Southern Testing provide comprehensive services for geotechnical and environmental site investigation. As part of our standard service we operate an extensive range of plant and equipment with skilled operatives and provide our own experienced Engineers to manage the project.
Available field investigation techniques range from simple trial pitting to more sophisticated, low disturbance or restricted access methods designed to suit the project requirements.
Trial Pitting
Trial pitting is useful on any site where some disturbance of the ground is permissible and where there is adequate access for the excavator. The method can be used to recover bulk and small-disturbed samples, is relatively quick and simple and allows access for in-situ testing. Pits will be shored for any man-entry.
 |
 |
Window or Windowless Sampling
We operate various tracked percussive windowless sampler rigs and hand held pneumatic window sampler equipment.
- Ideal for working on sites with restricted access. The rig is only 750 mm and all equipment will pass through a standard doorway.
- Low disturbance rubber tracked rig ensures ground disturbance is kept to a minimum.
- Can be tracked up slopes.
- Intact continuous sample recovery
- Can be cased to prevent collapse or minimise cross contamination of samples.
- Standard Penetration Tests (SPT)
- Dynamic Probing (both DPH and DPSH).
 |
 |
Rotary Auger
Southern Testing operates a SediDrill 90 rotary flight auger investigation rig with Lutz Data-Logger (records the rate of drilling, thrust and torque pressures). This 900mm wide rubber tracked rig is particularly useful on difficult or narrow access sites. It has low noise levels and low visual impact. Flight augers are used for rapid drilling to 20m or more. To cater for the wide variety of ground conditions and sampling requirements, the rig is also equipped for rotary drilling (DTHH), probing and window sampling.
Cable Percussive Boreholes
Cable percussive boreholes are a common method used particularly for deeper investigations to provide piling information, or to allow for installation of monitoring wells and for deepbore soakaway construction. We operate a variety of Landrover towed Dando rigs and also have restricted access cut down rigs.Disturbed and undisturbed samples are retrieved from the boreholes for inspection and logging. In-situ testing techniques including Standard Penetration, Permeability, Shear Vane and Packer Testing can all be carried out with in the borehole.
 |
 |
Rotary Boreholes
Rotary boreholes are a common method used particularly for deeper investigations, installation of abstraction or monitoring wells or for construction of geothermal wells in rock materials. We are able to provide a variety of rotary drilling techniques, including Geobore “S” wireline coring depending on required depth, diameter, ground conditions and site-specific requirements. Where required samples are recovered in seamless plastic tubes for subsequent logging and analysis.
 |
We are also able to supply a Mud Puppy with our rotary rigs. Mud Puppy's are designed for cleaning the water or drilling mud in use as the flushing medium to drill the borehole. This allows for cleaner drilling mud, less fluid waste, and results in a much more tidy drilling environment.
|
Concrete & Blacktop Coring
Southern Testing have both a towed trailer mounted Excalibur Neptune rig and a portable electric coring rig for sites with restricted access, or work on footways.
 |
 |
For use in road or pavement investigations;
- Confirmation of pavement layer thicknesses and composition;
- Retrieval of samples for laboratory testing;
- Investigations for concrete structures.
All coring operations are performed by NRSWA qualified personnel. We can also provide the required Traffic Management Plans for work on the highway. Reinstatement of core locations is undertaken to the ‘Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highway’ when required.
Restricted Access Investigations
We operate variety of drilling equipment to enable ground investigation in restricted access environments such as basements, light-wells, low headroom areas, rear gardens and steep slopes, where conventional equipment cannot be mobilised. We are also able to supply purpose designed restricted access scaffold platforms.
Our specialist equipment includes;
- Electric and conventionally powered shell & auger break down rigs capable of drilling in excess of 30m and providing SPT and U100 sampling.
- Remotely powered windowless sampling.
- Continuous Light, Heavy and Super Heavy Probing.
- Manually portable window sampling system.
- Hand excavation to expose existing footings within restricted areas.
- Excavation through concrete basements.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Overwater and Offshore/ Coastal Investigations
Southern Testing has established a working relationship with number leading marine specialists and we can provide all the necessary plant and equipment (including pontoons, jackup platforms, tugs, safety boats, etc) to enable all methods of ground investigation to be undertaken overwater.
Previous projects include overwater investigations at Darwell Reservoir, Leybourne Lakes, Dover Port, Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth, Southampton Port and Folkstone Harbour.
 |
 |
