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Gootochnical Engineering ReBopt <br /> Subsurface problems are a principal cause of construction delays, cost overruns, claims, and disputes. <br /> While you cannot eliminate all such risks, you can manage them. The following information is provided to help. <br />Geotechnical Services Are Pertormell for <br />Specitic Purposes, Persons, and Projects <br />Geotechnical engineers structure their services lo meet the specific needs of <br />their clients. A geotedinical engineering study conducted lor a civil engi- <br />neer may not fullill the needs of a consln,clion contractor or even another <br />civil engineer. Because each geolechnical engineering study is unique, each <br />geolechnical engineering report is unique. prepared SO/*lor the client. No <br />one except you should rely on your geolechnical engineering report wilhout <br />first conferring with the geotechnical engineer who prepared il. And no one <br />-notevenyou -should apply the report lor any purpose or project <br />except the one originally contemplated. <br />Read tile Full Report <br />Serious problems have occurred because Ihose relying on a geotechnical <br />engineeting report did nol read it all. Do not fely on an executive summary. <br />Do not read selected elemenls only. <br />A Geoteclmical Engineering Report Is Based on <br />A Unique Set ol Project-Specific Factors <br />Geotechnical engineers consider a number ol unique, project-specific lac- <br />mrs when establishing the scope ola study. Typical lactors include: the <br />clienis goals, objeclives, and risk management preferences: the general <br />nature of Ihe stiucture involved, its size, and configuration: the location 01 <br />the structure on the site; and olher planned or existing site improvemenls, <br />such as access roads, parking lots, and underground utilities. Unless We <br />geotechnical engineer who conducted tile study specifically indicates oth- <br />efwise, do not rely on a geotechnical engineering report that was: <br />• not prepared for you, <br />• not prepared for your projecl, <br />• not prepared for the specific site explored, or <br />• completed before importanl project changes were made. <br />Typical changes thal can efode the reliability ol an existing geotechnical <br />engineering report include those mat affect: <br />• the lunclion of the proposed strudure, as when it's changed from a <br />parking garage to an oilice building, or Irom a light industrial plant <br />to a refrigerated warehouse, <br />• elevation, configuration, location, orientation, or weight of the <br />proposed structure, <br />• composition of the design team, or <br />• project ownership. <br />As a general rule, ahes inform your geotechnical engineer of project <br />changes-even minor ones-and request an assessmenl 01 thsif impact. <br />Geotechnical engineers cannot accept responsibility or liability for problems <br />thal occur because their reports do not consider developments of which <br />they were not informed. <br />Subsurface Con[Ntions Can Change <br />A geotechnical engineering report is based on conditions that existed at <br />the time the study was performed. Do not rely on a geotechnical engineer- <br />ing moortwhose adequacy may have been affected by: tile passage of <br />time; by man-made events, such as construction on or adjacent to the site, <br />or by natural events, such as floods, earthquakes, or groundwater Iluclua- <br />lions. At»gys contacl the geolechnical engineer before applying the report <br />lo delermine il il is still reliable. A minor amounl 01 additional testing or <br />analysis could prevent major problems. <br />Most Geotechnical Fintlings Are Professional <br />Opinions <br />Site exploration idenlifies subsurlace conditions only al those points where <br />subsurface tests are conducted or samples are taken. Geotechnical engi- <br />neers review lield and laboratory data and then apply meir protessional <br />judgmenl to render an opinion about subsurlace conditions throughout tile <br />site. Actual subsurface conditions may differ-sometimes significantly-- <br />from those indicated in your report Retaining the geotechnical engineer <br />who developed your report to provide construction observation is Ihe <br />most ellective melhod of managing tile risks associated wilh unanticipated <br />conditions. <br />A Report's Recommendations Are Not Final <br />Do nol overrely on the constiuction recommendations included in your <br />report. Rose recommendgtions am not /inal. because geotechnical engi- <br />neers develop them principally from judgment and opinion. Geolechnical <br />engineers can linalize their recommendations only by observing aaual <br />SL Rvcd 2019.01.21