Soil surveys

At EKJ, we have extensive experience in soil investigation and offer our services regardless of whether you are a public or private client. Our surveys include environmental assessments and engineering studies, so you get a clear picture of the conditions on your potentially contaminated land.

Soil investigations often have several purposes, but our experience shows that they are most often carried out to clarify the impact of individual contaminants. Environmental studies are carried out for the surrounding environment to determine whether the contamination poses a risk to lakes, harbours or people, for example.

Fortunately, the environmental impact often plays a major role for the client, and for us it's about finding a solution that combines it with time, price, predictability and working environment. However, we always work to make the studies as individually tailored to the project as possible. In this way, we best meet our client's wishes and needs.

1. Historians
   To avoid history repeating itself, we always research the history of the area. We gather information from public records, yearbooks, phone books, etc., to account for and identify possible sources of contamination for the area over time. If any history emerges that can be replicated to the problems we face now, we can target and adjust our investigations. This will allow us to get to the forefront of the problem.
2. Screenings
   Once the history is in place, we perform sampling. We do this primarily to determine the contamination and see if it matches our expectations for the area. These screenings are usually just checking surface soil.
3. Baseline studies
   To monitor the evolution of pollution, we carry out baseline studies. If there are changes in the process due to relocation, new production, change of ownership, due diligence, etc., we can use this type of study to see how it affects the contamination. In addition, we also use the study here for economic calculations for possible new pollution.
4. Further studies
   To get the best picture of the contamination, we carry out additional studies to identify and delineate the contamination. These studies are carried out throughout the process and consist of sampling, drilling and soil sampling.
5. Risk assessments
   In our risk assessments, the concentration of pollutants is compared to the regulatory requirements, and if there is a risk of exceeding the limit values, we present solutions to reduce or eliminate the risk. Here we also incorporate the impact of time and economy. We carry out risk assessments for outdoor and indoor environments, groundwater and contact with contaminated soil.
6. Pre-classification
   To facilitate the contractor's work with disposal and to save money, we make pre-classifications in our soil surveys. They involve carefully planned and close sampling of the soil before excavation.
7. Soil management plan
   With pre-classifications we produce a soil management plan, which is a visual and layered illustration of the results from the soil. This plan can be used for both regulatory permits and in the contractor's excavation work. In addition, this plan will have reduce the need for environmental supervision on the excavation work for the project.