Nature of soil testing and their need for construction projects

Soil or land is the base on selected for the particular construction project or projects . The knowledge of the soil is important to understand how it will behave when a huge project is built on it . The soil testings are basically to understand the chemical and physical nature of the soil for agriculture and construction projects . The soil testing is done primarily in relations to agriculture and construction activities .

The knowledge taken from soil testing decides the addition of extra fertiliser for particular agriculture crop or crops . And in construction , the soil testing gives the detail on the capacity of the soil to withstand the weight of the building .

The use of pile foundations depends on the soil testing results . The soil which lacks the capacity of withstanding the weight of the building or structure . The soil testing is not only about the chemical and physical composition of the soil , but the subsurface of the soil is also reveal to determine the presence of water table , its level and its likely impact on the coming up structure . The geologists and construction engineers investigate the area selected for development , analyse the site , its subsurface conditions and then make arrangements or recommendations for to counter the fault in the soil before the start of the construction project . The unstable or unsuitable soil needs stabilisation before the start of the construction projects .

Then as per the soil testing report , the recommendations for a septic system , earth support , grading , drainage , etc are done . The testings of the soil are done in the laboratory . The reputed soil investigating agencies have their own soil testing reports.

The aim of the Soil Testing Services is to strengthen the foundation of the structures for greater safety and security of the buildings . The properties of the soil affect the foundation , thus affecting the safety and security of the building . The soil with high moistures content and variation in the moisture content through seasons can adversely affect the foundation of the building .The engineers will use strong corrosion resistance material for the foundation in this type of soil . The pile foundation is recommended for soil with water table or for soil where the upper layers have weak soil and pile foundation is needed to transfer the weight of the structure to the deep hard layers of the soil . Which type of pile foundation will be used , is also decided on the basis of the soil testing reports . If needed ,the use of bored piles is also done to give strength to the coming up structure . All such decision depend on the soil investigating report .

The reputed Soil Testing Agencies are capable of delivery the result on all type of soils , from coastal areas to hilly areas , to desert or semi desert . They come with their own instruments , tools , data collecting equipment . Since they have their own laboratory for testing the soil samples , the results are accurate ,simply because chances of mix up are totally removed during testing .

The soil testing services are taken for every kind of project from residential colonies , to bridges , flyovers , railway lines , tall strcutures , and even before the start of small building . Since the safety is first pre requisite in all strctures, the soil testing becomes vital before even creating design .