Geo Technical & Environmental Associates

read moreA well-established and independent specialist providing a high-quality ground investigation and geotechnical and geoenvironmental consultancy service to the property and construction industries. The risk presented by high rates of hazardous ground gas emissions into structures is well documented and means of monitoring and assessing this risk are set out in both BS 8576:2013 and CIRIA C665. We have always had a policy of enabling flexible and remote working throughout GEA, so the transition to all of our staff working at home has been straightforward.

read moreGeotechnical and Environmental Associates (GEA) was established by Steve Branch in 2003, prior to which Steve was Managing Director of LBH Wembley for over five years. Steve was soon joined at GEA by former colleagues Mike Plimmer, Juliet Fuller and Penny Piddington and in 2004 by Martin Cooper, who worked with Steve and Mike at Wembley Labs in the early 1990s. GEA has grown steadily over the past 15 years and we now have around 25 staff in our three offices, and a turnover of over 3.5M. We have a policy of mainly recruiting graduates and promoting staff internally, and as a result have very low staff turnover.

read moreOur desk studies are only carried out by qualified engineers who understand the implications of the information that is obtained. Our desk study reports always include a proper risk assessment and, where required, costed proposals for subsequent ground investigation. A walkover survey is a vital part of the desk study process and is carried out by one of our qualified engineers. We will also, where appropriate, discuss the site with the Local Authority to obtain local information on ground conditions and possible contamination problems.

read moreFrom our three offices, in Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Manchester, we carry out ground investigations throughout the UK, and we have recently worked in Cornwall, Anglesey and West Lothian. We can work on any size of project, from simple investigations for house extensions, to large complex investigations that require an array of different exploratory methods. Our extensive knowledge of ground investigations allows us to provide the optimum scope of investigation and most appropriate exploratory technique for each project.

read moreWhilst our geotechnical expertise is most often sought as part of a ground investigation, our services can be provided at any stage of a project. For example, we are often asked to review existing ground investigation reports, either to allow an enhanced foundation design to be prepared, or to use existing data to carry out more sophisticated analysis. Our geotechnical engineers have a wide range of expertise, including ground movement analyses, complex soil-structure interaction problems, tunnel assessments, piled foundation selection, resolution of piling problems, earthworks control, slope stability assessments, retaining wall design and specification of ground improvement methods.

read moreOur consultancy service covers all aspects of the development process, including foundation design and analysis, particularly soil-structure interaction problems, slope stability, earthworks control, and basement impact assessments. We are often asked by our clients to provide a technical review and site characterisation service where work has previously been carried out on a site by others. Our ability to rapidly identify the critical issues associated with a proposed development and to recommend realistic and properly costed solutions allows our clients to quickly make decisions on site acquisitions and development viability.

read moreOur extensive experience and database of previous investigations allow us to properly design and scope each investigation, taking account of the anticipated ground conditions, and targeted at the important issues associated with the development proposals. This allows us to establish a preliminary "ground model" that encompasses the anticipated ground conditions and development proposals and forms the basis of the expected outcomes. Ground investigation however is an exploratory process, which can yield unexpected findings from time to time; each of our qualified engineers has the knowledge and experience to review and revise the investigation as work proceeds to ensure that the right amount of information is always obtained.