Geosyntec provides specialized services in the characterization of geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, karst topography, and other types of naturally occurring geological hazards. We offer multi-disciplinary expertise in geotechnical engineering, geological engineering and rock mechanics, geology, seismology, and remote sensing to identify and quantify the probabilities and potential impacts of geohazards. Our practitioners are leading authorities in the characterization, assessment, and construction of engineered structures in areas underlain by karst and other geologic features.
Practice Specialties
Geosyntec specializes in managing potential losses from geohazards to minimize their social, environmental, and economic impacts. We offer expertise in geotechnical engineering, geological engineering and rock mechanics, geology, seismology, and remote sensing to help mitigate the unexpected consequences of naturally occurring geological hazards that has already benefited major segments of the built environment including petrochemical facilities, water and wastewater utilities, conventional and alternative energy producing facilities, and commercial developments.
The firm’s professionals are specialists in field reconnaissance, karst investigations, and liquefaction susceptibility evaluations. Our decades of experience in geotechnical engineering give us the expertise to quantify the problem so appropriate actions may be developed, and expand the information known about a site beyond the limited information available from traditional borings.
Our engineers are also specialists in earthquake exposure evaluations including deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard studies, fault studies, and casualty loss modeling. We have extensive experience in designing landslide stabilization measures including soil nails, ground anchors, drainage galleries, earth retention systems, and related technologies. Our engineers have also applied a variety of technologies to mitigate the liquefaction susceptibility of soil deposits including dynamic compaction, blasting, and related technologies. We also perform post-earthquake reconnaissance work for clients to assess the safety of structures and to help in minimizing the economic impacts of the disaster. Our engineers have been members of multi-national reconnaissance teams that have deployed following major earthquakes worldwide.
Advancing the State of the Practice
Geosyntec practitioners have authored more than 15 guidance documents on design approaches to avoid or mitigate the potential impacts of geohazards in the built environment. These have been prepared for state and federal environmental agencies, state and federal transportation agencies, and U.S. Department of Defense agencies. We continue to advance the state of the practice through collaboration in externally funded applied research and development with leading universities in the U.S. on topics such as stresses and strains on geosynthetics during seismic events. In addition, our senior practitioners provide technical training through universities and professional societies on a variety of geohazard design topics such as slope stability, earthen structure design, and soils and foundation engineering.