Our Vibration Control Group is experienced in analyzing and diagnosing ground vibration from a variety of vibration producing activities (such as pile or sheet pile installation, rock blasting, pavement breaking, dynamic compaction, and construction equipment operations) and making recommendations to minimize these effects. With over 60 years of combined experience, members of this group have served in the construction, quarrying, and mining industries.

1. Preconstruction and Claim Investigation Photographs
2. Condition Assessment of sensitive structures
3. Pre- and Post-Pile Driving Condition Survey of nearby structures
4. Rock Blasting, Vibration Monitoring, and Forensic Damage Investigations
5. Assisting in the formulation of standard specifications dealing with vibrations and/or noise due to pile driving operations
6. Videotaping, installation of crack gages, photographing existing defects, and documenting inspection notes
7. Educational Services, Public Relation Programs, and Seismograph Training Seminars

ASC's areas of expertise include:

The influence of construction and pile driving vibrations on surrounding buildings, including hospitals and eye examination facilities, sensitive devices such as computers and surgical microscopes or electronic machines, and people in the urban environment is a significant consideration in obtaining project approvals from appropriate agencies and authorities.  Implementation of construction projects in areas adjacent to existing buildings (old , historical, residential, commercial, industrial, medical services, or electronic services) creates additional difficulties. Adjacent and remote structures can be affected in three different ways: i) direct vibration effects, resonant vibrations, and dynamic settlement.

Vibrations and noise are major concerns for construction, rock blasting, and driven pile projects.  Site characterization and establishing site specific threshold levels from test sections, or pre installation survey, are necessary tools for implementing an effective vibration and noise monitoring program.  This will assist in reducing and possibly eliminating claims against the contactor, consulting engineer, owners, developers, or others.  Possibility of installing vibration and/or noise attenuation measures like wave barriers (e.g. trenches, broken rock zones, sheet-pile walls, etc).  Initiative to switch to an alternate driving approah (e.g. change rated energy of hammer, change from driving to vibration installation, change from compressed air to diesel hammer, etc.)

Construction activities, such as blasting, driving of piles and sheet piles, dynamic soil compaction, or excavation generate noise and vibrations.  In populated areas these can have a negative impact on the environment, disturb inhabitants and, under unfavorable conditions, cause damage to buildings and installations.  This condition is aggravated by the growing public wareness of environmental issues and the increasing use of vibration-sensitive electronic equipment and machinery in industry.  In many countries, environmental regulations are enforced more stringently and limit or even prohibit the use of impact or vibratory hammers.  The development has restricted the use of cost-effective foundation methods, such as driven and vibrated piles and sheet piles.

ASC owns and/or rents equipment and performs vibration monitoring operations through in-house field personnel.  Our firm always maintains records of vibration and/or noise measurements.  Mitigation of alleged vibration and/or noise damage by changing energy of the hammer, change of hammer type and install vibration barriers. 

The knowledge can be used to refute any potential vibration damage litigation that owners, contractors, agencies, developers, and architects could become involved in.  Vibrations caused by the installation of piles in dry permeable soils can cause settlements.

Variable damage thresholds are generally established for sensitive structures such as healthcare faciliites, historical buildings, electronic equipment control, switching buildings, and historical structures.