Project Description
In 2024, Foundex was retained by a consulting firm to complete a geotechnical site investigation for the UBC Subway Extension Project. The program involved advancing more than sixty drill holes across multiple urban locations to characterize subsurface conditions along the proposed alignment. Both vertical and inclined boreholes were completed, reaching depths of up to 65 metres.
A combination of Sonic and diamond drilling methods was used to efficiently advance through overburden and into bedrock. Sonic holes were advanced to refusal, at which point diamond drilling techniques were deployed to complete the bedrock portion of the boreholes. Throughout the program, orientation tools were used on inclined holes to confirm borehole inclination and alignment, supporting drilling accuracy.
A suite of in‑situ and downhole tests was completed, including Standard Penetration Tests, pressuremeter testing, and downhole optical and acoustic televiewer surveys. Packer testing was also carried out in targeted intervals to evaluate hydraulic conductivity within the bedrock. Vibrating wire piezometers, monitoring wells, and nested piezometers were installed in selected locations to support groundwater assessment and long‑term monitoring programs.
