PACIFICA DEEP
DEEP FOUNDATION TESTING & INSPECTIONS
PACIFICA provides deep foundation testing, inspections, and construction monitoring to support foundation quality and performance. Our services include PDA testing, Crosshole Sonic Logging, Pile Integrity Testing, Thermal Integrity Profiling, Shaft Inspection Device inspections, and in-house bi-directional and static load testing.
We work with owners, engineers, contractors, and foundation installers to evaluate foundation integrity, assess load response, and document installation conditions. By combining field testing, inspections, and load testing within PACIFICA, we help project teams coordinate foundation quality assurance from design to installation through testing and reporting.
Testing, Inspections, and Load Verification
Each foundation system presents different testing requirements. PACIFICA coordinates services around the foundation type, construction sequence, and project specifications, providing field observations and test results to support engineering review and foundation acceptance decisions.
Request Deep Foundation Services
Send us your foundation plans, project specifications, location, and anticipated construction schedule. Our team will review the requested scope and coordinate the testing and inspection services for your project.
Foundation Integrity & Dynamic Testing
PDA Testing | High-Strain Dynamic Testing
PDA testing measures a foundation element’s response to impact to evaluate mobilized resistance, driving stresses, and transferred energy. Sensors collect force and motion data during pile driving or restrike testing, providing information about foundation behavior and hammer performance. PACIFICA performs PDA testing to support installation monitoring and engineering evaluation of pile capacity and driving conditions.
PACIFICA’s dynamic testing capabilities are strengthened by PACIFICA’s ownership of Goble Pile Check (GPC), a wire/wireless system for high-strain dynamic testing and pile driving analysis. GPC combines field data acquisition, GPC Review reporting software, and N_GAPA signal matching analysis to evaluate pile resistance, driving stresses, and energy transfer. Integrating this technology with our field testing services connects data collection, analysis, and reporting to support informed foundation installation and acceptance decisions.
CSL | Crosshole Sonic Logging
Crosshole Sonic Logging evaluates concrete integrity between access tubes installed within a drilled shaft or other concrete foundation element. Ultrasonic signals travel between probes at measured depths, helping identify zones that may warrant further evaluation. PACIFICA provides CSL testing and reporting to support review of concrete consistency within the tested areas. Access tubes must be coordinated before concrete placement.
PIT | Pile Integrity Testing
Pile Integrity Testing uses a low-strain impact at the pile head and the resulting reflected signal to assess continuity and identify potential changes in the foundation element. The method can help screen for significant anomalies, such as changes in cross section or discontinuities. PACIFICA provides PIT testing as part of project-specific foundation quality assurance programs. PIT evaluates integrity; it does not directly measure load-bearing capacity.
TIP | Thermal Integrity Profiling
Thermal Integrity Profiling uses heat generated during concrete curing to evaluate concrete distribution and potential integrity concerns. Temperature profiles can help identify variations in effective shaft geometry, concrete cover, and reinforcing cage alignment. PACIFICA provides TIP testing to support early evaluation of concrete foundation elements. Instrumentation and data collection must be coordinated with the installation and curing sequence.
SID | Shaft Inspection Device Inspections
Shaft Inspection Device inspections provide a visual assessment of drilled shaft bottom conditions before concrete placement. A camera-equipped inspection device is lowered into the excavation to observe the base and evaluate sediment or debris at inspected locations. PACIFICA uses SID inspections to document shaft base cleanliness and support review against project requirements before placement proceeds.
Load Testing, Inspections & Monitoring
In-House Bi-Directional Load Testing
Bi-directional load testing evaluates foundation response using embedded hydraulic load cells that apply upward and downward forces within the test element. Measurements allow engineers to evaluate resistance mobilized above and below the cell location and interpret the foundation’s load-displacement behavior.
PACIFICA performs bi-directional testing in-house, coordinating test instrumentation, field testing, data collection, and reporting for the agreed scope. Load cell placement and instrumentation must be planned before construction of the test element.
In-House Static Load Testing
Static load testing evaluates foundation response under controlled applied loads. Load and movement measurements provide direct information about foundation behavior under the test conditions and support engineering assessment of performance.
PACIFICA performs static load testing in-house, with the loading arrangement, instrumentation, and test sequence established for the foundation system and project requirements. Our team coordinates field testing and documents the measured load-displacement response for engineering review.
Value Engineering & Cost-Saving Initiatives
PACIFICA supports value engineering by providing foundation testing data and field observations that help project teams evaluate opportunities to reduce construction costs. Dynamic testing, bi-directional testing, and static load testing can support review of foundation lengths, quantities, installation criteria, and design assumptions. Identifying these opportunities early can help reduce material use, installation time, and unnecessary construction costs.
We work with the project’s owner/contractor to evaluate potential savings while maintaining required capacity, performance, and compliance with project specifications. Proposed changes are subject to review and approval by the responsible design professionals.
Deep Foundation Installation Inspections
PACIFICA provides deep foundation inspections, including CTQP Drilled Shaft and Pile Driving Inspections, to document construction activities and support compliance with approved plans, project specifications, and applicable FDOT requirements. Our CTQP-qualified inspectors observe and document drilled shaft excavation, shaft depths and base conditions, reinforcing steel placement, concrete placement, pile driving operations, hammer performance, blow counts, and pile penetration.
Our inspectors maintain installation records and communicate conditions requiring attention so the project team can address concerns during construction. These inspections complement foundation integrity and load testing by documenting how each foundation element was installed.
Foundation Construction Monitoring
PACIFICA provides monitoring of foundation installation activities to track field conditions, installation progress, and construction observations. Monitoring is coordinated with the contractor’s schedule and the project’s inspection and testing requirements, providing a documented record for the owner, contractor, and design team.
Vibration Monitoring and Pre-Condition Surveys
PACIFICA’s Specialty Department provides vibration monitoring and pre-condition survey services to help project teams evaluate construction-related vibration concerns near neighboring structures and sensitive facilities. The scope is tailored to the planned construction activities and surrounding conditions and may include baseline documentation, vibration measurements, and reporting, as specified for the project.