GroundIQ® delivers fast, reliable subsurface insights, eliminating cavity risk for confident construction

Challenge

During the construction of a hospital in West Bay, Doha, severe concrete loss occurred during the installation of the secant pile wall, raising concerns about potential solution cavity structures in the geology. Due to tight project deadlines and the financial impact of halting ongoing construction activities, the client requested Fugro to propose a fast-tracked diagnostic assessment to evaluate and quantify the risks to the project's foundations.

Solution

To better understand the severe concrete loss occurring during the installation of secant pile shoring, we needed to address several significant challenges faced by our client, including a tight schedule, a complex urban environment, unexpected extra costs and concerns regarding potential cavity or aquifers. In response to these challenges, we proposed GroundIQ®, our innovative solution.

GroundIQ® is based on consultative approach, identifying and understanding unique requirements and challenges of every project. This ensures that we select the most appropriate tools to deliver crucial information for informed decision-making. Our ground investigation expertise creates solutions aligned with project goals, mitigating risks and enhancing efficiency. GroundIQ® helps clients efficiently plan, design, and make construction decisions by integrating a detailed subsurface model with engineering analysis.

A key feature of GroundIQ® is our proprietary 3D passive seismic technology, ANT. This technology enabled us to rapidly generate a deep 3D shear-wave velocity model of the subsurface beneath the site with a minimal footprint, and in a non-intrusive manner. By analysing ambient seismic noise, ANT populated the 3D model space with millions of data points, providing a comprehensive view of the subsurface that conventional geophysical methods could not achieve.

The final 3D model allowed us to identify low versus high volumes, potential anomalies, and areas of concern related to cavities. As a result, we successfully minimised the required borehole investigations, reducing them from an extensive grid of 1000 m down to just 200 m, focusing on key areas to validate critical findings. This approach not only reduced costs but also aligned with the need for an accelerated project timeline.

Upon completion of the site investigation, we integrated all collected data to construct a 3D geotechnical model of the site, derived from the ANT-generated shear wave velocity block. This model and its associated geotechnical properties were then transferred into a 3D PLAXIS numerical model for a thorough foundation analysis based on the structural loads provided by the client.

By integrating our consultancy expertise with advanced screening technologies and machine learning, Fugro’s GroundIQ® solution successfully met our client's objectives. It delivered a comprehensive subsurface model and engineering evaluations that confirmed the existing foundation design, ensuring that the new hospital can be built on a safe and solid foundation. With a detailed view of what lies beneath the surface, the client was able to proceed with confidence—knowing that no cavities were present and that their infrastructure would be built on strong, stable ground.

Innovative highlight

Fugro’s GroundIQ® solution, utilising our innovative passive seismic ANT and machine learning technologies, created a robust 3D ground model that provided key insights into subsurface properties and structure down to a depth of 100 metres. Our ANT seismic screening technology was ideal for this urban site, offering a light footprint and leveraging urban noise to its advantage. It delivered crucial subsurface information quickly and without major disruption to ongoing operations.

Impact

The 3D ground model created by GroundIQ® allowed our client to visualise potential subsurface risks to their development. It enabled us to:

• Support decision-making to accelerate design schedule and control costs

• Provide early foresight of potential ground risk and geohazards

• Reduce drilling by 80%, cutting the expense of conventional ground investigation

• Provide insights into ground conditions that reduce design uncertainty

• Lowered HSSE exposure