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Working Groups -
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Business PracticeAGS Guidelines for Good Practice in Site Investigation
Risk and ValueThe AGS will promote these guidelines to Clients with the intention of assisting them in identifying ground hazards and corresponding primary risks at an early stage such that these risks can be better managed during design and construction processes, thereby enabling them to obtain better value for money. AGS will also encourage its members to promote these guidelines for the investigation of all sites, whether brownfield, i.e. potentially contaminated, greenfield or over water. The AGS considers that all AGS members, where and when appropriate, should encourage and assist their Clients such that they jointly implement the following guidelines to reduce risk and add value. ManagementOn all projects appoint a nominated lead professional of Geotechnical Adviser status (ICE, SISG, 1993) who is either part of or can be consulted by the Client/Project Team at all stages of the project through pre-planning, design and construction. Promote a collaborative, project focused approach and encourage open communication between all parties (Client, Consultant, Specialist Contractor(s), and other appropriate specialists). Ensure that a copy of the desk study report is included in the CDM pre-tender Health and Safety Plan for ground investigation fieldwork. Make a copy of the factual and wherever possible interpretative ground investigation reports available to the main contractors and specialist sub-contractors within the pre-tender CDM Health and Safety Plan at construction tender stage. Desk StudyAdvise that a desk study including site reconnaissance and, where appropriate, geomorphological studies be carried out on all sites and that this desk study process be repeated if the proposed end use or site boundaries change. Ensure that the desk study addresses geology, groundwater, geotechnics and the geoenvironment. Contamination issues should also be considered especially for "Brownfield" sites. Reference be made to the largest available scale and most recent geological map (usually 1:10,000) and where appropriate consult a member of the British Geological Survey. Write all geoenvironmental site assessment reports in accordance with the AGS Guide to the Model Document (1996) and use appropriately trained and qualified staff to prepare any interpretation of ground conditions, i.e. geology, geotechnics, hydrogeology and contamination. The report should include reasons for any significant exceptions or limitations, comments on accuracy and in particular identify potential ground hazards, the associated primary risks and consequences to the project and to the Client should these risks occur. Advise that the desk study brief should include for developing the objectives and methodology for phased investigation of the ground conditions and that these be included in the desk study report. Ground InvestigationAll parties should lead by example in carrying out ground investigations to current good practice and in accordance with the AGS - Code of Conduct for Site Investigation with the objective of providing accurate and reliable data to those responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the works. Adopt a recognised, and wherever possible an unamended standard form of contract e.g. ICE 1993 or subsequent revision and award contracts primarily on value for money, e.g. quality, technology and capability criteria and secondly on cost. Recognise that site investigation is by definition exploratory and therefore the extent and/or scope of the investigation may alter to better identify the ground conditions revealed during the process. Hence, the need to direct and supervise the investigation and to remeasure the quantities on completion for payment purposes. Ensure that all ground investigation works are adequately supervised as recommended by the Geotechnical Adviser. AGS recommend collaborative supervision between Consultant and Specialist Investigation Contractor, such that every activity is fully supervised and directed by a suitably qualified professional and that this is separately identified and paid for. Appoint a Chartered (Geotechnical) Engineer or Chartered (Engineering) Geologist in accordance with SISG (ICE 1993) full time on site, typically this would be from the Consultant’s staff to control/direct all major site investigations, say typically where fieldwork is valued at more that £50K or where the complexity of the work requires closer direction. Geoenvironmental investigations of ground and/or groundwater chemistry will require the involvement of, or supervision by, an appropriate specialist e.g. environmental chemist. Ensure that all soil descriptions are carried out by appropriately trained and experienced geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists. The identification of contaminated ground or groundwater will require specialist training and experience. The interpretative report should identify the primary risks (source, pathway, receptor) associated with the influence of the development on any potential or existing contamination on or adjacent to the site and vice versa. Ensure that all reports signed by the originator and checker, show their status according to the Vol 2 ICE SISG (1993) definitions. Ensure that a peer review of all interpretative and design summary reports is carried out at the draft report stage. Ensure that all reports are then signed by a Chartered professional as appropriate to the nature of the investigation works and are approved by the Geotechnical Adviser. TrainingAGS members undertake to maintain training of their professional and field staff in all areas of the site investigation process in order to achieve recognised high standards particularly in logging and reporting. Click here for the summarised and illustrated training paths for geoprofessionals, Responsibility Check List for Site Investigations
Key reference document given in brackets, and listed below FeedbackAGS wishes to broadcast examples of good practice and to demonstrate value for money to Clients. AGS members’ help is required to achieve this objective. Data and case histories for publication in newsletters, journals etc, are encouraged. AGS have established a Business Practice Working Group to implement the AGS Code of Conduct for Site Investigation and to establish means of reviewing member’s compliance. Continuous ImprovementAGS members should encourage Clients to request post project reviews at the end of various key stages of a project, e.g. site investigation, design and construction such that the lessons learned and benefits gained can be incorporated into other works of a similar nature. Similarly, Clients, specifiers or procurers of site investigations are welcome to comment and make suggestions for positive improvement or effectiveness of these guidelines by contacting the AGS Administrator. References
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