The International Association of Dredging Contractors (IADC) has released its new ‘Facts About’ publication on Site Investigations.
‘Facts About’ is a series of concise, easy-to-read leaflets which give an effective overview of essential facts about specific dredging and maritime construction subjects.
Each leaflet provides a kind of ‘management summary’ for stakeholders who need a quick understanding of a particular issue.
These leaflets are part of IADC’s on-going effort to support clients, consultants and others in understanding the fundamental principles of dredging and maritime construction because providing effective information to all involved parties is an essential element in achieving a successful dredging project.
Facts About: Site Investigations
Site investigations are no longer a guessing game. With modern techniques and computer-based site investigations they are an integral part of any marine construction project.
Especially because the risks of encountering “unforeseen” material persist and are not only inconvenient, but also time-consuming and invariably costly. Accurate preparation will help define the design of the project, the type of equipment needed and will limit, as much as possible, conflicts arising unforeseen conditions. This is a feasible goal.
A well-designed site investigation informs all parties – the contractor, the client and the stakeholders – and reduces risks and uncertainties.
Site investigations are the first step toward a successful project. One of the most frequent causes of delay and additional unexpected, unbudgeted costs is an inadequate site investigation.
In some dredging and maritime construction projects, primarily maintenance operations, information may already be available. Some large contractors have databases with the results of previous investigations.
In those cases a desk study examining existing data may suffice.
For most capital dredging projects, however, thorough inspection of the entire area is crucial. The most recent data is important because conditions change and earlier investigations may not wholly represent the present situation.
For land reclamation projects, site investigations should include both the site of the dredging project, as well as the site of the borrow pit where fill is being extracted.
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