Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Properties of some materials are best measured in the laboratory, while others must be
field-tested. In some cases, properties cannot be adequately defined by direct testing and
the result will be designs that are conservative and too costly, unconservative and risky, or
unconservative but based on contingency plans. To monitor ground conditions during
construction, field instrumentation is an important element of many studies, where sub-
surface conditions cannot be adequately defined by exploration and testing.
Instrumentation is used also to obtain design data and to monitor changing natural con-
ditions such as slope failures and fault movements.
