Blog

Soil consistency limits

May 25, 2023

In its natural state, soil appears in various forms. All soil characteristics, from its natural humidity to the distribution of particle sizes, provide us with a background for understanding its behavior. Each piece of information that brings us closer to understanding its character helps us predict future situations or remedy existing ones at a particular […]

2nd Open Days of Geotechnics – Secondary School of Civil Engineering in Rijeka, May 2023

May 11, 2023

Investing in knowledge, education and young people is a long-term process that gives the best results when it is carried out regularly and systematically. As a society, we must recognize the importance of investing in education to build a resilient and sustainable future. This was exactly our motivation to organize the 2nd Open Days of […]

Open pit protection and foundation design for the residential and commercial building in Pula

April 13, 2023

In the central part of the city of Pula, within a residential block, the construction of a residential and commercial building is planned. The future building will be terraced, with 5 floors. Two commercial spaces, on the first floor, and 15 apartments will be located inside the building.The structure of the building will be made […]

Dynamic compaction

March 23, 2023

Good-quality compaction is highly significant for the proper relationship between the bearing capacity and deformation in connection with safety, usability, life span and maintenance of structures either lying on earth material or made of such material. Dynamic compaction (DC), also known as dynamic deep compaction, is a ground improvement technique in which drop weight, typically […]

The influence of groundwater on the stability of soil and underground parts of structures

February 17, 2023

If structures are constructed in areas with a high level of groundwater, it can have a significant impact on the stability of soil and underground parts of the structures. A high level of groundwater at the location can cause a decrease in the shear strength of the foundation soil under the structures, an increase in […]

Open pits protection design – the Glamping camp at Fužine

January 26, 2023

The construction of a glamping camp is planned in the town of Fužine, along the southwestern shore of Lake Bajer. The camp will have 15 accommodation units, a central building, and a garage. The construction will take place on a newly formed building plot with a unique area of about 12,000 m2. Planned works Project […]

The Adriatic Highway, one of the most beautiful roads that changed Croatia

December 15, 2022

After the Second World War, most of the towns and cities on the Adriatic coast in Croatia were connected only by sea. What was lacking was a solid road link. During the Second World War, the construction of the Adriatic Highway was already begun, and it lasted until 1965. This road stretches from the Slovenian […]

Open pit protection design for the Blu Mare hotel in Novigrad

December 1, 2022

Construction of a new accommodation and catering facility, a hotel, of a total area of 1101 m2 is planned within the historical center of Novigrad. Planned works The future hotel building is planned to have five floors (four above ground and one underground). The hotel capacity is 56 beds organized in 24 accommodation units (rooms). […]

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) test

November 10, 2022

Hardness is the basic quantitative engineering property of a rock sample. Assessing the strength and deformability of rock mass is of great importance for the implementation of numerical analyses in rock mechanics. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is a geomechanical rock parameter that describes the maximum axial load that the sample can withstand without lateral loading. […]

Open pit protection and foundation design – UPOV Požega

October 27, 2022

In the eastern part of the city of Požega, the reconstruction and extension of the Požega agglomeration wastewater treatment plant (UPOV Požega) is planned. For the construction project, we made the main and detailed temporary open pit protection and foundation design for the following facilities: – facilities of the biological block (floor plan dimensions approx. […]

Dubravci landslide remediation on state road DC3

October 13, 2022

The remediation works on the Dubravci landslide, located on state road DC3, section 012, at km 4+400 in Karlovac County, have been completed. For this project, we carried out the engineering geological and geotechnical investigation and testing and made the main and detailed landslide remediation designs. We also carried out the complete supervision of the […]

Slope and rockfall protection on the location Banska vrata in Rijeka

September 29, 2022

Rockfall, of smaller or larger scope, is a frequent occurrence along Croatian roads, especially in mountainous areas. In January 2020, a rockfall occurred near the Banska Vrata tunnel in Rijeka. Unstable blocks weighing up to several tons fell on the road and it was closed for traffic for a while. In order to ensure safe […]

Video logging in boreholes

September 15, 2022

For the purpose of design, construction and management of large hydrotechnical and geotechnical structures, there was a need for an instrument adapted for use in the karst area. Based on experience with the application and servicing of existing instruments, activities related to their improvement as well as the design of a new hydrogeological instrument for […]

Logging measurements in boreholes

September 1, 2022

Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations are carried out in order to determine the characteristics of the foundation soil and the water-bearing systems, which include logging measurements in boreholes. Logging measurements are geophysical measurements in boreholes that describe the physical properties of the drilled soil and rock and they are connected to geological and petrological properties. Physical […]

Brebornica landslide remediation on the DC1 state road

July 28, 2022

The remediation works on the Brebornica landslide, located on state road DC1, section 011, at km 4+500 in Karlovac County, have been completed. For this project we carried out the engineering geological and geotechnical investigation and testing and made the main and detailed landslide remediation design. During the execution of the works, we also carried […]

Professional excursion to Pelješac

July 19, 2022

To keep up with the steady and constant company growth and the increasing number of projects we are involved with, we organized a professional excursion to visit the active construction sites in the southern part of Croatia. On our trip, we visited some impressive construction sites for the projects we were a part of, all […]

Geotechnical investigation and testing on the M104 Novska–Tovarnik–DG railway line, section Sibinj–Slavonski Brod

June 30, 2022

The M104 railway is an integral part of the main line that connected the cities of Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade during the Yugoslavia era. This route was built in sections in the period from 1849 to 1897 at the time of the greatest 19th-century development of railway infrastructure in the world. The Slavonski Brod–Sibinj section […]

Open Days of Geotechnics – Secondary School of Civil Engineering School in Rijeka, May 2022

June 1, 2022

Quality education is a fundamental part of all social activities and it reflects the values of society. To ensure a prosperous future for young people, the whole community must invest in knowledge. The key to the success of any modern society is to connect the education and higher education system with the labor market and […]

Project Documentation Audit

May 24, 2022

An audit is the process of reviewing and controlling project documentation conducted by persons authorized by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets. In accordance with the law, project documentation is controlled with regard to the mechanical resistance and stability of structures. A person may be authorized to perform project documentation auditing if […]

Grain size analysis

April 28, 2022

All soils consist of differently sized and shaped particles (grains). These particles are grouped into size intervals (fractions). The distribution of fractions makes up the granulometric composition of soil (Latin granulum – small grain). The granulometric composition or particle size distribution of soil is one of its basic descriptive parameters, used for evaluating the physical […]

Drilling a geothermal borehole

April 19, 2022

In the search for cleaner and more environmentally friendly forms of energy, i.e., renewable energy sources, geothermal energy presents itself as a good solution. Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated in the interior of the Earth by the slow decay of radioactive elements, chemical reactions, or friction during the movement of tectonic masses. The amount […]

Underground fortifications and shelters in Rijeka and its surroundings

March 31, 2022

shelters in Rijeka

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Port of Omiš

March 11, 2022

The reconstruction of the paved promenade and the construction of a pier with docks are planned in the coastal part of Omiš, near the river Cetina estuary. To prepare the detailed design for the reconstruction of the port open to the public, we have carried out geotechnical investigation works and drafted a geotechnical report. Geological and […]

Construction of a piezometric well

February 24, 2022

Groundwater is one of the most important natural resources. In order to gain insight into the quality and quantity of groundwater we use piezometric wells. Piezometric wells are used to monitor groundwater levels and determine aquifer parameters such as transmissibility, hydraulic conductivity and storage, and they also give us the ability to sample groundwater for chemical […]

Open pit protection and foundation design – the Hotel Ičići

February 8, 2022

The construction of a new hotel is planned in the small town of Ičići, located in the southwestern part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The site of the construction is bordered by Anton Dimnaka street and Bršljana street on the north and the northeast side, the Liburnija state road (DC66) on the southeast side, and […]

Underground Stone Exploitation

January 14, 2022

Underground exploitation is a relatively new approach to stone exploitation. While surface exploitation is still the most common method of obtaining stone, the underground method can replace the former method in those situations where the exploitation process is technically demanding and economically unprofitable. Despite a number of advantages of underground exploitation over surface exploitation, it […]

Marine geophysics

December 14, 2021

In certain cases, conventional offshore geotechnical investigation and testing (exploratory drilling) of the foundation soil are not possible or are highly complex to carry out, which directly affects the financial aspect of the project. In such cases, geophysical surveys of the foundation soil are used instead. Geophysical surveys include the application of geophysical methods for […]

Reinforced soil retaining structures – Pelješac Bridge access roads

December 9, 2021

The construction of the Pelješac Bridge is the largest infrastructure project in Croatia at the moment. The precondition for the first vehicles to cross the bridge is the construction of access roads – an integral part of the project of connecting southern Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia. We have also played our part in […]

Direct shear

November 25, 2021

Taking into account the intended function and the client requirements, each building is evaluated to anticipate its performance in order to ensure the safety of its future users. This applies to both the building itself and the foundation soil. The permissible loads and deformations are taken into account—these will depend on the structure and the […]

Execution of reinforced concrete diaphragms

October 21, 2021

A reinforced concrete diaphragm is a reinforced concrete structure used for open pit protection. The construction has the task to protect the stability of the vertical excavation of the open pit, to prevent displacements that could cause damage to neighboring buildings and installations, and to prevent the penetration of groundwater into the open pit. Reinforced […]

Geofluid 2021

September 23, 2021

Last week our path took us to the city of Piacenza near Milan, where we attended one of the most important fairs for drilling machines, mining industry, special foundations, and geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigation and testing—the Geofluid 2021. Together with our partner company Rijekaprojekt geotehničko istraživanje d.o.o. we explored the entire fair, looking at […]

Slope and rockfall protection – the ZVIR complex

September 10, 2021

Works on the slope and rockfall protection at the Zvir Complex in Rijeka have been completed. For this project we have carried out engineering geological and geotechnical investigation and testing and made the detailed slope and rockfall protection design. The supervision of protection works we performed included the analysis and verification of the situation in […]

Oedometer soil test

July 29, 2021

Predicting the settlements of structures is one of the most demanding problems faced by designers in geotechnics. Disregard and incorrect assumptions about foundation soil compressibility can lead to additional stresses within the structure and ultimately to its cracking and collapse. Two components are most important to designers observing settlements: the value of the total settlements […]

KOLOS, the most significant award for construction in Croatia, presented to our very own Mirko Grošić for the open pit protection design for the Roxanich Heritage Wine Hotel and Wine Cellar project

June 25, 2021

At the 15th Days of the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers in Opatija, on June 17, 2021, the winners of the annual Kolos Awards were announced. The Kolos Awards are presented for special contribution to the Chamber and its promotion in the country and abroad, for contribution to the construction profession and for the development […]

A case of foundation soil failure – the Transcona grain elevator

June 10, 2021

The Canadian Pacific Railway Company built the Transcona grain elevator near Winnipeg, Canada in 1913. The warehouse was designed to store grain from the city of Winnipeg and the wider area. Winnipeg, being located at the intersection of roads connecting the east and the west of Canada, developed one of the largest grain markets in […]

Open pit protection and sealing design – Keight Hotel, Katarina Line

May 25, 2021

In the center of the city of Opatija, within the Slatina zone, the construction of a building for catering and tourism purposes ― a 5-star hotel ― is planned. The location intended for construction is bordered by Veli Jože Street on the west side, the Opatija Hotel on the north side and a town villa […]

Geotechnical investigation and testing – Albatros 2 Hotel in Cavtat

May 11, 2021

The construction of a new Albatros 2 Hotel building is planned on a plot of about 50 thousand square meters near the town of Cavtat, about 850 meters from the historic center between the Žal Promenade and Put od Oboda Street. Planned works Sports courts and the existing Albatros 1 Hotel built in the seventies […]

Groundwater level measurement

April 16, 2021

Groundwater is one of the greatest treasures of Croatia, but in geotechnics it often causes great problems when excavating open pits. In the Republic of Croatia, about 90% of drinking water is in the form of groundwater. To better understand the processes related to groundwater, long-term (one year minimum) monitoring of groundwater levels is necessary. […]

Discovery of Mohorovičić’s (Moho) Discontinuity

April 1, 2021

Andrija Mohorovičić was a Croatian geophysicist, born on January 23, 1857 in Volosko near Opatija. After finishing primary school in Volosko and high school in Rijeka, he moved to Prague where he studied mathematics and physics at the Faculty of Philosophy. One of his professors was Ernst Mach, the famous physicist. After graduating, he worked […]

Foundation and retaining structure design – Radeševo cable car, Platak

March 11, 2021

As part of the Platak Sports Center, there is a cable car in Radeševo for sporting and recreational purposes, which was built in the 80s. In order to achieve a higher passenger capacity of the cable car and provide additional services (transport of passengers and bicycles when the cable car is not being used for […]

Subgrade reaction modulus

February 25, 2021

In foundation design, it is common to assume that the reaction of the soil foundation at each point of the foundation is proportional to its deflection. The vertical deformation characteristics of the foundation are defined by independent, closely spaced, discrete and linearly elastic springs. This relatively simple mechanical representation of the soil foundation was first […]

Tunnel boring machines (TBMs)

February 4, 2021

Today’s transport infrastructure development requires the construction of very long tunnels, which is why tunnel boring machines – TBMs – are becoming more popular. Tunnels enable us to overcome natural obstacles and shorten our journey, which is a very important factor in the fast-paced time of today. The tunnel boring machine (TBM), also known as […]

Petram Resort Savudrija – the aparthotel foundation design

December 17, 2020

Located at the northernmost point of the Croatian coast, on the very border with Slovenia and Italy, at the micro-location Alberi in Savudrija in northwestern Istria, the construction of the impressive Petram Resort is planned. The new resort will offer 252 top-quality properties for holiday or residence. As part of the resort, the construction of […]

INA Rijeka Refinery Modernization Project

November 12, 2020

The modernization of the Rijeka Oil Refinery is the largest single investment project in the history of the INA oil company. The project includes the construction of a heavy waste treatment plant, the reconstruction of existing units, as well as the construction of a new port with a closed coke warehouse at the INA Rijeka […]

QUALITY STANDARD CERTIFICATES ISO 9001:2015 and SCCP:2011

October 9, 2020

In order to ensure the quality and efficiency of our services, we decided to upgrade our business processes with certificates of quality. The certification scope of our work is geotechnical investigation and testing, design services, supervision and consulting in geotechnical engineering. The certification procedure has proved the top quality of our services as defined by […]

Lighting effects in the longest road tunnel in the world – the Lærdal Tunnel, Norway

October 7, 2020

Norway is a country of an exceptional landscape, known for its fjords and high mountains, so it is no wonder that Norwegians build tunnels that not only pass through hills and mountains but also connect fjords.The Lærdal Tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the world. This impressive 24.5 km long tunnel stretches between Aurland […]

Sign up for Knowledge Transfer – a project of the University of Rijeka Foundation

September 14, 2020

As part of the Riječka ideja, the University of Rijeka Foundation in cooperation with the companies Alarm Automatika d.o.o. and Geotech d.o.o. has announced a competition for the granting of the Knowledge Transfer Award. Since we are always happy to respond to calls for cooperation from the University of Rijeka Foundation, we decided to participate […]

Laboratory testing of rock mass strength

September 10, 2020

Laboratory testing is one of the most important segments in the study of rock properties and behavior in different conditionst is an integral part of geotechnical exploration and investigation works. There are several methods of laboratory testing of rock mass strength, and the most important are UCS (Uniaxial compressive strength), PLT (Strength index determined by […]

Local soil conditions – Mexico City earthquake

August 27, 2020

What is earthquake? An earthquake is the shaking of the ground surface. It is result of sudden fracture and slippage of brittle rock formation in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Seismic waves propagate through the earth in all directions. The ground shaking is caused by the waves that reach the earth’s surface. Shaking […]

Palm Islands – a view from space

July 9, 2020

The Palm Islands are the largest artificial islands in the world. Built in the shape of a stylized palm tree, they are located on the outskirts of Dubai in the Persian Gulf. They are so large that they are visible to the naked eye from space. To create the look of the perfect palm tree, […]

Open pit protection and foundation design – Aparthotel Žnjan

June 26, 2020

The construction of a new catering and tourism facility, the Aparthotel Žnjan, is planned in the southeastern part of the city of Split, in the seaside district of Žnjan. The location for the planned construction is between Šetalište Pape Ivana Pavla II Street on the south side and Put Žnjana Street on the north side. […]

Corner effect in a building pit – comparison of 2D and 3D analysis

June 18, 2020

Design of the retaining structure (building pit) is important for choosing a reliable and cost-effective solution. This brings the necessity of a realistic calculation approach. Most of the computer programs for design of retaining structures are based on two-dimensional modeling. Two-dimensional (2D) plane-strain assumption is that section continues infinitely along the axis perpendicular to the […]

Rockfall and slope protection on state road D66, section 003, from km 15+000 to km 23+000

May 28, 2020

Works on rockfall and slope protection on state road D66, section 003, from km 15+000 to km 23+000 are completed. We have carried out the engineering geological and geotechnical exploration and investigation works and made the main and detailed rockfall and slope protection design. In addition, we have carried out the engineering supervision which included […]

The Louisiana – from the most important road in history to a tourist attraction

April 23, 2020

The Louisiana road (also known as Louisiana and Via Ludovice) was one of the most important roads in Croatian history. It was the shortest road connecting Rijeka and Karlovac and one of the most significant roads in Austria-Hungary. Not only did it meet the requirements of developing commerce and both manufacturing and industrial production at […]

Retaining structures remediation methods

April 3, 2020

Retaining structures are used to retain soil or rock mass. They are commonly used to retain changes of ground elevation and buttress the toe of slopes. There are several types of retaining structures: Gravity retaining walls Cantilever retaining walls Anchored and reinforced soil structures Gabion retaining walls Collapse of a retaining structure Total collapses of […]

Ancient Roman roads – a monument to history and road construction

March 26, 2020

The ancient Romans were famous builders. They left behind them many bridges, canals, stone-paved roads and other engineering masterpieces all throughout the Roman Empire. The vast Roman Empire boasted a very large and extensive network of roads. It is estimated that the roads in the network were more than 400,000 km long and that over […]

Terramesh system – Reinforced soil retaining structure

March 19, 2020

The Terramesh system is one of the systems used in the construction of reinforced soil retaining structures. Reinforced soil retaining structures are executed by combining the embankment behind the front side of the retaining structure with tensile elements such as geomesh, hexagonal mesh, traps, etc. This type of structure is stable thanks to the interaction […]

Landslide mapping using Remote Sensing

March 13, 2020

Landslides are phenomena that occur as a result of sliding processes. In some cases, landslides can also occur after other types of movement which occur either immediately after a breakdown or later, when a mass moves down a slope, as a consequence of the changes in the properties of the triggered material. Landslide mapping methods […]

GIS system application in business planning

February 25, 2020

Regardless of the type of data, objects and activities one is working with, the easiest way to manage and organize them is by using a system. In the case of business and spatial planning, the most useful is the geographic information system, or GIS. Although all systems involve connecting activities and objects that serve a […]

Three-dimensional numerical analysis – Plaxis 3D

February 14, 2020

It seems almost unimaginable today to conduct a problem analysis and structure calculation in geotechnical engineering without the use of numerical modeling. The use of advanced numerical methods, such as the finite element method, allows us to carry out complex analyses that help us describe soil behavior and structure, as well as their interaction. Because […]

A review of the past year – The year of the major projects

February 7, 2020

Geotech’s CEO Mirko Grošić gives a brief overview of 2019, a successful and eventful year in all business aspects. Read the following interview to find out what was most significant in the past year and what our plans for the future are… How satisfied are you with what you achieved during the past year? The […]

Top-down construction method

January 23, 2020

In most common construction methods, buildings with underground parts are built by the bottom-up method where sub-structure and super-structure floors are constructed sequentially from the lowest level of basement to the top of the building. Though this conventional method, also called a bottom-up method, is simple in both design and construction, it is not feasible […]

Deep foundation for a new school building in Osijek

December 19, 2019

The construction for a new school building of the Prva gimnazija high school is planned in the northwestern part of Osijek. The site is located between Strossmayerova street to the south, opposite the Pejačević Castle, with Podravska street to the east and the river Drava to the north. Planned works The new building will cover […]

Public landscaping of the Rikard Benčić Block

December 10, 2019

The Revival and Revitalization of the Rikard Benčić Block in Rijekaincludes the revitalization of the former industrial complex “Rikard Benčić”, a motor equipment factory and foundry that operated from 1948 to 2005. The Revival and Revitalization of the complex includes:1. Reconstruction and equipping of existing facilities: Administrative building as a function of the Rijeka City […]

Investigation works for the Alpha Centauri campus of the Infobip

November 22, 2019

On a 20,000 square meter lot in Zagreb, at the crossroads of Utinjska and Lukoranska streets in Sveta Klara district, the foundations for Alpha Centauri, the new Infobip campus, have been placed. Planned works The new facilities will cover 11,900 square meters and have seven stories (north side of the building) and four stories (south […]

Selection of reinforced concrete retaining wall geometry

November 15, 2019

Terrain denudation should be secured by a stable slope geometry or retaining wall construction. Due to insufficient space for achieving stable slope geometry, reinforced concrete retaining walls are often constructed. For the purposes of significant projects, exploration and investigation are carried out in order to define the data required for the design. The exploration and […]

Prop loads in embedded retaining structures

October 28, 2019

There are two basic types of retaining structures: backfilled and embedded retaining structures. Backfilled retaining structures are gravity walls, reinforced concrete cantilever walls, gabion walls, reinforced soil structures. Embedded retaining structures are: diaphragm walls, pile walls and sheet pile walls. For smaller open pit depths it is possible to use embedded retaining structures without additional […]

Geophysical surveys

September 26, 2019

Geophysical surveys include the implementation of geophysical methods to indirectly determine the geological and structural as well as the physical and mechanical characteristics of the foundation soil. These methods are used to determine the layout, thickness and properties of individual layers below the terrain surface, on which the construction of a specific structure is planned. […]

Rockfall and slope remediation on county road ŽC5031, section Čabar-Mandli (6 locations)

September 12, 2019

Rockfall and slope remediation on county road ŽC5031, section Čabar-Mandli (6 locations) is currently underway. We have carried out engineering geological and geotechnical prospecting and made the main and the detailed rock slope protection design. The ŽC5031 section in question extends from the town of Čabar in the north to the village of Mandli in […]

Geotechnical and engineering geological exploration and investigation works – Korčula port, location Polačište

August 29, 2019

Planned work – construction of the new Korčula port, location Polačište The project site is located at Polačište, on the northern side of Korčula island, approximately 1.5 km west of the old town of Korčula, within the construction area of Zrnovo town. The planned structure will be a port open for public transport, primarily for […]

Types of shallow foundations

July 25, 2019

Shallow foundation Foundation depth usually involves depth, measured from the terrain surface, to the base surface through which the foundation transfers the structure load to the soil. According to Eurocode, shallow foundations are considered to be bases whose width is greater than the depth of foundation (D <B). Shallow foundation is applied in cases where […]

Offshore exploratory drilling

July 17, 2019

Exploration for construction of marine structures Offshore exploratory drilling includes a combination of drilling, sampling, in situ testing, as well as laboratory tests on soil and rock samples. Marine structures belong to a group of extremely complex construction projects. It is very important to be familiar with underwater geological conditions in order to predict all […]

Speleological objects in flysch

July 11, 2019

Speleological objects are natural underground cavities whose dimensions are such that a man can enter them in order to be able to directly observe, map and explore them. The scientific discipline that studies speleological objects is called speleology (Bočić, 2009). Speleological objects are divided into caves and pits. The formation of speleological objects (speleogenesis) takes […]

Landslide mitigation at Vela Voda

June 26, 2019

A landslide of approximately 110 m in width and 40 m in length occurred on a part of an unstable slope along the western edge of county road in Gorski Kotar, section Crni Lug – Mrzle Vodice – Gornje Jelenje. The village of Vela Voda is located only 0.5 km north of the landslide. Some […]

Cone Penetration Test with pore water pressure measurement (CPTU)

June 13, 2019

A cone penetration test with pore water pressure measurement, or CPTU, is a static penetration test with water pressure measurement. The main purpose of CPT (CPTU) testing is to identify subsurface conditions: classify soil, detect layers and measure strength, determine deformation characteristics and the permeability of foundation soils. This is done mainly on the basis […]

Flysch – term, characteristics, weathering…

May 31, 2019

Flysch is a term for sedimentary rock sequence, deposited in a deep basin formed on the continental edge of mountain mass. Flysch sequence is characterized by progressive deposition of deep-water turbidite sediments up to shallow-water shales (claystones and siltstones) and sandstones. Considering the area of Croatia, flysch sediments are deposited within alpine orogenesis, which formed […]

Engineering geological mapping of the slope

May 23, 2019

Small- and large-scale rockfalls are frequent on the roads in the Republic of Croatia, especially in mountainous areas and along the Adriatic Highway. Rockfalls pose a great danger in these areas because of their vast diversity of lithostratigraphic soil composition, high levels of tectonic and seismic activity, complex geological characteristics, diverse relief features, adverse climatic […]

Mixed in place method

May 9, 2019

One of the soil mixing methods is Mixed in place method (MIP) that has been developed and patented by BAUER company. Description of the method Mixed in place (MIP) refers to mixing the existing soil in situ with a binding agent. A triple auger is used to break up the soil. During this process, the […]

3D geological model

May 3, 2019

In order to increase the quality of project documentation through more detailed preparation, gets insight into potentially problematic situations, and other technical solutions we create 3D geological models. What is a 3D geological model? A 3D geological model represents a spatial view of the foundation soil structure in the observed area. It is used as […]

Differential settlements

April 26, 2019

Settlement of the foundation structures is a problem that people have faced ever since they first started constructing. The size of a foundation structure settlement is primarily dependent on the weight of the structure and the deformation characteristics of foundation soil. When analyzing this problem, it is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of uniform […]

Bauma 2019 – a look into the future

April 16, 2019

And this year, from 8th to 14th of April, Bauma has opened its doors to present new world trends in the construction engineering sector. With a multitude of exhibitors, visitors and great media attention, it deservedly takes a position of the leading trade fair in the world. About Bauma Bauma is the world’s leading trade […]

Landslide monitoring – measuring inclinometer

April 9, 2019

The problem of stability of natural and artificial slopes is one of the biggest problems in geotechnics. Landslides occur as a result of instability, and imbalances in the soil are a ubiquitous problem that often has harmful consequences. In order to detect and prevent the potential dangers of such occurrences in a timely manner, continuous […]

Testing of ground anchors

March 28, 2019

Ground anchor is a bearing element used to transfer the forces from the structure to the soil or rock mass. Early use of anchors included the application of rock bolts in Poland in 1918 and later in Czechoslovakia in 1926. Anchors were first introduced into civil engineering in 1934 by the French engineer André Coyne […]

Open pit protection – residential and commercial complex “Rio – Rijeka”

March 14, 2019

In the area of the existing “Rio-Rijeka” factory, plans are underway to construct a residential and commercial center. The location planned for construction is in a favorable geographical position in the city of Rijeka and covers a very valuable area of the city above the “Kantrida” stadium, overlooking the Kvarner Bay. Planned construction The construction […]

Vajont – a tragedy that killed more than 2,000 people

March 8, 2019

Fifty six years ago today, Italy suffered the worst man-made environmental disaster in its history: an inland tsunami that swept away entire villages and left nearly 2,000 bodies behind. A reinforced concrete dam with a height of 262 meters (859 feet) is located in the valley of the Vajont River under Monte Toc in Dolomites, Italy. […]

Material replacement under foundation

February 28, 2019

What is material replacement? Material replacement is the process of removing the existing and installing materials with better properties which are achieved by controlled installation. This is one of the most common foundation soil improvement processes applied when low soil physical and mechanical properties are present under the foundation. The purpose of the material replacement […]

Soil liquefaction

February 22, 2019

Local soil conditions have a significant effect on damage to structures caused by earthquakes. During an earthquake, different kinds of soil conduct generated seismic waves in different ways and their effect on structures depends on the characteristics of the foundation soil. Many earthquakes, such as those that occurred in Japan in 1964 (Niigata) and in […]

Potential geological hazards in the Rječina valley

February 14, 2019

Geological hazards are geological processes that can potentially lead to material destruction and human victims. If these negative effects occur, we are talking about a natural disaster. To understand natural disasters and assess their impact (risk) on humans, it is necessary to determine: Where some types of hazards could occur and why? How often these […]

Point load test (PLT)

February 7, 2019

The Point load test is an index test by which the rock is classified according to the strength. The test can be used to estimate other characteristics of intact rocks with which it correlates, such as uniaxial compressive and tensile strength. The test determines the strength index values at a point (Is (50)) and the […]

Using unmanned aircraft systems and 3D models for designing slope remediation projects

January 31, 2019

The demand for faster design and construction work, especially in transport infrastructure and infrastructure projects, has led to the need for faster and more accurate field recording and data processing methods. One of the newer technologies used in the last fifteen years is point cloud technology. This is a set of points of known spatial […]

Block toppling

January 24, 2019

Block toppling represents one of the most common types of instability, specifically structurally conditioned failure within the rock mass. Toppling occurs on slopes in rock masses where the strata dip steeply away from the slope, striking parallel or sub-parallel to it. In toppling, rotation of unstable blocks in overhangs occurs due to failure at the […]

Reinforced soil retaining structures

January 17, 2019

The stability of reinforced soil retaining structures is based on the interaction of tensile elements (armature) and the surrounding backfilled soil. Their execution is done by the embankment behind the front side of the retaining structure being combined with tensile elements such as geomesh, traps etc. The front side of the structure serves to prevent […]

Use od spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) for foundation soil improvement quality control

December 20, 2018

What is foundation soil improvement? Soil improvement includes a range of compaction and mixing technologies of the existing and new soil in which the natural soil transforms into a new material. Using soil improvement methods, it is possible to increase the soil load bearing capacity, reduce or keep under control total and differential settlements, reduce […]

Rockfall remediation – Hrvatska Kostajnica

December 6, 2018

Hrvatska Kostajnica is located on the very south-eastern edge of central Croatia, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town is located in the river Una valley, at the eastern foot of Zrinska gora and is surrounded by foothills in the west and north. Hrvatska Kostajnica is Croatian town whose name is first mentioned […]

Tunnel of the future in Northern Europe

November 29, 2018

Norway is a country of fjords and glaciers, lakes, mountains, forests and wooden houses in fishing villages and legendary myths. However, the most famous symbols of Norway are fjords, winding sea bays emerald green in color. These are actually sunken valleys of former icebergs which have been hollowed by mechanical erosion, deep below sea level […]

Foundation soil improvement of the Zaprešić – Zabok railway line R201

November 23, 2018

The company Geotech Ltd. is a part of the project that includes modernization of the Zaprešić-Zabok railway line R201. This is a section of the Zagorje line, leading to Čakovec with a regional character (R201 Zaprešić – Bedekovčina – Čakovec) and plays an important role in passenger transport in the area of Zagreb agglomeration. For […]

Protective mesh

November 15, 2018

Rockfall is one of the most dangerous types of instability in the rock mass. Since this phenomenon is common in mountainous areas, suitable geotechnical interventions for existing infrastructure protection (roads, railways, etc.) are needed. One of the most favourable methods of rock slope protection in such cases is the application of a protective mesh. Basic […]

Protection of rock slope cut 51 Lokve on the Zagreb-Rijeka railway line

November 8, 2018

The protection of rock slope cut 51 on the railway line M202 Zagreb GK – Rijeka (near the Lokve railway station) has just been completed. The works lasted from April to October 2018. The protection of the rock slope was carried out because of the rockfall danger on the track and other infrastructure elements. The […]

How to determine the age of a rock?

October 29, 2018

The age of a rock is determined by stratigraphy, a branch in geology which studies the chronology of events and changes, along with the development of organisms, which have determined the development of the Earth from when it became an independent spatial body until today. The age, or the chronology of geological creations and events […]

Realizator 2018.

October 19, 2018

The University of Rijeka Foundation presented the third edition of the university case study contest “Realizator 2018”. The grand opening of the university case study competition was held on October 17th, in the premises of the STEPRI – Education Center of the University Campus in Rijeka. What is Realizator? The Realizator case study competition was […]