Geotechnical services

At A F Howland Associates, we offer a complete range of geotechnical services to support civil and environmental engineering projects of every scale. Drawing on over four decades of expertise, our team provides in-depth site investigations, robust design solutions, and specialist advice –ensuring that each project benefits from accurate, data-driven insights. By combining our innovative methodologies with a focus on practical, cost-effective outcomes, we help clients across the public and private sectors build with confidence.

Services

Leverage A F Howland Associates’ expertise in soil and rock mechanics to ensure every aspect of your geotechnical design is tailored to your specific project. Whether you’re building a single-family home or a large commercial structure, our bespoke solutions combine decades of experience with the latest engineering methods – delivering optimal results for your development.

Our geotechnical design expertise

  • Existing foundations: thorough assessment of foundation dimensions and composition.
  • Bearing capacity: accurate estimations to guide safe and cost-effective designs.
  • Settlement analysis: identifying and mitigating risks to maintain structural integrity.
  • Piled foundations: determining design loadings to ensure robust support.
  • Raft & piled raft systems: offering practical recommendations for conventional rafts or piled rafts.

Subsidence can have a severe impact on buildings, often resulting in structural damage due to excessive foundation settlement. At A F Howland Associates, our decades of experience – particularly in the East Anglia region – enable us to identify causes and provide cost-effective solutions to help safeguard your property.

Our investigation methods

  • Exploratory holes: cable percussion, window sampling, or trial pitting to identify underlying features and collect soil samples for analysis.
  • Dynamic penetration testing: evaluates soil resistivity for an in-depth understanding of ground conditions.
  • Foundation inspection pits: determines current foundation construction and depth.
  • Structural & vegetation surveys: assesses the impact of nearby structures and foliage on soil moisture levels.

We provide expert working platform designs for tracked plant, such as cranes and piling rigs. Our designs follow BR470 guidelines, ensuring platforms are safe, robust, and cost-effective.

We calculate the required platform thickness based on key parameters, including:

  • The strength of sub-grade soils
  • The internal friction of the platform material
  • The track width, length, and loading requirements of the equipment

This testing is essential for the design and installation of buried utilities, such as power cables, pipelines, and communication networks, where effective heat dissipation is critical to prevent overheating and operational issues.

Comprehensive testing

  • Moisture levels
  • Soil compaction
  • Environmental factors

Why choose A F Howland Associates?

  • Proven expertise: our decades of industry experience guarantee professional, innovative solutions.
  • Accuracy & reliability: we adhere to the highest standards to ensure the data you receive is both precise and actionable.
  • Customised reporting: from initial assessments to detailed insights, our reports are tailored to meet your project’s unique requirements.
  • Dedicated support: our specialist team is committed to helping you interpret results and move forward with confidence.

Ready to take the next step?

Contact us today to discuss your site investigation requirements. Let A F Howland Associates provide the dependable data and expert guidance you need for a successful project.

Contact Us

Project in mind?
Contact our team.

Call us to speak directly with a member of our team. Our office hours are:
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

For general enquiries please complete the contact form.

You can also follow us on social media. See links on our website.
  • Over 40 years of experience
  • Reliable expertise
  • Tailored services
  • Fast, accurate results

Contact our team

ISO-9001-2015