let us know about some of these tools in brief:

1. Vacuum Excavation Trucks:

Vacuum trucks are typically huge and are used to detect utility, cable, and pipeline networks. They can also be used to repair pipelines and other utility infrastructure. These vehicles also contribute to environmental conservation by clearing any clogged roads or streets. They are also utilised for excavating in areas where the soil has been damaged.

2. Water Tanks:

Water tanks supply high-pressure water to hydro excavation equipment, which is then used to break up soil and debris. This is transformed into slurry, which makes excavation much easier. Water tanks safely break up soil and debris without harming subsurface utilities. These tanks can be used for more than simply hydro excavation; they can also be utilised for potholing and trenching. Slurry is also held in these tanks until it is disposed of or removed.

3. Water Pumps:

It is this device, which is mounted on the excavation truck, that makes it possible to create the high-pressure water from the tank, enabling it to reach the excavation site. It also allows for precise control over the water flow and pressure. The engineers can set the level of pressure according to the requirements of the excavation.

Nowadays, hydro excavation is far more popular than traditional excavation. This is due to the fact that it is substantially safer and provides an excellent opportunity to analyse the circumstances underground. Furthermore, it helps to reduce potential mishaps, which would not be possible with traditional excavations. Hydro excavation helps the environment by reducing silt flow. If you are seeking for Hydro Excavation services in Australia, you may contact Aussie Hydro Services, a company that specialises in this industry. The company has all of the necessary equipment, which has been carefully selected by their skilled team. This company’s professionals can help you with everything from consultation to giving the best solutions.

Why Geotechnical Investigation is so important before a Construction Project?

The Geotechnical Testing Service assists in verifying the depth, thickness, and degree of various soil layers. It has several objectives:

· To determine the concrete and composite properties of earth materials,

· To understand the slopes and soundness of the soil deposits,

· To assess the risks of site conditions.

Geotechnical Investigation engages several techniques to accomplish a successful investigation process and some of them are mentioned below:

1. Soil Sampling:

There are essentially two types of soil samplers:

a. Disturbed Soil Sampler:

These samples are collected after digging a borehole into the proposed construction site.

b. Undisturbed Soil Sample:

It holds the structural integrity of the ground before the digging process.

2. In-Situ Tests:

The In-Situ tests in geotechnical investigations are either conducted on soil or in the soil at the construction site. They are of several types:

a. Cone Penetration Test:

This test is simply conducted to know about the soil type. A device called a cone penetrometer is inserted into the ground at a standard rate and data is recorded at regular intervals during the penetration process.

b. Standard Penetration Test:

It is the most commonly practised in-situ test. It simply means to understand the geotechnical properties of the subsurface soil. It is extremely economical and helps to determine the relative density of soil.

3. Pitting:

It is the simplest technique under geotechnical investigation, and it helps to gain the basic idea about the soil profile. In this process, a hole is dug to know if the conditions of soil are suitable for construction.

4. Drilling:

It is conducted by geotechnical engineers to understand the physical properties of a construction site. It also evaluates the groundwater and other related factors. Special machine drills are required to carry out this process.

Aussie Hydro-Vac Services’ Geotechnical Engineers have the skills and expertise needed to conduct a successful examination of the geotechnical features of the construction site. Australian construction businesses can learn more about Aussie Hydro-Vac Services’ services by contacting them. Other specialities of the professionals here include waste management, civil infrastructure investigation, and surveying services, among others.

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Aussie Hydrovac Services

Aussie Hydro-Vac Services Pty Ltd (AHS) is a 100% Australian owned business that has been operating in Queensland and New South Wales for over 10 years.