Subsidence Investigation and Monitoring

We offer a range of subsidence investigation and monitoring services across the UK

Subsidence Investigation and Monitoring

Subsidence is the process of ground movement beneath a property causing the foundations to shift, which can adversely affect walls and overall structural integrity. Issues can manifest in several forms, including wall cracking, sloping floors, and jammed windows.

The most common cause of subsidence is the shrinkable nature of cohesive soils, which contract when dry and expand when wet. This seasonal phenomenon can be exacerbated by factors such as tree roots, changes in drainage, and climate variations. Tree roots themselves may physically damage foundations, especially in older structures or areas with pavements and paving.

Not all subsidence is natural; human factors can also contribute. Subsidence is prevalent in and around former mining towns, where abandoned mines, such as old coal workings, can settle and cause ground sinkage. In the south, there are old deneholes, iron age workings, and the Kent coalfield contributing to such issues.
Other causes may include inadequate foundations, particularly those on peat soils or other weak ground. Additional structural loads (e.g., loft conversions) can overstress existing footings or trigger collapsible ground reactions. Leaks from drainage or water mains can soften or wash away ground, leading to voids and collapse.

Aggressive ground conditions or poor construction materials can also lead to deterioration in older foundations.

Sinkholes may occur in chalk or limestone areas, where parts of the bedrock dissolve to form voids, caves, and caverns. Gulling occurs in bedrock on sloping terrain, where joints and fissures open up to form voids or become loosely infilled.

Tunnelling and other construction activities can also induce detectable ground movements.

We offer a comprehensive suite of monitoring services that can be tailor made to suit your requirements including:

  • Crack Monitoring
  • Level Monitoring
  • Retro Target monitoring

We offer a comprehensive suite of intrusive investigation services including.

  • Soil testing
  • CCTV drainage inspection
  • Arboricultural reports
  • Coal mining risk assessments
  • Sink hole investigation

Get In Touch

Need Expert Subsidence Investigation and Monitoring,
Laboratory Assessments, or Consultancy for Your Project?

In addition, we also undertake a variety of specialised investigations relevant to geotechnical and contaminated land assessments.

Contaminated Land Assessements

Land Science can assist with contaminated land assessments as part of a planning application or any other purpose prior or during house building, commercial development or creation of new infrastructure.

Land assessments are often required to assess soil contamination or groundwater pollution issues amongst a host of other potential problems. We assist at all phases of the assessment process with comprehensive desk studies, site investigations, contaminated land remediation and validation and post remediation monitoring.

Read More

Geotechnical Support

Land science provides geotechnical investigations which will help you to make informed decisions about the design of pavements, foundations and drainage on your project. Our in-house geotechnical laboratory testing capability enables us to undertake a range of sample analysis in-house.

Where more specialised geotechnical testing is required, we have a range of trusted preferred partners that we call upon on a regular basis.

Read More

Safety and Accreditations

The safety of our employees, sub-contractors and other personal, members of the public, and the wider environment is paramount to us. All our staff receive comprehensive safety training, with each project being managed by a designated Site Safety Supervisor. Our staff are CSCS card holders, and our drillers also hold NVQ qualifications. The company has detailed Safety, Health and Environment procedures, and is CHAS accredited.

Latest Projects

Norwich
Residential

Norwich

Southampton
Commercial & Industrial

Southampton

Robertsbridge
Brownfield Redevelopment

Robertsbridge, East Sussex

Request a Call Back

Feel free to contact us directly. Alternatively, if you would like us to contact you, please fill out the form with your details and we will get in touch.