Sinkholes
Remove the risk of a costly collapse
Hidden sinkholes under a development site can represent a safety hazard to plant, people and project. Here at Zetica, we help you mitigate these risks – revealing any subterranean surprises that could have costly consequences.
The presence of chalk and limestone in many areas of the world means that large holes in the rock (or holes infilled with softer soils) are not uncommon, but they can be missed by traditional borehole investigations.
Our non-invasive geophysical surveys map the sub-surface more effectively, allowing developers to pro-actively address the problem early on in the project, or enabling immediate remedial action if the void lies beneath existing buildings.
At Zetica, we have experience in both scenarios, having undertaken critical surveys for a number of high profile projects. This includes tunnelling projects in London, where the potential collapse of roads and houses required a rapid response in order to ensure public safety.
Non-intrusive geophysical surveys v traditional boreholes
The use of Zetica’s non-invasive geophysical surveys can not only yield more accurate results than borehole investigation, but also generate significant cost and time savings.
That’s because the more traditional approach to sinkhole investigation often requires a high number of boreholes to be created, on a grid layout right across the entire site.
What’s more, boreholes have a harsher impact on the environment – particularly where the ground is contaminated, as the holes can provide a route for contamination into an underlying chalk or limestone aquifer.
Our own approach to sinkhole exploration typically sees us combine non-invasive technologies, often including fixed and multi-frequency electromagnetics, with microgravity follow up.
In designing the right survey for you, we weigh up the fine balance between the efficiency of each technique and its associated cost – helping you get the best results while driving project savings.
Find out more
To discuss a project with us or to find out more about the technologies we use, please just give our team a call on (0)1993 886 682. You can also contact us online.