Before starting any construction project in Costa Rica, understanding the ground beneath it is just as important as designing the structure itself. Geotechnical investigations are the foundation for ensuring safety, cost savings, and regulatory compliance, as they reveal subsurface conditions and enable informed decision-making from the earliest stages of a project.
In this article, we explain what soil studies are, why they’re essential, and in which cases they become an indispensable requirement.
What Is a Geotechnical Investigation?
A geotechnical investigation (also known as a soil investigation) is an analysis that evaluates subsurface conditions—soils, rock, groundwater level, and other physical characteristics of the terrain—before construction begins.
Ambitum’s geotechnical field team conducting a Standard Penetration Test (SPT) during an actual geotechnical investigation in Costa Rica.
This investigation typically includes field (in-situ) testing and laboratory testing, some of which are listed below:
- SPT (Standard Penetration Test), DPL (Dynamic Probing Light), or CPT (Cone Penetration Test) drilling.
- Laboratory tests to determine fundamental soil parameters.
- In-situ infiltration (permeability) testing.
- Compaction analysis and bearing capacity assessment for road design.
- Slope stability analysis and design of stabilization/retaining structures.
What Is a Geotechnical Investigation Used For?
| 1. Safe Foundation Design |
| It determines the soil’s load-bearing capacity, allowing for the selection of appropriate foundations (shallow or deep), mitigating risks of settlement or structural failure. |
| 2. Risk Management |
| It identifies subsurface hazards such as liquefaction, slope instability zones, undermining, or poorly compacted fill, enabling the design of preventive solutions. |
| 3. Financial Security |
| Understanding subsurface conditions from the outset avoids costly over-engineering or mid-project modifications, providing a solid baseline from the early stages of the project. -It’s a valuable tool when investing, as it enables informed decisions about land quality prior to acquisition. -It adds value to land for sale, as it offers buyers greater confidence. |
| 4. Legal Compliance |
| In many cases, geotechnical reports are required to obtain construction permits. |
When Is a Geotechnical Investigation Required?
- For new construction developments, particularly on sites with unknown or irregular conditions.
- When planning multi-story buildings or heavy structures.
- In risk-prone areas such as steep slopes, coastal zones, or sites with known potential for differential settlement or flooding.
- To assess land quality for purchase or sale purposes.
- In condominiums and residential developments when required internally.
- Whenever mandated by regulatory authorities, primarily SETENA, MINAE, or local municipalities.
What Do Ambitum’s Geotechinical Investigations Include?
Field Work:
- Standard (SPT) or dynamic (DPL and CPT) drilling.
- Infiltration or permeability testing.
- Topographic profile surveys.
Technical Report:
- Graphic representation of drilling energy (blow count: N).
- Cohesion values and internal friction angle of the soil based on N.
- Soil bearing capacity and foundation system recommendations.
- Parameters for calculating active and passive earth pressure: Ka and Kp.
- Structural parameters based on seismic zone, in accordance with the Costa Rican Seismic Code 2010.
- Foundation design recommendations.
- Basic design of onsite wastewater treatment systems (STAR).
- Visual description of sampled strata.
- Laboratory testing of samples (moisture content / Atterberg limits / grain size analysis).
- Soil classification according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).
- Analysis of fine-grained soils with liquefaction and expansion potential (when necessary).
If you would like to learn more about our geotechnical studies, please visit the following link: https://www.ambitumcr.com/category/blog/
Whether for residential or commercial, public or private projects, investing in a soil study—even before considering the structural design—reflects safe, responsible project management committed to the developer’s wellbeing.
At Ambitum Geología y Ambiente, we speak English and are ready to guide you every step of the way — reach out to us today.
Contact us for guidance:
Phone: (+506) 8374-7669; 8308-9682; 8303-1235 Email: [email protected]