1.

Explain the importance of site investigation prior to any construction works

There are many importance of conducting a site investigation. Site investigation is often known
as studies of physical characteristic of a site which consists of planning, desk study, and site
reconnaissance. The main purpose of site investigation is to gather all the information regarding
site that going to develop. The information should be documented about subsurface condition
and characteristic of foundation that required holding the construction in future. Besides that, site
investigation also plays an important role in commencing of designing in a project. Site
investigation is mainly about documentary studies about the land, site surveys and ground
investigation which includes subsurface investigation and series of lab test that should be
conducted in that site. In other way, site investigation helps us in making recommendations on
the need of the site if development is going to happen by knowing the site history and
characteristics of the site. Based on the data and interpretation of lab test that been conducted in
the site, we will be able to know whether the development is economic and the design proposed
by consultant is safe enough or not. Besides that, client also will be alerted with potential risks
that might happen in future at the site by doing site investigations.
Site investigation also helps us to determine the characteristics of soils on the site, the location of
groundwater and groundwater conditions and the existence of other physical features. This
information helps in the design of an appropriate structural form and alteration of the design if
there is any alteration for the proposed building. The building loads should be safely supported
by the subsoil. Therefore, site investigation helps us in assuring the strength of the soil and the
type of the soil. This will help us in avoiding unreasonable settlements of the building. If the
supporting soil is not strong enough and soft soil, the consultants should recommend other ways
to overcome the problem

7. Describe how you would determine the location of ground water table.
One of the essential parts of water cycle is groundwater. Groundwater is a part of the
precipitation that flow down through the soil. Then, the flow of precipitation reaches rock
materials that saturated with water. Water reaches rock material is stored in the void. The
movement of groundwater is downwards and it is caused by the gravity.To locate groundwater
table accurately, some techniques must be used, and the targeted area must be studied and tested
to determine the hydrologic and geologic features of the site. The above identification is
important for the planning and management of the resources.

The most popular traditional way of identifying the ground water level is by dowsing. Dowsing
method only can use by gifted person to locate groundwater table. The tools of dowsing is
consists of a braze rod of 1m is cut in two halves. Each half of the rod having a 12cm long
handle. This method is carry out by holding the two dowsing rods parallel, loosely and pointing
downwards. This enables the rod to swing freely. To allow the gravity to pull the rods
downwards, the hand must be steady when holding the rod. The rods will swing inwards when
walking slowly over an unknown underground water source. The volume and depth of water in
the ground is indicated by the force of the pull.

Figure 1 shows dowsing method

The first method that used to identify the location of ground water table is by carry out
preliminary survey. Preliminary survey is carrying out in order to collect information which
gives precise data on the places where the groundwater is flow. This survey is done by the
phreatic layer investigators.
Topography is one of the modern methods that used to estimate the groundwater table. Local
vegetation and analysing maps firstly indicates the presence of water. A global geological
analysis can even be carried out for large-scale investigations through the interpretation of aerial
photos or satellites images. These can highlights the presence of the major geological outlines
liable to give rise to the fractures with an identifiable direction or outcrops.
The location of groundwater table can be also determined by using geophysical methods.
Geophysical methods are a different way of determining the groundwater table without drilling
the ground. These method is suitable to be used when the site have hard crystalline rock areas
and unconsolidated sediments.
One of the geophysical methods is electrical resistivity method. This method indicate the amount
of electrical resistances that been induced to the ground. The resistances of electric depend on
many factors such as particle size, mineral, and density of soil and soil type. The data from this
test will show us the geological composition of the site.

Figure 2 shows electrical resistivity method

Another geophysical method that can be used is seismic refraction method. Seismic refraction
method is mainly about measuring the speed of the shockwave traveling through the ground. The
wave travel at different speed depends on the density of geological composition of the site. The
timing of arrival of shockwave can help us to show us the density of different composition of
material at varied depth.

Figure 3 shows seismic refraction method