Six questions to answer before a site investigation starts
A short briefing before mobilisation can improve the investigation more than adding tests later without a clear purpose. These six questions help the client, designer and field team agree what the work needs to achieve.
What is being built, and where?
Provide the latest site plan, building footprints, levels and intended uses. The investigation team needs to distinguish heavily loaded structures from roads, tanks, boundary walls and landscaped areas so locations and depths reflect the proposed work.
What is already known?
Share previous reports, nearby borehole records, historic land use, fill placement, flooding observations and known groundwater issues. Existing information should be checked, not accepted blindly, but it can identify gaps and prevent unnecessary duplication.
What could stop the field work?
Confirm access width and headroom, working hours, security, buried and overhead services, permits, vegetation clearance and reinstatement expectations. Also agree the reporting deadline, laboratory schedule and who can approve changes if the ground requires an adjusted scope.
