Geological and geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering that is responsible for the study of the mechanical, hydraulic and constructive properties of the subsoil as a means of construction of infrastructures and as a constructive element. It includes the characterization of the terrain for public works and singular works and has expanded to fields such as seismic engineering, the application of soil improvement techniques, the prediction of the relationship between the soil and the structure, the design of containment structures, the calculation of supports and linings, etc.

The ICGC works on geological and geotechnical studies that support public building works, tunnels, roads, viaducts, etc. carrying out geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological exploration and characterization and defining the suitability for the work, modeling the foreseeable geomechanical behavior, and carrying out studies, projects, construction management and the economic evaluation of alternatives. These studies combine various techniques of geology, geotechnics, hydrogeology, hydraulics, geophysics, geodesy, remote sensing and engineering, to resolve specific problems.

The majority of these assignments are carried out at the request of the Public Administration and the private sector and, in general, they are works directly related to construction, urban planning, public works or risks of geological origin.

• Geotechnics for foundations in construction: characterization of the terrain and detection of possible anomalies and definition of the type of foundation.
• Public works: Public works: geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological research in linear works. 
  • Geological and geotechnical characterization of the terrain for civil works and construction.
    Conducting in situ surveys and tests; defining the types of foundations for masonry works, foundations, earth and wall loads.
    Defining the suitability for the work, including the feasibility analysis of the reuse of excavated earth and the suitability of the platform; identification, evaluation and cubication of landfill sites, borrow materials and quarries.
    Numerical modeling of the foreseeable behavior of the terrain; slope stability with the design of embankments and slopes to guarantee their stability. Analysis of the danger and risk of rock falls, modeling of trajectories and establishment of corrective measures.
    Studies, projects, construction management and economic evaluation of alternatives.
• Monitoring of areas affected by subsidence from underground mining, protection and modeling of extractive activities and linear infrastructures.

The ICGC intervenes in the multiple phases of study, project and work:

• Reconnaissance campaigns.
• In situ tests.
• Analysis and characterization of the terrain.
• Numerical modeling.
• Study of alternatives.
• Technical assistance in specific areas of projects.
• Control and construction management studies.

In each case, the problem is studied, assessing the techniques that may be most suitable, according to the characteristics of the terrain and the conditions of the work or work to be carried out.

Imatge

Continuous witness recovery drilling machine

Within this field of work, the ICGC covers the following fields:

• Terrain reconnaissance
  • Subsoil research.
  • Geophysics.
  • In situ testing.
• Preparation of cartographies, sections and geotechnical models
• Geomechanical and geotechnical characterization of the different land units
• Numerical modeling of the land
• Studies, projects and construction management
  • slopes and slopes.
  • tunnels and underground works.
  • transport infrastructures.
  • building.
  • urban development.
  • auscultation.
• Catalogs and audits
  • of slopes and slopes.
  • of tunnels.

Imatge

Caixa de mostres

The ICGC has experience in planning, managing, directing, supervising and carrying out geotechnical reconnaissance campaigns. These works include a wide range of techniques, among which the most frequent are:

• Geological and geotechnical inspections.
• Outcrop analysis.
• Geomechanical stations.
• Execution of boreholes.
• Reconnaissance coves.
• Static and dynamic penetrometers.
• Obtaining samples and witnesses.
• Witnessing.
• Carrying out in situ tests.

Imatge

Columna litològica

Our technical teams ensure the proper execution of these works and the correct geological and geotechnical interpretation of the results, placing special emphasis on the most influential aspects in each type of work.

• It is worth mentioning the geology, geotechnical and hydrogeology works carried out in the Barcelona metro line 9 project.