The Seven Phases
Each phase hands what it learns to the next. Open a card for its phase guidance, how to use the phase: what is performed, how, and why it matters in the workflow.
Work them in order
Left to right: each phase needs to be finished before the next one opens, and you can go back to any earlier phase.
- I✦
Project Management
Set up the project: client, scope, schedule, site limits and the exploration plan.
- II✦
Site Reconnaissance
Read the ground before you drill: soils, geology, flood zones, nearby well logs and estimated bedrock depth.
- III✦
Subsurface Exploration
Log borings and samples in the field: SPT blow counts, recovery, groundwater and field descriptions.
- IV✦
Laboratory Testing
Record index, unit weight, strength, consolidation and compaction results for each sample.
- V✦
Analysis
Turn the data into design parameters for each stratum, then run the calculators with them.
- VI✦
Data Report
Compile site, subsurface, laboratory and analysis results into one factual report, without recommendations.
- VII✦
Geotechnical Report
Write the conclusions and recommendations from the data report and analyses, then sign and seal.
How the data carries forwardBorings and samples entered in the field log appear on the boring log, test results post beside each sample, and each stratum's tested values become its design parameters. Where a property has no test, a conservative value from a published correlation is used and marked as assumed. The Design Parameters page shows every value with its source.