Ground Improvement

M+EG provides evaluation and design services for varies types of ground improvement which include:
  • Surcharge and preload to control ground settlements, which could also combined with additional drainage (e.g. wick drains) to reduce the durations of surcharge/preload if required;
  • Use of lightweight fills to control post-construction settlement;
  • Ground densification using vibratory methods such as vibro-replacement (stone columns), vibro-compaction, rapid impact compaction and dynamic compaction;
  • Ground densification using grouting methods such as compaction grouting, permeation grouting and jet grouting;
  • Ground densification using structural elements such as timber piles and concrete/steel piles;
  • Ground densification using soil mixing.

M+EG also provides construction services related to ground improvement:

  • Specifications of ground improvements;
  • Site-specific ground improvement trials to calibrate any assumptions used in the design analyses and to provide performance requirements for the constructions of ground improvement;
  • Site inspection to ensure the constructions of ground improvement are complies with the design basis, specifications and requirements;
  • Evaluation and field monitoring of the impact of ground improvement on adjacent structures/utilities and definition of protection schemes and/or mitigation measures;
M+EG has provided ground improvement design for projects in British Columbia which include:
  • Port Mann / Highway 1 Design-Build Project, Cape Horn Interchange, Coquitlam, BC
    • Surcharge/preload the proposed roads and highways.  Wick drains were also used to reduce the durations of surcharge/preload due to extensive organic materials found at the site.
    • Ground improvement by stone columns to increase the resistance of foundation soils.  Where space and/or utility limitations do not permit the use of stone columns, timber or reinforced pre-cast concrete piles have been used to achieve required ground improvement targets.
    • Lightweight fills (EPS and pumice) were also proposed to control post-construction settlements and seismic stability.

Construction of EPS Embankment at Cape Horn

  • Pitt River Bridge & Mary Hill Bypass Interchange, Port Coquitlam, BC
    • Ground improvement by vibro-replacement (stone columns) was proposed to increase the resistance of the granular foundation layers for earthquake design.

              Top-feed stone column installation at Pitt River

  • 64th Street / 36th Ave. Overpass, Delta, BC
    • Ground improvement by stone columns was proposed to improve the foundation strength of the cohesive layer, and to increase the resistance of the granular soils against liquefaction.
  • 204th Street Overpass Design-Build Project, Langley, BC
    • Lightweight fills (EPS) were designed to construct the bridge abutments to reduce the post-construction settlements and to reduce the differential settlements between the abutments and piled foundations.
  • Bath Slough Pump Station Upgrade, Richmond, BC
    • Ground improvement using timber piles was designed to mitigate liquefaction and associated lateral spread of the dike and pump station foundations.