12 Locations, 1 Field Day, No Shutdown: How We Completed a Pavement Subgrade Investigation Around Active Operations
12 DCP test locations completed in a single field day around active operations at a Western Sydney logistics facility. Ute-mounted SFA rig. Zero shutdown required.
The Challenge: Investigating 12 Locations Without Disrupting a Lively Facility
A civil contractor was tasked with conducting a pavement subgrade investigation at 12 locations within a bustling logistics facility in Western Sydney.
The investigation required shallow boreholes and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing to be conducted across the yard and access corridors. Yet, the drilling could not happen in a vacuum. Loading docks, forklifts, and a steady flow of operational vehicles all had to keep moving as the fieldwork unfolded.
A standard track-mounted rig would have meant more setup time between locations and far more disruption as it navigated the busy operational zones.
The contractor needed a shallow pavement investigation drilling team in Sydney, NSW, capable of moving swiftly between test sites while weaving seamlessly around the facility's daily operations.
The Solution: Bringing the Investigation to Each Spot Without Taking Over the Site
TerraForma Drilling rolled out its ute-mounted Solid Flight Auger (SFA) rig for the job.
Thanks to its configuration, our team was able to move efficiently between the 12 investigation points with minimal setup time at each new position. We coordinated the testing sequence directly with the site supervisor throughout the day, allowing fieldwork to progress around loading dock activity and forklift movements.
The field programme included:
- Completing shallow boreholes to the specified depths across the pavement assessment locations.
- Recovering disturbed soil samples for classification.
- Conducting DCP testing at nominated locations in accordance with AS 1289.6.3.2.
- Sequencing test locations around active vehicle and loading operations.
- Moving between all 12 locations within the same field day with minimal setup between positions.
- Delivering borehole logs and DCP result records to the civil contractor on completion of the day's fieldwork.
The Outcome: 12 Locations Completed Without a Second Field Visit
All 12 investigation locations were completed within a single field day while the logistics facility remained partially operational.
The civil contractor received the bore logs and DCP records that same day, allowing preparation of the pavement investigation report to continue without scheduling another field visit.
The ute-mounted rig proved invaluable for this project. Its nimble mobility let TerraForma Drilling finish the entire investigation within the tight timeframe, sidestepping the lengthy setups a larger tracked rig would have required.
Why Rig Mobility Matters on Active Pavement Investigation Sites
On a bustling industrial or warehouse site, drilling productivity is about more than just the speed of each borehole.
The drilling team often have to move between investigation points while handling forklifts, trucks, loading areas, staff, and other site activities. Equipment requiring lengthy repositioning can turn a relatively straightforward investigation into a much more complex operational exercise.
For a shallow pavement investigation drilling contractor in Sydney, NSW, choosing the right equipment for both the job and the operating environment is key to finishing fieldwork (while keeping site disruption to a minimum).
“Their ute mounted rig worked very well for this site because they could move between locations without taking over the yard. We kept our operations going and they still completed the boreholes testing within the day.”
Frequently Asked Questions
A shallow pavement investigation can include borehole drilling, soil sample recovery, and DCP testing at locations nominated by the consultant or contractor. The required testing, depths, and number of investigation points depend on the project scope along with pavement assessment requirements.
It can be possible where site conditions, safety requirements, and the investigation scope allow it. On this Western Sydney project, TerraForma Drilling coordinated the sequence of 12 test locations with the site supervisor so the facility could remain partially operational while drilling and DCP testing progressed.
A compact, mobile rig can reduce setup and repositioning requirements when an investigation involves multiple shallow test locations. For projects needing a shallow pavement investigation drilling contractor in Sydney, NSW, this might be especially helpful on active facilities where fieldwork needs to fit around existing vehicle and site movements.
Need Pavement Investigation Completed Around an Operating Site?
We offer shallow borehole drilling and DCP testing for pavement investigations throughout the New South Wales region, expertly coordinating fieldwork around active site operations and project requirements.