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Geotechnical Engineering—Soil and Rock Mechanics/Soil, Rock, and Mining Engineering

Golder has been providing solutions to our clients’ ground engineering challenges around the world for 50 years – our geology and geotechnical engineering team brings a wealth of global expertise to your project and is able to provide services in relation to the following:

Planning and Investigation

  • Desktop Studies
  • Field investigation including in-situ testing and geophysics
  • Geophysical survey and analysis
  • Construction material searches
  • Geological mapping and ground characterisation
  • Pre-feasibility and early engineering studies
  • Natural and man-made hazard assessment
  • Seismic risk analysis, liquefaction assessment and earthquake engineering
  • Geotechnical/geological hazard and terrain analysis
  • Construction aggregate, quarry and borrow studies


    • Detailed Design

  • Landslide and slope stability studies
  • Earthworks, including reinforced earth structures, cut and fill slopes
  • Soil nail and retaining walls
  • Engineering for earth and rockfill dams
  • Foundation design for bridges and other structures
  • Pile foundation design; full scale static and dynamic load testing
  • Excavation shoring using soil nailing and other systems
  • Retaining wall design, including geosynthetic reinforcement and structural systems
  • Soft-ground engineering and mitigation using wick drains, preloading, lightweight fill
  • Specialist ground engineering contracting, including deep soil mixing
  • Trenchless technology for underground infrastructure challenges – directional drilling, micro-tunnelling, pipe jacking/ramming
  • Engineering for soft ground and rock tunnels
  • Geological and geotechnical modelling
  • Numerical modelling
  • Seismic hazard assessments
  • Ground improvement
  • Highway and heavy duty pavements
  • Seismic hazard assessments
  • Risk management and mitigation
  • Geosynthetics design and specification


    • Golder staff also provide construction and post construction support including, contract specifications and documentation assistance, instrumentation and monitoring systems, construction supervision and monitoring, foundation inspections.  Staff also provide expert witness and claims assessment advice.

    For more information, contact:
    John Morris
    E-mail
    t. +64 9 486 8068 (Auckland office)

    Sue Bonham-Carter
    E-mail
    t. +64 3 548 1707 (Nelson office)

    Clive Anderson
    E-mail
    t. +64 3 377 5696 (Christchurch office)

    For further information please view the brochure below

    Geotechnical Engineering 211KB