Expansive and collapsible soils are among the most problematic geotechnical hazards affecting structures and infrastructure across the United States. Expansive clays swell when they gain moisture and shrink when they dry, resulting in heave, settlement, cracking, and differential foundation movement. Collapsible soils, often stable in their dry state, can undergo sudden, significant settlement when subjected to loads and moisture. Basecamp performs expansive and collapsible soil investigations to identify the presence, extent, and severity of these conditions. Using field exploration and laboratory testing, we quantify swell potential, collapse susceptibility, moisture sensitivity, and load‑bearing behavior to guide prevention, mitigation, and long‑term soil management strategies.

Basecamp’s geotechnical engineers and geologists bring more than 40 years of combined experience evaluating soil behavior, designing foundations, and developing repair and retrofit solutions for distressed structures. Our team has performed thousands of investigations involving expansive clay, collapsible soils, moisture imbalance, and soil‑related structural movement. We have provided expert testimony in over 100 cases involving soil‑structure interaction and geotechnical failures. With deep expertise in forensic evaluation and design, Basecamp delivers technically sound, conclusions and practical repair recommendations that help clients address underlying soil issues, reduce long‑term risk, and restore system performance.

Services

• Pre-Construction Peer Review
• Performance Investigations
• Field & Lab Testing
• Foundation Movement Investigations
• Finite Element Analysis
• Repair Design & Retrofit

Slope failures and landslides occur when the driving forces acting on soil or rock exceed the forces resisting movement. These events are commonly triggered by intense rainfall, fluctuating groundwater levels, weak or weathered soils, erosion, excavation, fill placement, or added structural loads near the top or toe of a slope. Because the causes are often interconnected, determining why a slope has failed requires expertise in geology, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, and construction practices. Basecamp performs comprehensive slope‑failure investigations that evaluate how soil strength, geologic conditions, drainage patterns, and human activities contribute to instability, delivering clear insight into both immediate and long‑term risk.

Basecamp’s team analyzes slope geometry, subsurface layering, groundwater conditions, drainage, and deformation patterns to identify the root causes of failure and define the mechanisms involved. With experience ranging from minor embankment distress to major landslides affecting highways, neighborhoods, utilities, and retaining structures, we develop stabilization strategies tailored to each site’s geologic and structural conditions. Our recommendations may include grading modifications, drainage improvements, soil reinforcement, retaining structures, or long‑term monitoring. Through detailed evaluation and practical, cost‑effective remediation strategies, Basecamp helps clients restore stability, protect infrastructure, and reduce the likelihood of future slope movement.

Retaining wall failures typically arise from a combination of soil pressure, inadequate drainage, material deterioration, or deficiencies in design and construction. When a wall begins to crack, tilt, rotate, or collapse, the consequences can affect nearby structures, roadways, utilities, and overall public safety. Basecamp conducts Retaining Wall Failure Investigations that examine lateral earth pressures, groundwater conditions, wall geometry, foundation support, and construction practices to pinpoint the true cause of distress. Our team determines whether the issue stems from soil behavior, improper design assumptions, poor workmanship, or long‑term deterioration and provides clear recommendations for repair or reconstruction.

Basecamp’s geotechnical engineers and geologists bring more than 40 years of combined experience designing retaining walls, analyzing failures, and developing repair and retrofit strategies for distressed structures. Our investigations consider soil strength, drainage paths, backfill materials, groundwater buildup, surcharge loads, and overall site conditions to understand how forces interact with the wall system. Drawing on thousands of completed evaluations, our team delivers technically rigorous conclusions and practical repair solutions that restore stability, improve long‑term performance, and reduce future risk. Whether addressing small landscape walls or large engineered systems supporting roads and buildings, Basecamp provides the expertise needed to protect infrastructure and ensure safe, reliable wall performance.

Earthquake‑related damage is rarely straightforward, the underlying causes often stem from the complex way ground motion interacts with soil, rock, foundations, and structural systems. Seismic events can trigger a cascade of failures, including soil liquefaction, differential settlement, lateral spreading, slope instability, retaining wall distress, and structural deformation. Each outcome reflects the combined influence of geology, soil properties, design assumptions, and construction practices under dynamic loading. Basecamp’s integrated forensic approach brings clarity to these interactions by evaluating how subsurface conditions and seismic forces converge to produce observed damage, providing a clear understanding essential for risk evaluation and repair planning.

Basecamp delivers the multidisciplinary insight needed to interpret seismic damage with accuracy and technical rigor. Our geologists and engineers analyze subsurface behavior, foundation response, structural performance, and site‑specific seismic influences to isolate root causes and distinguish seismic effects from pre‑existing conditions or design and construction deficiencies. With extensive experience supporting litigation, dispute resolution, and insurance evaluations, we provide well‑supported analyses, expert opinions, and responsive communication. Whether assessing liquefaction, foundation settlement, or structural distress, Basecamp transforms seismic uncertainty into actionable engineering clarity, helping clients navigate complex claims, determine appropriate repairs, and reduce long‑term risk.

Services

• Seismic Forensic Investigations
• Post Earthquake Damage Assessment & Rapid Response
• Liquefaction & Ground Failure Assessment

Geology is the foundation of every successful construction and engineering project because it governs the natural processes and subsurface conditions that shape how, and where, structures can be built. Geological and geotechnical investigations assess the physical properties of soil and rock, including strength, compressibility, permeability, and durability. These characteristics determine foundation design, excavation strategies, and long‑term structural performance. By identifying faults, bedrock depth, sinkholes, expansive or collapsible soils, and groundwater conditions, geology provides early insight into risks such as settlement, heave, slope instability, liquefaction, and erosion. This understanding allows engineers and geologists to anticipate challenges and make informed decisions about site suitability, material selection, and construction methods.

Geology also plays a critical role in long‑term project resilience by helping engineers mitigate natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and subsidence. Geological mapping and hazard assessments guide infrastructure placement and determine when specialized foundations, drainage systems, or reinforcements are needed. In large‑scale projects, including tunnels, bridges, dams, and roadways, the behavior of surrounding soils and rock masses can significantly impact structural integrity. Geologic insight ensures that these systems are designed to withstand natural forces throughout their service life. Ultimately, integrating geology into engineering and construction fosters safer, more durable, and more cost‑effective projects capable of performing reliably over decades.

Services

• Site & Subsurface Characterization
• Foundation & Structural Support Design
• Earthwork, Grading, & Ground Stability
• Material & Resource Evaluation
• Risk, Environmental, & Longevity Management