Geotechnical engineering and geological services are offered to our clients from qualified and experienced professionals that are familiar with today's construction practices, current building codes, and latest technological advancements in our industry. A summary of these services are provided below:
Geotechnical Evaluation 
SPC has extensive experience in all phases of field exploration, ranging from simple site reconnaissance to detailed investigations of adverse soil conditions.
Some of the typical steps that are taken to perform the investigations include:
- Review of background information, historical aerial photos, topographic maps and plans, in-house files, and other pertinent information
- Field reconnaissance and subsurface investigation including soil sample collection, evaluation of subsurface stratigraphy, geologic hazards, and ground water
- Laboratory testing of the collected soil samples to identify the index and strength characteristics of the soils in order to model soil behavior
Foundation Design & Recommendations
Over the years, SPC has provided numerous designs for foundation systems that have included:
- Spread footings
- Pad footings
- Mat foundations
- Driven piles
- Drilled piers/piles/caissons
- Micro piles
- Ground Improvement
Engineering recommendations are provided to deal with problem soils including: compressible, expansive, collapsible, corrosive, liquefiable, and saturated soils.
Slope Stability 
SPC provides geotechnical recommendation services for design of fill and cut slope, landslide repairs, as well as rehabilitating failed slopes. Our company utilizes state-of-the-art software to determine the stability of slopes and formulate repairs. Our services include professional design of the following: stabilization fills, buttress fills, shear keys, shear pins, tie backs, geosynthetic reinforcement, and soil treatment.
Retaining Structures 
SPC provides design services for various types of retaining structures that include the following: soldier piles and lagging, braced excavations, cantilever, basement, MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth), modular, tie backs, soil nails, shoring, and gravity.
Pavement Engineering 
SPC provides a number of pavement engineering services for new construction as well as rehabilitation of deteriorated pavements. Some of these services include non-destructive pavement evaluations, pavement coring, subgrade sampling and testing, and pavement analysis, design, and repair recommendations.
Performance Monitoring & Field Instrumentation 
SPC provides services for installation and monitoring of field instrumentation to evaluate the performance of: foundations, floor slabs, retaining walls and structural cracking.
Field instrumentation is also utilized to monitor: slope and landslide movement, groundwater levels, and vapor emissions.
Seismic & Dynamic Analysis 
SPC provides consulting services for seismic design and analysis that follow the current governing codes, including liquefaction, lateral spread, seismic settlement, seismic slope stability, and ground motion hazard analysis.
Additionally, SPC provides evaluation and analysis of construction vibrations as they relate to construction damage, such as pile driving, drilling, blasting, and earthwork activities.
Engineering Geology
The geologic conditions at a site can play a significant role in determining the economic feasibility and constructability of proposed developments or construction projects. SPC’s licensed staff of professional geologists, engineering geologists, and hydrogeologists are experienced in the collection and interpretation of geologic data to address potential geologic and seismic hazards that can affect our client’s projects. Our in-house personnel have expertise in the following areas:
- Earthwork and grading
- Geologic hazard evaluations
- Seismic hazard assessments
- Slope stability/landslide evaluations
- Feasibility studies
- Hydrogeological studies
- Earthquake fault studies for private developers, public agencies, contractors, and engineering firms.
Feasibility Studies
Preliminary studies provide our clients with and early assessment of the geologic constraints, which could greatly influence the project feasibility or design. Engineering geologic investigations often involve:
- Research and review of published geologic maps
- Research and review of fault/seismic hazard data
- Field geologic mapping
Studies also commonly involve subsurface exploration to determine the extent and geologic condition of the soil, bedrock, and groundwater beneath the site. SPC staff are experienced with a wide range of geologic data acquisition methods utilized during excavation and logging of exploratory trenches and bore holes, sampling of soil, bedrock and groundwater, and monitoring of slope movement or groundwater conditions.
Fault Studies & Seismicity
SPC's objective is to identify the geologic conditions at the site that could present potential hazards to a proposed development or may require special mitigation measures or design recommendations. Our studies include:
- Earthquake fault hazard zones - ground cracking, rupture, and settlement
- Seismic shaking hazard zones - liquefaction potential, lateral spreading, and tsunamis
- Slope stability – landslides, mudflows, rock fall, and erosion
- Soils – Collapsible, expansive, compressive, and organic (peat)
- Groundwater conditions and potential for surface flooding
Geologic Hazards
The objective of a geologic hazard investigation is to develop the best possible understanding of geologic conditions so that information can be used to mitigate any identified hazards and to reduce future risks. SPC provides services for identification of geologic hazards that include:
- Surface mapping
- Subsurface investigation
- Installation and monitoring of slope inclinometers
- Geologic modeling of materials underlying a slope
- Landslide investigation
The above tasks can lead to the following analyses:
- Fault location studies to evaluate the presence of active faulting and fault rupture potential
- Deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard analyses to evaluate potential earthquake magnitudes and anticipated ground accelerations, and to provide seismic design recommendations to the project design team
- Evaluation of the potential impacts of shallow subsurface ground water conditions on the planning, design, and construction phases of a proposed development
- Hydrological studies to identify the groundwater conditions for water resource potential, design construction dewatering, and assessment of hazards related to slope stability and liquefaction potential
- Investigations of the various types of potentially damaging slope stability problems (including landslides, debris flows, rock falls, erosion, soil settlement, and slope creep) are intended to assess the potential risks associated with hillside properties, and to develop recommendations for appropriate mitigation or repair
Hydrogeological Studies
SPC has the capability to evaluate the hydrogeological conditions and movement of groundwater through soil media to assist constructability given specific groundwater conditions, groundwater monitoring, and other needs.