Foundation & Subsurface Engineering

Technical Scope

Geotechnical Analysis & Engineering Deliverables

Midland Standard Engineering & Testing (MSET) provides geotechnical engineering for buildings, roadways, utility corridors, and earth structures. Engineering evaluations are conducted under the direct supervision of and sealed by Licensed Professional Engineers (PE).

Scope of engineering analysis includes allowable bearing capacity determination, total and differential settlement prediction, slope stability modeling, lateral earth pressure evaluation, and IDOT geotechnical report preparation. Subsurface findings integrate field logging with testing from MSET's AASHTO-accredited laboratory.

Deliverables support structural engineering, civil site design, agency permitting, and construction subgrade preparation.

Engineering Specifications

Geotechnical reports are PE-sealed and provide allowable bearing pressures, deep/shallow foundation parameters, settlement limits, lateral earth pressures, and subgrade specifications for project drawings and specifications.

2005 Year established

IL · WI · IN Service locations

Capabilities

What We Deliver

Foundation

Foundation Design & Recommendations

Allowable bearing pressures, foundation type selection, settlement estimates, and design parameters for spread footings, deep foundations, and mat slabs.

Analysis

Slope Stability & Settlement Analysis

Slope stability evaluation using limit equilibrium methods, total and differential settlement prediction, and analysis of surcharge or load-change conditions.

IDOT

IDOT Geotechnical Reports

PE-sealed geotechnical reports for IDOT roadway and structure projects, formatted to IDOT requirements. IDOT District One approved and experienced with IDOT review.

Retention

Earth Retention & Sheeting Systems

Lateral earth pressure analysis, soldier pile and lagging design parameters, sheet pile recommendations, and tieback design for excavation support systems.

Compliance

CCDD Certification (IEPA LPC 662/663)

Clean Construction or Demolition Debris certification and soil characterization for material reuse or disposal under Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

Inspection

Footing Inspection & Documentation

On-site verification of bearing conditions, sub-grade preparation, and as-built foundation documentation by qualified technicians under PE direction.

Our Process

Investigation Through Recommendation

Program Design

PE-designed boring layout based on structure type, load conditions, and site geology. Right locations, right depths: no wasted borings, no missed soil conditions.

Field Investigation

SPT borings, Shelby tube sampling, rock coring, and in-situ testing coordinated under PE direction using truck- or track-mounted drill rigs.

Laboratory Testing

AASHTO-accredited in-house testing: Atterberg limits, grain size, moisture content, consolidation, unconfined compression, and more: with full chain of custody.

Engineering Analysis

Bearing capacity, settlement, lateral earth pressure, liquefaction screening, and slope stability: all evaluated and interpreted by our PE, not outsourced.

PE-Sealed Report

A comprehensive geotechnical report with foundation type recommendations, design parameters, construction considerations, and boring logs: sealed by a licensed PE.

Construction Support

On-call engineering support during construction including footing inspection, bearing condition verification, and changed-condition review to protect the design intent.

Foundation Systems

Foundation Types We Evaluate & Design For

Shallow

Spread Footings

Shallow foundation design parameters, allowable bearing pressure, and settlement analysis on natural or engineered sub-grade.

Deep

Drilled Caissons

Skin friction and end bearing in soil and rock for straight-shaft and belled caissons. Group interaction and uplift review.

Deep

Driven Piles

Static capacity analysis for H-piles, pipe piles, and prestressed concrete piles. Pile installation recommendations and wave equation analysis support.

Specialty

Mat & Raft Foundations

Modulus of sub-grade reaction, uniform and differential settlement estimates, and bearing pressure evaluation for mat slab systems.

Scope of Services

Common Deliverables

Our geotechnical scope is tailored to the project: but here's what a typical engagement includes from program design through final report.

PE-designed subsurface investigation program

Soil boring logs with SPT blow counts and sample descriptions

AASHTO-accredited laboratory test results

Foundation type recommendations and allowable bearing values

Settlement and slope stability analysis (where applicable)

Lateral earth pressure and excavation recommendations

Construction considerations and specification language

PE-sealed report ready for plan set inclusion

Project Types

Who We Work With

We serve public and private clients at every scale: from single-family projects to major infrastructure.

IDOT roadway and structure projects

Municipalities, counties, and public agencies

Commercial and industrial buildings

Residential subdivisions and multi-family developments

Bridges, retaining walls, and transportation structures

Water and wastewater infrastructure

Dams, levees, and earth embankments

Structural engineers and general contractors needing geotech subcontract