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Project Experience - Geotechnical

• Geotechnical Investigations and Assessments
• Geotechnical Design and Computer Modelling
• Slope Stability and Landslip Risk Assessment
• Laboratory and Field Testing
• Pavement Assessment and Rehabilitation
• Land Capability and Site Classifications
• Dam and Water Storage Investigations and Design
• Geotechnical Instrumentation
• Quality Assurance for compaction
• Distressed Structures
• Landfill Containment Cell Design

Geotechnical Investigations and Assessments

	Project: Batesford Quarry Rehabilitation, Geelong Project Owner/Client: Fisher Stewart Services Provided: Geotechnical Investigation Description: A geotechnical investigation on the stability of the quarry walls was undertaken for the proposed rehabilitation works at the Batesford Limestone Quarry. Mining is due to cease at the end of this year after a century of operation. With the cessation of mining, and dewatering, the mine is expected to fill with water and form a lake. Analysis of the slopes was complicated by a variable geology that included secondary cementation, basalt flows and variable sand to clay ratios. Further, it is not known how the groundwater will respond once the pumping has ceased. The geotechnical properties were determined by laboratory testing and back-analysis. Computer modelling of the proposed quarry slopes, both during and after filling of the lake, was undertaken.
	Project: Western ring Road Project Owner/Client: Keleher & Associates Services Provided: Geotechnical Investigation Description: You may have noticed a string of new signs along the Western Ring Road. The signs are bigger, bolder and more frequent, so there’s plenty of warning before turn-offs. The locations of the new signs are shown on the map, left. Piper and Associates conducted the geotechnical investigations for the foundations of the signs as vehicles whizzed past. We experienced first hand some of the wind loadings that these signs need to be able to withstand.
Project: Pentridge Village Project Owner/Client: Herbert Geer & Rundle Lawyers Services Provided: Geotechnical Investigation Description: Piper and Associates has a history of involvement with the development of the Pentridge site. John Piper conducted the original geotechnical investigation for the Jika Jika high security building when it was a prison in the 1970’s. Piper and Associates were engaged to identify the edges and depth of the original quarries on the site and their suitability for parkland, and then to test the subgrade materials for the design of roads.

Geotechnical Design and Computer Modelling

Project: La Peruse Development
Project Owner/Client: Australand
Services Provided: Geotechnical Investigation & Computer Modelling
Description: The site is between a golf course and the river with the bay within walking distance. However the site is located over a substantial thickness of soft swamp clays. Due to the need to fill the site and allow access, considerable settlements were expected. Construction measures to overcome these settlements were required. Geotechnical instrumentation of trial banks, geotechnical investigations and laboratory testing, proposal of solutions, numerical modelling was used to predict the ground settlements and performance. Field geotechnical monitoring and analyses of the performance of the site during surcharging using the latest analytical techniques enabled the surcharge to be relocated as soon as possible. This allowed the project to proceed, meeting the client’s expected time frame and budget.

Project: Echuca Wastewater Treatment Plant
Project Owner/Client: Earth Tech Engineering
Services Provided: Geotechnical Investigation & Computer Modelling
Description: The new Echuca wastewater treatment plant treats all the wastewater from Echuca, including a large industrial load. Piper and Associates were engaged by the owner, Earth Tech Engineering, to undertake detailed geotechnical investigations. The hardstand area for the treatment plant and associated buildings is some 2 hectares. Settlements of the large tanks and structures were critical for the wastewater treatment facility. Investigation work at the plant included testpits and boreholes. Pressuremeter testing using our own Cambridge high pressure dilatometer was undertaken and the data combined with SPT results and consolidation test results. The geotechnical testing was undertaken in our own NATA accredited laboratory. The results were used not only to determine existing lagoon remediation and new lagoon specifications, but also to design the plant buildings, including the crane foundations for construction.
Computer modelling was used to assess the likely settlements beneath the treatment plant. Piper and Associates also conducted the geotechnical investigation for the associated irrigation storage, near Rochester, to provide reclaimed. Anthony Lane has also undertaken a detailed hydrogeological investigation of this site as part of a litigation action prior to the design and development of the new facility.

Slope Stability and Landslip Risk Assessment

	Project: Mornington Peninsula, Slope Stability GIS Project Owner/Client: Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Services Provided: Regional Mapping of Slope Stability Description: Slope stability on the Mornington Peninsula has become a major issue for the local authorities in the last few years. Areas such as Mt Eliza, Mornington, Portsea, Sorrento, McCrae and others all have slope instability issues. However other areas of the shire have no significant slope stability issues. Piper and Associates has been engaged to assemble data on a regional scale to create a Geographical Information System (GIS) that can be used as a guide to determine the amount of geotechnical investigation required at a site. The work involved firstly combining cadastre details with regional topographical, hydrogeological and geological data and aerial photography covering the entire area. The Shire Council now has a powerful tool for determining the requirements and adequacy of any site investigation and awareness of the areas of instability.
	Project: Hearn Creek Bank Stability Project Owner/Client: Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Services Provided: Slope Stability and Land Slip Assessment Description: Increased runoff due to residential development is causing erosion of creeks and instability of creek banks. Hearn Creek in Mt Martha is a typical example, where erosion and instability has resulted in shrinking backyards and threatened instability of houses. Piper and Associates was engaged initially to carry out a desktop study of the area. This included information gleaned from aerial photographs and back analysis of cross-sections of the creek banks. A full investigation followed later, which involved geological mapping of the outcrops, backed up by geotechnical fieldwork within difficult operating environs. Inclinometers and piezometers were installed along both sides of the creek. Soil samples collected during the drilling were tested in our NATA registered laboratory. Detailed computer slope stability analysis was undertaken. The results of these analyses are consistent with the early inclinometer readings. Remedial actions were recommended and will be implemented in the near future.
	Project: Prospect Hill Apartment Project Owner/Client: Breese, Pitt Dixon Services Provided: Slope Stability and Land Slip Assessment Description: The apartments are designed for retirees and are in a top location for access to the famous Camberwell Junction, as well as express trains to the city. The development includes a lower ground floor and a basement up to 5metres below the ground surface. Adjacent buildings are the Safeway supermarket to the south and the Masonic Lodge to the west. The basement level of the supermarket was about 7.5metres below the proposed basement level of the apartment development. Meanwhile, the Masonic Lodge is an old building built of solid masonry and potentially sensitive to settlements caused by the demolition and construction works. A recommended construction procedure was developed to prevent any damage. The results are very pleasing and the apartments are sure to be an attractive way for retirees to keep in touch with the cosmopolitan character of the Junction for many years.

Laboratory and Field Testing

Piper and Associates provides geotechnical and environmental services to the building, civil engineering and mining industry with specialist services for assessment of land contamination and water treatment facilities. The firm is wholly Australian owned with over 20 years experience in geotechnical consulting engineering.
The company was formed in 1988 and since that time has conducted thousands of geotechnical and environmental investigations throughout Victoria and southern N.S.W. The company has a team of specialist geotechnical engineers and geotechnicians, and is backed by a NATA accredited soils laboratory. The investigation work may include field and laboratory testing, together with sophisticated computer analyses. We are committed to excellence in the geotechnical field and have a reputation form completing projects on time and within budget.

Project: Pulp and Paper Mill, Tumut
Project Owner/Client: Visy
Services Provided: Laboratory and Field Testing
Description: Piper and Associates were engaged as geotechnical consultants on the team which prepared the Environmental Impact Statement for the $300 million Pulp and Paper Mill in Tumut, N.S.W. The geotechnical work was later extended to include a preliminary assessment of the proposed mill site.
Boreholes were drilled and testpits excavated across the sites, followed by laboratory testing of soil samples in our NATA registered laboratory. A number of sites were evaluated with recommendations for two clay lined storages. The major feature of the development was a 1200 ML waste water winter storage and a 200 ML water storage.

Pavement Assessment and Rehabilitation

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Land Capability and Site Classifications

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Dam and Water Storage Investigations and Design

Project: Great Western Winter Storage
Project Owner/Client: Fisher Stewart, Melbourne
Services Provided: Regional Mapping of Slope Stability
Description: Piper and Associates were the geotechnical consultants for this major wastewater reuse scheme. The storage consisted of a mixed liner; the lower level area consisting of a clay liner and the upper sloping area consisting of Bentofix. The mixture of liners avoided the need to remove the granite bedrock. The liners were underlain by an underdrainage system to prevent uplift pressures from groundwater, decrease the seepage losses into the environment and assist in the construction of the storage. Vibrating wire piezometers were installed below the liners to monitor the uplift pressures. The collected water was recycled back to the storage. The thorough geotechnical and hydrogeological investigation resulted in this complex project being completed on time and budget.

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Quality Assurance for compaction

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Distressed Structures

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