Geotechnical Design & Detailing
DECS offers comprehensive geotechnical design and detailing services, covering the full spectrum of earth retaining, foundation, slope, and underground works required across Singapore’s built environment. Our geotechnical team possesses in-depth expertise in the technical and regulatory requirements of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Land Transport Authority (LTA), PUB, and other relevant authorities — delivering rigorous, submission ready designs that reflect current codes of practice, site-specific conditions, and authority guidelines.
We provide both Professional Engineer (PE) design services and independent Accredited Checker / Accredited Checker (Geotechnical) [AC/AC(Geo)] checking services, ensuring full regulatory compliance across all stages of the design and approval process.
Scope of Geotechnical Services
- ERSS Design — BCA & LTA RWRL Submission: Detailed design of Earth Retaining and Stabilising Structures (ERSS), including sheet pile walls, soldier pile systems, contiguous bored pile walls, diaphragm walls, and associated strutting and anchor systems. Submissions prepared in compliance with BCA ERSS requirements and LTA Road and Rail Works Requirement for Land Lots (RWRL) where applicable.
- Slope Strengthening & Stability Analysis — BCA Submission: Comprehensive slope stability assessments and remediation design encompassing soil nailing, retaining wall systems, and surface protection measures, prepared in accordance with the BCA Approved Document and the relevant geotechnical standards for the authority submission.
- Pile Foundation Design — BCA Submission: Structural and geotechnical design of driven and bored pile foundation systems, including pile capacity calculations, settlement analysis, negative skin friction assessment, and pile cap detailing, with full BCA submission documentation.
- Offshore Quay Wall Design — BCA Submission: Specialist design of quay walls and marine retaining structures, incorporating appropriate hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural loading parameters in compliance with applicable codes and BCA submission requirements.
- Impact Assessment on Water & Sewer Pipes — POWS Submission: Quantitative assessment of the potential impacts of ERSS, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), pipe jacking, and associated underground works on existing water mains and sewer infrastructure, prepared in compliance with PUB's Protection of Water Supply (POWS) submission requirements.
- Impact Assessment on MRT Tunnels & Viaducts — LTA DBC Submission: Detailed evaluation of ground movement and structural impact on the existing MRT tunnels, viaducts, and associated LTA infrastructure arising from ERSS, HDD, pipe jacking, and other proximity works, submitted in accordance with the LTA's Displacement-Based Criteria (DBC) framework.
- Impact Assessment on Road Carriageways: Assessment of potential ground settlement, pavement distortion, and carriageway impact arising from adjacent ERSS, HDD, pipe jacking, and underground construction activities, with recommendations for monitoring, protection measures, and reinstatement where required.
- Impact Assessment on Gas Pipelines: Technical evaluation of the effects of ERSS, HDD, pipe jacking, and other subsurface works on existing gas distribution and transmission pipelines, including stress analysis, strain assessment, and recommended protective or mitigation measures in coordination with the relevant utility authority.
