Understanding the project and getting to where you want to be
Our site feasibility and assurance process provides a detailed understanding of project parameters and challenges before the design phase begins. This includes conducting a desktop study of existing data to assess extents, risks, costs, and land designations. Project-level investigations are identified, managed, and reviewed as part of the process. Our programme delivery team holds more than 100 years experience working within local authorities and we will provide guidance and support in the following:
- Exploring innovative and sustainable treatment solutions for long-term benefits
- Maximizing efficiency through whole-life cost analysis and a strategic works package approach
- Implementing the right interventions at the optimal stage of your asset’s lifecycle
- Evaluating material advantages and limitations to ensure the most effective treatment is applied in the right location.
Taking a Hands-on Approach
We are engineer's at heart, and we perform detailed visual condition surveys, inspecting pavement and drainage defects, ironwork, lining, signing, and street lighting. Our experienced team can deliver a wide variety of support services through the assurance phase including:
- Core sampling
- Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) testing
- Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
- 2D & 3D Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- Trial holes
- Visual Condition Surveys (VCS) & Automated CHART Surveys
Core Sampling & Testing
Effective highway maintenance requires an understanding of how paved assets have been constructed and maintained, and clients often need to investigate pavement construction to help determine strength of underlying base layers, level of unbound material, and drainage characteristics. We drill, reinstate, log, and analyse over 10,000 samples annually and we are capable of drilling to 1m in depth through bituminous and cementitious layers with core barrel diameters of 100mm, 150mm, 200mm and 300mm.
Ground bearing capacity and CBR can be determined by DCP testing and we offer PAK-Marker and PAH testing to ensure a comprehensive pavement evaluation is undertaken in accordance with national standards.
Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
Falling Weight Deflectometer is a non-destructive technique used to assess the structural capacity and performance of pavements by measuring their deflection under a load. FWD data is also critical to determining if the structural capacity of a pavement is fit for purpose during the design phase. FWD benefits and applications include:
- Assess the remaining life of the pavement and identify pavement rehabilitation and overlay requirements
- Conduct ‘whole of life’ costs and economic cost benefit analysis of alternate pavement designs
- Report layer moduli (stiffness), deflection, curvature, and sub-grade CBR
- Quality assure recent works to ensure they meet design life criteria
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
GPR is a non-destructive pavement survey technique for identifying the thickness of the different paving layers, voids, or areas of damage. This method of subsurface profiling uses electromagnetic pulses transmitted into the pavement, and when the pulse encounters a change in material properties (e.g. pavement layer, pipe, reinforcement bar, etc.) the energy bounces off the target and returns to a receiving antenna. This returning signal is recorded as single line scans, colour coded, and stacked to create a detailed subsurface profile.
Our 3D GPR multi-channel array, which operates at traffic-speed, overcoming the limitations and expense of more traditional methods, can determine pavement make up, thickness of individual layers, construction changes, services, voids, and high moisture locations. This survey technique delivers numerous and significant benefits for our clients by providing a greater understanding of the sub-surface make-up and condition of paved network assets, as well as providing a safer and more cost-effective survey methodology. We can support you with your projects from small schemes to full network coverage.
We also utilise the latest Proceq GPR Subsurface GS8000, which provides intuitive real-time visualization in 2D and 3D alongside superior data clarity. The GS8000 is a light weight and easy to use GPR device perfect for providing single line scans in remote locations where traffic speed surveys are not possible.
GPR applications include:
- Pavement thickness measurement
- Subsurface void detection
- Evaluating pavement integrity
- Detection of reinforcement steel (rebar)
- Assessing subgrade conditions
- Locating underground utilities
- Foundation layer evaluation
- Monitoring pavement deterioration over time
- Filter drain assessments
- Bridge deck inspections
- Layer interface mapping
- Detecting water infiltration.
Why Choose XAIS-PTS?
At XAIS-PTS our team has a wealth of experience, and we deliver comprehensive scheme feasibility & assurance services in support of our surveying, software, asset management, materials testing, and certification services.
If you have any questions or queries about our services, please contact us today – our team will be more than happy to have a conversation with you regarding your project requirements!