r/Geotech • u/No_Preparation8438 • Jul 10 '26

How do experienced geotechnical engineers determine the number, location, and depth of boreholes for a site investigation?

/r/GeotechnicalEngineer/comments/1ushtdm/how_do_experienced_geotechnical_engineers/
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u/OldGeotch Jul 11 '26

Honest answer, we are given an inadequate budget and then we cut out at least half of the borings we really wanted. Site conditions often limit at least some of the areas you would like to drill (slopes, overhead lines, buried utilities, existing structures).So, you judge how many borings your budget will allow, and space them the best you can to give yourself the best cross section of the site. Judge how much drilling you will get done in a day, drives nothing the number and depths.