Geotechnical Engineering
From subsurface investigation and foundation design to slope stability and ground improvement, we deliver the subsurface solutions that every successful project is built on.
What We Do
OUR CORE EXPERTISE
PRI’s geotechnical team delivers practical, technically sound engineering solutions for complex subsurface challenges across Western Canada and internationally. We combine deep theoretical knowledge with pragmatic field experience, adept at working in diverse environments ranging from dense urban centres to remote, mountainous terrain. By integrating closely with our in-house civil, structural and environmental disciplines, we provide seamless project delivery that mitigates subsurface risk and optimizes design. Our expertise spans the full project lifecycle for transportation, energy, mining, marine and municipal infrastructure sectors, ensuring robust and cost-effective earth structures and foundation solutions.
- Transportation & Infrastructure
- Earth & Environment
- Energy and Resources
- Renewable Energy
- Property and Buildings
Transportation & Infrastructure
THE FOUNDATION THAT KEEPS COMMUNITIES MOVING
We deliver geotechnical engineering services for transportation and municipal infrastructure across a wide range of ground conditions and project environments. Our work focuses on constructability, serviceability, and risk management, supporting both linear corridors and community-scale infrastructure through design, construction, and rehabilitation.
- Embankment stability and settlement performance
- Cut slopes, slope stabilization, and landslide remediation
- Rock cut design and rockfall mitigation
- Ground-related risks along highways, rail and corridor alignments
- Shallow and deep foundations for bridges and transportation structures
- Culverts and associated buried structures
- Ground–structure interaction and deformation considerations
- Underground utilities including water, wastewater, and stormwater systems
- Pump stations, manholes, and buried infrastructure
- Roadworks, local streets, and servicing infrastructure
- Excavation support and trench stability for municipal works
- Pavement evaluation, design, and rehabilitation
- Subgrade performance under traffic loading
- Emergency response for slope failures and infrastructure distress
- Rapid stabilization and recovery of transportation infrastructure
- Support for projects in remote and constrained environments
- Over-water and near-shore geotechnical investigations
- Marine pile behaviour and shoreline stabilization
Earth & Environment
SUBSURFACE KNOWLEDGE THAT GROUNDS EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION
We provide geotechnical engineering services for projects where soil–structure water interaction, natural hazards, and environmental conditions govern design, performance, and long-term risk. Our work focuses on water-retaining earth structures, unstable terrain, and sites influenced by groundwater and surface water conditions. We support both new infrastructure and the assessment and rehabilitation of existing assets across a wide range of geological and hydrological environments.
- Dams, dikes, levees, and water-retaining earth structures
- Flood protection works and river training systems
- Foundation characterization and treatment for hydraulic structures
- Stability, deformation, and performance of earth structures
- Rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure
- Landslides, rockfall, debris flows, and slope instability
- Terrain assessment and hazard identification
- Runout evaluation and hazard extent characterization
- Risk-based assessment and setback recommendations
- Mitigation planning and integration with design teams
- Groundwater and seepage interaction with earthworks and foundations
- Dewatering and groundwater control for construction and permanent works
- Integration of soil–structure–water behaviour into geotechnical design
- Support for infrastructure in high groundwater and flood-affected environments
- Flood impacts and infrastructure vulnerability considerations
- Adaptation of earthworks and foundations to evolving climate conditions
Renewable Energy
BUILDING THE RENEWABLE FUTURE FROM THE GROUND UP
We deliver geotechnical engineering services for renewable energy developments across diverse ground conditions. As part of the evolving energy sector, our work supports efficient, large-scale project delivery with a focus on foundation performance, constructability, and repeatable design approaches. Transportation, Energy, Land Development, and Building sectors.
- Wind turbine foundations
- Solar facility grading and foundation support
- Energy storage and ancillary infrastructure
- Site development and constructability for large-scale projects
Energy & Resources
SOLID GROUND FOR THE INDUSTRIES THAT KEEP THE WORLD RUNNING
We provide geotechnical engineering services for energy and resource projects where performance is governed by large earthworks, variable ground conditions, and elevated consequence of failure. Our work supports industrial facilities and containment systems across the full project lifecycle, with a focus on constructability, operational performance, and long-term risk.
- Tailings storage facilities, waste rock dumps, and containment systems
- Performance of large earth structures under staged construction and operational loading
- Seepage behaviour and control for containment and environmental compliance
- Open-pit slope stability and underground excavation support
- Assessment of existing and legacy mining infrastructure
- Foundations for substations, transmission, and distribution structures
- Foundations for heavy industrial and process facilities
- Earthworks and site development for energy projects
- Earthworks and site development for energy projects
- Pipeline infrastructure and trenching condition assessment
- Trenchless crossings, including HDD feasibility and design input
- Ground-related risks along corridors, including slope instability and difficult ground
- Construction and performance considerations for buried infrastructure
Property & Buildings
SOLID GROUND FOR THE BUILDINGS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND GATHER.
We deliver geotechnical engineering services for buildings and developments where foundation performance, excavation support, and interaction with adjacent infrastructure govern design and constructability. Our work supports projects from site development through construction, with a focus on practical solutions, coordination with design teams, and risk management in urban and constrained environments.
- Land development, subdivision, and redevelopment projects
- Earthworks, grading, and site preparation
- Ground conditions influencing site layout and servicing
- Shallow and deep foundation systems for buildings and structures
- Settlement and ground–structure interaction assessment
- Ground improvement to support foundation performance
- Excavation support and earth-retention systems
- Below-grade structures and deep excavations
- Interface with adjacent infrastructure and existing development
Specialty Services
SOLUTIONS FOR SUBSURFACE CHALLENGES THAT DEFY A STANDARD APPROACH.
We provide specialist geotechnical services that support and enhance our sector-based work. These services are applied where ground-related risk, uncertainty, or consequence governs feasibility, design, constructability, or long-term performance.
- Terrain and geohazard assessments
- Hazard mechanism, frequency, and runout evaluation
- Risk-based geohazard assessment and setback recommendations
- Mitigation planning and integration with detailed design teams
- Seismic hazard interpretation and ground motion selection
- Site response analysis
- Liquefaction triggering, settlement, and lateral deformation assessment
- Seismic slope stability and deformation analyses
- Seismic performance evaluation of foundations, earthworks, and retaining systems
- Groundwater characterization and seepage assessment
- Dewatering and groundwater drawdown evaluation
- Flood routing and flood impact assessment
- Integration of groundwater and surface-water effects into geotechnical design
- Drilling and test pit investigations, including auger and rotary methods
- Cone penetration testing (CPT and SCPT)
- Standard, Becker, and dynamic penetration testing
- Field vane shear, pressuremeter, and in-situ strength testing
- Geophysical surveys and installation of geotechnical instrumentation
- Construction-phase geotechnical review and field support
- Verification of earthworks, foundations, retaining systems, and ground improvement
- Field density and compaction testing, subgrade evaluation, and proof rolling
- Support for trenchless construction and specialty installation methods
- Instrumentation monitoring and performance verification during construction
- Support for RFIs, differing site conditions, and project close-out
Materials & Laboratory Testing
RIGOROUS TESTING. RELIABLE RESULTS. SOLID DECISIONS.
We provide laboratory and materials testing services to support geotechnical design, construction verification, and quality control. Our capabilities include advanced soil testing programs for complex geotechnical analysis, supported by CCIL-certified materials testing and established quality assurance systems.
- CCIL-certified materials testing, including aggregate, concrete, and asphalt for construction quality control
- Soil classification and index testing to support geotechnical interpretation and design
- Compaction and strength testing programs for earthworks and foundation verification
- Advanced soil mechanics testing, including triaxial, consolidation, and direct shear testing for design-level analysis
- Specialized large-scale testing, including large direct shear (LDS) testing for interface strength and soil–structure interaction