Geotechnical engineering

Our geotechnical engineers deal with daily challenges related to foundation techniques, underground structure, infrastructure, and water safety. Key questions include: Which foundation method is most suitable, considering factors such as soil conditions, environment, availability of construction materials, environmental impact, feasibility, and costs? They also address issues like: How can we improve the stability of water barriers to meet safety standards, while considering spatial quality for residents, flora, and fauna?

Having our own in-house geotechnical experts at ABT allows us to create integrated designs where geotechnical aspects are considered right from the start of a project. The strong collaboration between our geotechnical and structural teams ensures effective communication and understanding of the implications of design choices.

Foundation techniques and underground construction

As urban space becomes scarcer, we not only build taller structures but also need to utilize underground space. However, underground construction involves significant concrete usage, leading to environmental impact. To address this, we perform quick scans early in the design phase to choose optimal foundation and basement designs. These scans consider factors such as space utilization, environmental impact, sustainability (including material use), and costs.

Our expertise in foundation techniques and underground construction also plays a crucial role in infrastructure projects, including the foundations of traffic bridges, railway bridges, and the design of underpasses and road tunnels.

Sustainability and automation

At Windbase, an ABT subsidiary, we utilize internally developed software to design wind turbine foundations. This allows us to quickly analyze hundreds of design variants during the preliminary design phase, considering different foundation block dimensions and various piling systems and configurations. By integrating data from the geomaterial database, we can select cost-effective and sustainable foundation solutions early in the process.

Automation is also a key focus within ABT for designing water barriers, industrial floors, and rail track foundations for overhead line support structures and sound barriers.

Image © Luuk Kramer