Truck- and track-mounted drill rigs, experienced field crews, and our own equipment — subsurface investigation done by the team that writes the report.
MSET performs all field investigation work with our own rigs, our own drillers, and our own technicians. When you hire us, you're not relying on a subcontracted crew the geotechnical engineer has never met. Our PE designs the boring program, our crews execute it, and our laboratory processes the samples — one chain of custody, zero translation problems.
We operate truck- and track-mounted equipment to reach locations where access is tight, terrain is soft, or pavement can't be damaged. Our FAA-licensed drone operators can survey a site before the first rig arrives.
Clients ranging from IDOT contractors to single-lot developers trust us because the field data we collect feeds directly into reports sealed by our own PE — not forwarded to an outside firm.
When your drilling crew and your geotechnical engineer are the same firm, the field data is more reliable. Our drillers know what the PE needs. Our PE designs programs our crews can execute. The result is investigation data you can trust — because it was collected by people with a stake in the report.
Standard Penetration Test borings through all soil types, fill, and rock. Boring layout and depth designed by PE to match structure type, loading conditions, and project budget.
Undisturbed Shelby tube sampling for laboratory strength and consolidation testing. NX and HQ rock coring for competent rock characterization and RQD logging.
Soil sampling, groundwater screening, and rapid environmental assessment using direct push technology. Economical for environmental screening and shallow investigations.
Asphalt and concrete pavement core extraction for thickness measurement, laboratory testing, and condition assessment. Used for rehabilitation design and forensic investigation.
Field vane shear testing and borehole shear where site conditions call for it. Direct measurement of soil properties rather than sample-based lab correlation.
FAA-licensed drone surveys for site mapping, access planning, and preliminary condition assessment. Aerial reconnaissance before first rig mobilization.
PE designs boring layout, depths, and methods based on site conditions, structure type, and project requirements. Review of available boring records and regional geology included.
JULIE / Digger’s Hotline notification and on-site utility marking before drilling. Private utility locate recommended for sites with suspect underground infrastructure.
Truck- or track-mounted drill rig deployed to site. Track rigs available for limited-access locations, soft terrain, and off-pavement drilling without pavement damage.
SPT testing at standard intervals with split-spoon sampling. Continuous monitoring of drilling resistance, groundwater, and soil changes throughout the boring program.
Detailed boring logs completed in the field by trained technicians under PE direction. Soil descriptions per USCS / ASTM D2488. Groundwater levels recorded and reported.
Samples logged, labeled, and transported to our AASHTO-accredited South Elgin laboratory with full chain of custody. Test program developed by the reviewing PE.
Standard method for soil borings in unconsolidated material. Maintains borehole integrity while allowing SPT sampling and Shelby tube sampling within the auger stem.
Fluid-circulation method for deep borings, rock sockets, and caving formations where auger methods are not practical. Required for NX/HQ rock coring programs.
CME track rig for limited-access sites, soft soils, wooded lots, and areas where truck access is not feasible. No pavement damage, no concrete or asphalt cutting required.
Rotary core drilling for asphalt, concrete, and bedrock samples. Used for pavement condition assessment, rock quality designation (RQD), and socket bearing verification.
Our field investigation deliverables document conditions as found — in detail, under PE direction, ready for engineering analysis.
Our field programs serve public agencies, design engineers, environmental consultants, and private developers across the region.
Tell us about your site and project type — we’ll put together a scope and mobilize fast. Our own rigs, our own crew, PE-directed from start to finish.
PE-sealed geotechnical reports, foundation design parameters, slope stability, and IDOT geotech deliverables.
Earthwork monitoring, concrete and asphalt testing, and construction inspection under PE direction.
AASHTO-accredited soils, asphalt, aggregate, and concrete testing. Subcontract lab available.