Geotechnical Services of Advanced GeoServices

		Quarry Redevelopment Devault, PA This former processing facility for agricultural lime contains an 85-acre, 200-foot-deep former quarry and landfill. As a result of past quarrying operations, some of the topographic changes are abrupt, with elevation differences of as much as 50 feet over short distances. Development plans include the construction of an office park consisting of 15 buildings and the associated roadway network surrounding the existing quarry. Closure of the quarry (a permitted mining operation) triggered regulations pertaining to sloping and regrading. Advanced GeoServices prepared the designs and achieved approval for a mine closure permit. Re-grading of the quarry walls, earthworks, geologic evaluations and preliminary geotechnical investigations were instrumental in the siting of the proposed buildings and roadway system. Using lime waste as fill for site earthworks, several of the planned office buildings have been constructed.

		Kennett Township Bridge Repairs Kennett Township, PA During the severe flooding experienced on September 15, 2003, four bridges in Kennett Township were damaged. This damage included severe erosion of approach embankments and upheaval of bridge deck and approach pavements. Advanced GeoServices was retained by Kennett Township to provide geotechnical consultation and construction oversight for the bridge repairs. Since the September flooding, two bridges have been repaired and re-opened.

		Cost-Saving Designs Numerous Sites Foundation and site development construction issues are shaped by the prevailing subsurface conditions. Unusual or widely varying conditions can sometimes lead to ultra-conservative earthwork and foundation designs that add significant cost premiums to a project. In some cases, the magnitude of these premiums can only be defined during the construction process, leaving the owner with open-ended project costs. Advanced GeoServices incorporates value engineering into all of our designs and has applied this concept on designs developed by others.

		Financial Institutions Pennsylvania, Delaware Advanced GeoServices has provided geotechnical engineering and construction monitoring services for more than 30 facilities related to the financial industry. These facilities range from small, two-story suburban office buildings to downtown high-rise buildings and include several multi-structure headquarters complexes. Our services include investigations and designs for various foundation schemes, including footings, piles and drilled piers (caissons). These studies also provided recommendations for floor slabs, pavements and associated earthworks. Some of the sites were located in karst terrain and the potential for sinkhole development and appropriate sinkhole mitigation measures were addressed.

		General Instrument Division Headquarters Horsham, PA This 36-acre tract contained several parcels that had been disturbed during previous development of adjacent lots. Large areas of the site had been stripped for use as fill, and unsuitable soils from other projects had been stockpiled and spread over large portions of the site. The marginal subgrade conditions required extensive preparation procedures in floor slab, pavement and foundation areas. Advanced GeoServices’ construction experience and practical approach provided cost-effective design and efficient utilization of available on-site materials. The use of a combination of shallow and deep foundations minimized differential settlements within the buildings and eliminated the need for costly imported aggregate as building pad fill. The development included four office buildings, associated parking and the site infrastructure (utilities, roadways, and stormwater detention basins). Several additional buildings are planned for the future.

		Fast-Track Projects Numerous Sites During the land purchase process, the buyer has a limited window of time to obtain information about the site. Planning or funding difficulties can seriously impair project deadlines. Projects in construction can encounter unexpected subsurface or construction difficulties that render the original foundation design cost-prohibitive. All of these situations require the fast, but accurate, collection and evaluation of information in order to keep the project going. Advanced GeoServices has implemented rapid investigation programs and has closely coordinated with project planning teams and design/ construction teams to collect and evaluate the necessary geotechnical information. In most cases, our recommendations have been presented to the client within one or two days of completion of the field study. Schedule delays and cost premiums for construction-related problems have been reduced by Advanced GeoServices’ ability to provide “on the spot” recommendations during the field evaluation.

Check back periodically to learn about other geotechnical projects we've worked on.

1055 Andrew Drive, Suite A | West Chester, PA 19380-4293 | tel 610.840.9100 | fax 610.840.9199 | email agc@advancedgeoservices.com