Soils (geotechnical) reports must be prepared by a licensed geotechnical engineer or registered civil engineer experienced in soils engineering. Only reports prepared by a properly licensed professional will be accepted for review by the County. A list of local soils engineers can be found here.
The primary concern with hiring a consultant should be that they are familiar with the soils report requirements and are willing to meet these in a cost effective manner. The applicant should consult several sources, such as project design professionals or contractors, for references or recommendations of specific consultants. It is also advisable to obtain proposals and cost estimates from several different firms before a consultant is chosen. In many cases, several different firms should be consulted about report scope and cost before one is chosen.
Coordination of Professionals
Large projects, or development on geologically complex sites, can often require a team of professionals including an engineering geologist, a soils (geotechnical) engineer and a civil engineer. It is important that these professionals coordinate and communicate with one another; this coordination should be specifically included in their proposals. Coordination between the engineering geologist and the soils engineer is particularly important. The soils report prepared by the soils engineer will rely heavily on the geologic information contained in the geology report. Similarly, the civil engineer, who may design the foundation, retaining walls or other structural elements, will rely on the recommendations and design specifications laid out by the soil engineer. Ultimately, the final development plans will need to be reviewed by each professional to ensure consistency with their respective recommendations.