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
We help clients address complex subsurface challenges across Canada and internationally. Our team combines field investigations, soil and rock characterization testing, and geotechnical engineering to develop practical solutions grounded in a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions. Ground-related risk affects feasibility, cost, constructability, and long-term performance. Drawing on field data, laboratory testing, and engineering judgment, we provide practical, defensible recommendations for projects in urban environments, remote locations, and challenging terrain. Through our network of CCIL-certified laboratories, we also provide materials testing, quality assurance, and construction support services throughout project development.
- Site Investigation and Subsurface Characterization
- Foundations and Soil-Structure Interaction
- Slopes, Embankments, Earthworks
- Retaining Structures and Excavation Support
- Pavement Engineering
- Geohazard Assessment and Mitigation Planning
- Seismic Geotechnical Engineering
- Hydrogeological, Hydrotechnical, and Climate Resilience Services
- Soil and Rock Mechanics Testing
- Construction Phase Geotechnical Services
- Field and Laboratory Testing (3 CCIL-Certified Laboratories)
- Transportation & Infrastructure
- Earth & Environment
- Energy and Resources
- Renewable Energy
- Property and Buildings
Site Investigation Services
SUBSURFACE INSIGHT FOR ANY TERRAIN, ANYWHERE.
We provide geotechnical site investigation services for projects in densely populated urban environments, mountainous terrain, and remote or northern settings. Our experience includes planning and executing complex subsurface exploration programs under challenging environmental, logistical, and health and safety constraints. Our investigations are designed to support project-specific geotechnical risks and proposed works. Programs typically begin with a comprehensive desktop review of available information, including regional geology, published mapping, aerial imagery, water well data, and internal project databases, and are refined to suit site conditions, access limitations, and project objectives. Field investigations are completed under the direction and supervision of PRI engineers and geoscientists, with drilling, in-situ testing, and geophysical services provided by qualified specialty contractors. The resulting information is interpreted by our geotechnical professionals to characterize subsurface conditions, evaluate project risks, and develop design recommendations.
- Auger drilling and hand auger investigations
- Mud rotary, sonic, ODEX, and rock coring drilling methods
- Test pit excavation
- Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) and Seismic CPT (SCPT)
- Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)
- Field vane shear testing
- Pressuremeter testing
- Dynamic Cone Penetration Testing (DCPT)
- Becker Penetration Testing (BPT) and Instrumented BPT (iBPT)
- Packer testing and in‑situ permeability testing
- Seismic and electrical geophysical surveys
- Installation and monitoring of geotechnical instrumentation
Foundations & Soil-Structure Interaction
WHERE GROUND CONDITIONS MEET STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE
We provide foundation engineering and soil structure interaction services for buildings, bridges, transportation infrastructure, substations, transmission facilities, renewable energy projects, and heavy industrial developments. Our work focuses on understanding how soil and rock conditions influence foundation performance and on developing practical, cost-effective foundation solutions appropriate for project requirements and risk. Our foundation services are applied where ground conditions, loading requirements, performance criteria, or constructability considerations influence foundation selection and design.
- Shallow foundation design, including spread footings, strip footings, mats, and rafts
- Deep foundation design, including driven piles, drilled shafts, micropiles, and specialty foundation systems
- Bearing capacity, settlement, and deformation assessment
- Lateral foundation resistance and load transfer evaluation
- Soil-structure interaction analyses for static and seismic loading
- Foundation design for transportation, industrial, and renewable energy infrastructure
- Ground improvement assessment and design support
- Foundation rehabilitation, upgrades, and performance evaluation of existing infrastructure
Slopes, Embankments & Earthworks
WHERE SLOPE STABILITY AND CONSTRUCTABILITY COME TOGETHER.
We provide slope engineering, embankment design, and earthworks services for infrastructure, resource, transportation, and development projects. Our work focuses on understanding ground behaviour under construction and operational conditions and on developing practical solutions that achieve required levels of safety, performance, and constructability. Our services are applied where stability, settlement, deformation, groundwater conditions, staged construction, or long-term performance govern project design and risk.
- Natural slope and cut slope stability assessment
- Embankment design and performance evaluation
- Earthworks planning, fill design, and construction staging assessment
- Settlement and deformation analyses
- Landslide remediation and slope stabilization design
- Rock slope assessment, rock cut design, and rockfall mitigation
- Groundwater assessment for slope and earthwork performance
Retaining Structures & Excavation Support
ENGINEERING RETAINING SOLUTIONS FOR THE TIGHTEST OF SITES.
We provide retaining structure and excavation support services for developments, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and constrained urban sites. Our work focuses on managing earth pressures, groundwater conditions, deformation, and constructability requirements while maintaining the safety and performance of adjacent infrastructure and existing development.
- Retaining wall design and review
- Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) wall design and performance evaluation
- Excavation support and temporary shoring design support
- Deep excavation assessment and construction staging review
- Earth pressure evaluation and load development
- Groundwater assessment and dewatering considerations for excavations
- Deformation and movement assessment for adjacent infrastructure and structures
- Below-grade structure support and earth retention systems
- Construction review and performance assessment of retaining and excavation support systems
Pavement Engineering & Transportation Infrastructure
PRACTICAL PAVEMENT ENGINEERING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENDURES
We provide pavement engineering services for transportation, municipal, industrial, commercial, and resource sector projects. Our work includes pavement investigation, design, rehabilitation, and performance assessment for new and existing infrastructure. Recommendations are developed based on subsurface conditions, material properties, traffic loading, environmental factors, and project performance requirements.
- Flexible pavement design for roads, highways, airfields, and industrial facilities
- Rigid pavement design and rehabilitation
- Pavement investigation and condition assessment
- Pavement coring and materials characterization programs
- Traffic loading assessment and pavement design parameter development
- Subgrade characterization and engineering assessment
- Pavement rehabilitation and reconstruction design
- Overlay design and pavement preservation strategies
- Airfield and heavy duty industrial pavement design
- Asset management support and pavement performance evaluation
- Construction review and quality assurance for pavement works
- Forensic assessment of pavement distress, deterioration, and failure mechanisms
Geohazard Assessment & Mitigation Planning
RISK-INFORMED STRATEGIES FOR TERRAIN, SLOPE AND EROSION HAZARDS
We provide geohazard assessment and mitigation planning services for infrastructure and development exposed to terrain, slope and erosion related hazards. Our work focuses on understanding hazard mechanisms, spatial extent, triggering conditions, and consequences, and on developing proportionate, risk-informed mitigation strategies. Our geohazard services are typically applied where standard geotechnical design approaches are insufficient to address site-specific hazard exposure or consequence.
- Terrain and geohazard assessments, including landslides, debris flows, debris floods, erosion, rockfall, avalanches, and channel instability
- Hazard mechanism and frequency evaluation
- Assessment of hazard runout, escalation potential, and impact zones
- Risk‑based evaluation to support land use decisions, infrastructure siting, and design criteria
- Development setback, avoidance, and risk‑management recommendations
- Conceptual and preliminary mitigation strategies proportionate to hazard severity and exposure
- Support to detailed design teams for implementation of mitigation measures, as required
Hydrogeological, Hydrotechnical & Climate Resilience
FOUNDATIONS, SEEPAGE AND STABILITY FOR DAMS, DIKES AND BEYOND.
Geotechnical support for dams, dikes, levees, tailings facilities, and other water-retaining structures. Our work includes foundation characterization and treatment, stability and deformation assessment, seepage evaluation, groundwater and surface water interactions, flood and inundation studies, and support for the rehabilitation or upgrading of existing infrastructure. Climate-related effects, including changes in groundwater conditions, flood hazards, and sea level rise, are considered where relevant to support long-term resilience and performance.
- Foundation characterization and treatment for dams, dikes, levees, and containment structures
- Stability, deformation, and performance assessment of water-retaining earthworks
- Groundwater characterization, seepage assessment, and dewatering support
- Seepage cut-off and drainage system design input
- Assessment of settlement associated with groundwater drawdown
- Rehabilitation, upgrading, and performance review of existing infrastructure
- Evaluation of climate-driven impacts on groundwater conditions, stability, and earthworks performance
- Sea level rise and climate loading considerations for coastal and flood protection infrastructure
Seismic Design & Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
EARTHQUAKE-READY INFRASTRUCTURE, FROM FOUNDATION TO DESIGN
We provide geotechnical earthquake engineering services for infrastructure in seismically active regions. Our seismic capability is integrated across municipal, transportation, water resources, energy, and building projects and supports new construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade works.
- Seismic hazard interpretation and ground motion selection
- Site response analysis for complex soil profiles
- Liquefaction triggering, settlement, and lateral deformation assessment
- Seismic slope stability and deformation analyses
- Dynamic ground deformation assessments for critical infrastructure
- Seismic design and assessment of foundations, retaining structures, embankments, and earthworks
Construction Services
BRIDGING DESIGN AND REALITY THROUGH CONSTRUCTION.
We provide construction-phase geotechnical services to support safe, efficient, and compliant project delivery. Our work focuses on managing ground-related risks during construction, verifying that subsurface conditions and constructed works are consistent with design assumptions, and providing practical solutions when field conditions differ from those anticipated during design. Our construction services are applied throughout project delivery, from pre-construction planning and tender support through construction, commissioning, and project close-out.
- Geotechnical input during project planning, FEED, and tender phases
- Constructability reviews and support for contractor methodologies
- Evaluation of differing site conditions and construction-related geotechnical risks
- Field review of earthworks, excavations, foundations, retaining structures, and temporary works
- Geotechnical quality assurance and construction verification
- Review of deep foundations, ground improvement, and specialty geotechnical systems
- Construction dewatering and groundwater management support
- Instrumentation, monitoring, and performance assessment
- Construction support for trenchless and specialty installation methods
- Post-construction performance evaluation and advisory services
Field and Laboratory Testing
FROM SAMPLES TO SOLUTIONS, TESTED INTEGRATED WITH DESIGN.
We provide field and laboratory testing services to support geotechnical investigations, engineering design, construction quality assurance, and performance verification. Testing programs are tailored to project requirements and integrated with our geotechnical engineering services to develop representative design parameters and verify material performance.
- Field density testing and compaction verification
- Subgrade evaluation and proof rolling
- Soil, rock, aggregate, concrete, asphalt, and grout sampling
- Field logging and verification of subsurface conditions
- Installation and monitoring support for geotechnical instrumentation
- Aggregate testing
- Concrete, mortar, grout, and cement testing
- Asphalt testing
- Construction materials quality assurance and compliance testing
- Interpretation of test results relative to project requirements and specifications
- Particle size distribution and soil classification testing
- Atterberg limits and moisture content testing
- Standard and Modified Proctor compaction testing
- Index testing for geotechnical characterization and material assessment
- Unconfined compression testing
- Triaxial testing (UU, CU, and CD)
- Consolidation and compressibility testing
- Direct shear testing
- Large-scale direct shear testing
- Specialized soil and rock mechanics testing programs