WHEN developing assets or infrastructure, early and thorough preparation is vital to avoid delays and increased costs. One of the higgest contributors to operational risk in the built environment is uncertainty in the condition and structure of common materials like concrete, asphalt and ballast and the key to effective preparation is to properly deal with this uncertainty. Engineering geophysics is a crucial step in risk management and can deliver multiple benefits across a variety of asset types, such as road, rail, infrastructure, foundations, tunnels and utilities. In characterising a development site, geophysical screening can identify where potential ground problems lie before committing to costly and labour-intensive intrusive investigations which, in turn, can lead to unwanted disruption to asset owners and users. With an effective geophysical toolkit at their disposal, specialist service providers can apply the latest technology, expertise and different geophysical methods in a wide range of market sectors and environments. Enhanced by georeferenced digital models (digital twins or building information modelling (BIM) models) that provide a single point of reference for a project, the specialist advice they provide can support the management and maintenance of networks and assets and deliver significant savings in cost and time.
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