Sinkholes – can they be avoided?

Technics Group invited their partner Arrow Geophysics to provide a Guest blog about subsidence and sinkholes, which as we know have been highlighted in the news due to the heavy rain and extreme flooding that we’ve been experiencing recently. According to news reports this has led to more than five times the average number of sinkholes being reported during February. Deterioration can happen rapidly – the two photos shown below were taken four days apart at a school in north Kent!

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidence creates aesthetic and structural problems on sites nationwide with remediation being costly and time consuming. However, early detection of any issues could save a huge amount of resource in the future.

Non-intrusive geophysical surveys can provide a rapid way to scan large sites to determine areas of reduced bearing capacity or shallow void development.  These conditions may be caused by unknown infrastructure sub-surface, by progressive geological processes such as chalk dissolution, or by site deterioration due to poor ground compaction or leaking water pipes.

Technics Group have the capabilities and techniques to investigate potential subsidence and ground failure issues at an early stage. We’ve already helped several concerned clients with hazard mitigation in the early part of 2014 and would be happy to assess your needs. Please contact us for more information and this and many other services we provide.