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Drilling, Sampling & Field Investigation

Truck- and track-mounted drill rigs, experienced field crews, and our own equipment — subsurface investigation done by the team that writes the report.

Your Investigation, Our Crew — From Program Design to Sample Delivery

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.

MSET drill rig on Lake Michigan shoreline MSET track-mounted drill rig
Why own equipment matters

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.

2005 Year established
IL · WI · IN Service region

What We Can Do in the Field

Boring

SPT Boring Programs

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.

Sampling

Shelby Tube & Rock Core Sampling

Undisturbed Shelby tube sampling for laboratory strength and consolidation testing. NX and HQ rock coring for competent rock characterization and RQD logging.

Direct Push

Geoprobe Direct Push

Soil sampling, groundwater screening, and rapid environmental assessment using direct push technology. Economical for environmental screening and shallow investigations.

Pavement

Pavement Coring

Asphalt and concrete pavement core extraction for thickness measurement, laboratory testing, and condition assessment. Used for rehabilitation design and forensic investigation.

In-Situ

In-Situ Testing

Field vane shear testing and borehole shear where site conditions call for it. Direct measurement of soil properties rather than sample-based lab correlation.

Drone

UAV / Drone Survey

FAA-licensed drone surveys for site mapping, access planning, and preliminary condition assessment. Aerial reconnaissance before first rig mobilization.

Program Design Through Sample Delivery

01

Program Design

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.

02

Utility Clearance

JULIE / Digger’s Hotline notification and on-site utility marking before drilling. Private utility locate recommended for sites with suspect underground infrastructure.

03

Mobilization

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.

04

Drilling & Sampling

SPT testing at standard intervals with split-spoon sampling. Continuous monitoring of drilling resistance, groundwater, and soil changes throughout the boring program.

05

Field Logging

Detailed boring logs completed in the field by trained technicians under PE direction. Soil descriptions per USCS / ASTM D2488. Groundwater levels recorded and reported.

06

Laboratory Transfer

Samples logged, labeled, and transported to our AASHTO-accredited South Elgin laboratory with full chain of custody. Test program developed by the reviewing PE.

Drilling Methods We Use

Auger

Hollow Stem Auger

Standard method for soil borings in unconsolidated material. Maintains borehole integrity while allowing SPT sampling and Shelby tube sampling within the auger stem.

Rotary

Rotary Mud Drilling

Fluid-circulation method for deep borings, rock sockets, and caving formations where auger methods are not practical. Required for NX/HQ rock coring programs.

Track

Track-Mounted Drilling

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.

Coring

Pavement & Rock Coring

Rotary core drilling for asphalt, concrete, and bedrock samples. Used for pavement condition assessment, rock quality designation (RQD), and socket bearing verification.

What You Receive

Our field investigation deliverables document conditions as found — in detail, under PE direction, ready for engineering analysis.

Boring location plan and site sketch
Field boring logs with SPT blow counts
USCS soil descriptions (ASTM D2488)
Groundwater observations and stabilized levels
Rock core photographs and RQD logging (if applicable)
Chain of custody documentation for all samples
Sample delivery to our AASHTO-accredited laboratory
Geotechnical report (when full scope is engaged)

Who We Work With

Our field programs serve public agencies, design engineers, environmental consultants, and private developers across the region.

IDOT roadway and structure investigations
Municipalities and county highway departments
Commercial and industrial building investigations
Residential subdivision and multi-family development
Environmental consultants (direct push, groundwater sampling)
General contractors needing confirmation borings
Attorneys and insurers for forensic investigation
Bridge and retaining wall structure investigations

Need a Boring Program? Let’s Talk.

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.

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