About Us Previous Projects

CG Previous Projects

All of CG’s experienced management team have extensive knowledge and proven track-records of the environment within which they operate.

CG's Track Record highlight's what the team has been involved in which exemplifies the depth of experience in the Company and is given to demonstrate the diversity of expertise.

 

Port and Harbour Development

ullapoolProject: Site investigation for Ullapool Harbour development

Client: Ullapool Harbour Trust
 

To provide for the future construction of extended storage, handling and parking facilities at the UK's second largest fish handling port and Western Isles ferry terminal, Caledonian Geotech were engaged to quantify tidal current sand access conditions for foundation engineering and investigate potential sources of backfill material.


This investigation comprised hydrographic, marine geophysical survey, grab and dredge sampling, drilling from a platform and the inspection of existing structures. Studies across a preselected dredge area towards the open sea and at a quarry near the town concluded that the former offered suitably composed and graded sediment for backfill requirements. Indeed, only some 0.3m would need to be skimmed off the 11-12m thick deposits to afford the necessary volumes. Underwater photography identified damage to the existing piers and the necessity to clear fishing debris prior to construction. Caledonian Geotech completed the contract with the drawing up of design criteria for an anchored sheet pile retaining wall which was to comprise the first phase of construction.

skyProject: Skye Bridge Geophysical Survey

Client: Miller/Morrison/Trafalger House

 

A feasibility study for a proposed road crossing between the mainland and the Isle of Skye included hydrographic/geophysical surveys of three possible routes in 1985. Caledonian Geotech recommended the presently adopted route as being the least problematical.


In February 1990 a detailed geophysical survey of the selected route revealed the presence of disadvantageous geological structures and high water current velocities, not hitherto recorded. Despite extreme weather conditions, fieldwork was rapidly and successfully completed in response to a tight time schedule and a complex report was issued within six days of the cessation of field operations. Caledonian Geotech identified geological structures which required particular attention owing to their potential engineering implications. The firm proposed a scientifically appropriate programme of work for investigating these features safely, cost effectively and in detail, as an alternative to expensive and potentially hazardous drilling in deep water.

 

Pipeline Inspection

gas_mProject: Survey of Pipeline River Crossing

Client: Transco

 

 

In order to confirm the integrity of their installations, Transco engaged Caledonian Geotech to undertake surveys of 23 sites where gas transmission pipelines pass beneath river channels. The project was particularly intended to monitor the condition of the crossing together with depth of burial of the pipeline, its consequent potential exposure to undesirable external influences and the condition of the adjacent river banks.


A variety of tasks was completed during the survey. Detection of the pipelines, in both plan and elevation, was achieved with an EM locator unit modified to operate with a submersible marine antenna. Once identified, the topography of the river banks and bathymetry of the bed were surveyed. The susceptibility of the crossing and the adjacent reaches to erosion was examined by an engineering geologist and a photographic record maintained for future reference. Any exposed pipeline sections were videotaped. The contract provided the Client with guidelines on his requirement for operational maintenance and indicated the locations of potential scour and erosion.

 

coastalerosion_mProject: Coastal Erosion

Client: Oil Companys

 

 

 

Onshore Investigation

road_mProject:Investigation of highway Subsidence

Client: Highland Regional Council


Caledonian Geotech were engaged to undertake an investigation of a newly constructed road which crosses the moor of the Mhoine to ascertain the reasons for the sudden appearance of large subsidence hollows within the carriageway and to estimate the potential for future failures. The complex nature of the geological weaknesses necessitated the progressive employment of a variety of investigative techniques. These included normal and infra-red air photography, engineering geological mapping, topographic survey, seismic refraction and ground probing radar.


A number of natural depressions, which were observed from air photography to traverse the moor, followed lines directly associated with the underlying geology. Seismic refraction and ground-radar traverses across such lines revealed a number of cavities within the bedrock surface, partially infilled by till. Geological mapping confirmed that joint patterns within the rock would result in joint intersections occurring at the positions of the cavities. Water seepage through the peat resulted in mobilisation of the till, which had drained, at such localities, down into the body of the rock, thereby undermining the peat and creating the topographic depressions. The original investigation had not permitted an understanding of this natural mechanism to be gained, and the construction of the new road, using the classical approach of peat removal had thereby artificially induced a much larger scale version of the subsidence phenomenon.

tayside_mProject: Coastal Protection Study

Client: Tayside Regional Council


This long term, multi-phased project studied the whole of the Tayside Region coast between Dundee and Montrose, at the eastern end of the Midland Valley of Scotland. The initial phase identified areas currently suffering erosion and the various mechanisms at work, assessed criticality and made general proposals for possible remedial action. Later phases provided for more detailed investigations at seven actively eroding sites and for the recommendation of specific defensive measures.


In addition to annual progress reports, a total of 19 interim reports were produced by Caledonian Geotech to cover topics such as the evaluation of existing defences, the deterioration of footpaths; the performance of specific remedial measures such as sand fencing, sand banding, dune growth and stabilisation; the deterioration of gabion defences, and proposals for experimental schemes. The field work included land survey, wave rider buoy measurement, radar assessment of wave direction, marine geophysics, bathymetry and stereo-oblique helicopter air photography. In addition to the recommendations for remedial programmes and continued monitoring, various coastal management schemes were designed and data prepared for input to a future coastal model.