---
title: "Contents of site investigation report"
subject: "Foundation Engineering"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_5/foundation_engineering:site-investigation-report"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/foundation_engineering/site-investigation-report
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Contents of site investigation report

Foundation Engineering · Chapter 2: Soil Exploration

- Asked in: 2081 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2081 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2078 Kartik, 4 marks; 2074 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2072 Chaitra, 5 marks (asked 5 times)
- Video: [How to interpret Soil investigation Reports & Geotechnical reports](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N94Obj2SHpE) — CIVILERA
- Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/foundation_engineering/site-investigation-report
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/foundation_engineering/chapter-2

## Question

What are the features/contents of a good site investigation report? What are the things you will consider while preparing it?

## Short answer

A good report contains introduction, site description, field and lab details, subsoil profile, design parameters and recommendations, with appendices. It must be clear, separate facts from interpretation, note investigation limits, use standard symbols, and report groundwater level with seasonal variation.

## Answer

A site investigation report is the final record of the soil investigation. It must be clear enough for a designer who has never visited the site.

#### Contents
1. **Introduction:** project name, location, purpose, scope, date, and names of the client and the investigating agency.
2. **Site description:** topography, existing structures, drainage, access, nearby sources, geology, seismic zone, past land use.
3. **Field work:** number, location and depth of boreholes/pits, method of boring, sampling methods, field tests (SPT, vane, plate load, etc.).
4. **Laboratory tests:** grain size, Atterberg limits, moisture content, unit weight, shear strength, consolidation, chemical tests.
5. **Subsoil profile:** borehole logs, soil profile sections and the groundwater level, with soil classification (IS 1498/USCS).
6. **Analysis and findings:** design parameters ($c$, $\phi$, $\gamma$, $C_c$, $N$), safe bearing capacity and expected settlement.
7. **Recommendations:** type and depth of foundation, allowable bearing pressure, ground improvement, dewatering and construction precautions.
8. **Appendices:** site plan with borehole positions, bore logs, test results, photographs, and a reference list of codes used.

#### Things to consider while preparing it
- Use clear, brief language and standard symbols and units.
- Separate the facts (observed data) from the interpretation.
- Give the limits of the investigation and note the possible variation between boreholes.
- Present tables and drawings at a suitable scale and check them for consistency.
- Report the groundwater level and its seasonal variation.
- Make recommendations economical and practical for the construction methods.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. While preparing a site investigation report one should
   A. separate observed facts from interpretation
   B. mix interpretation with data freely
   C. omit the limits of the investigation
   D. leave out groundwater data
   Answer: A. Keeping facts and interpretation apart lets designers judge the data themselves. (Key point: Facts vs interpretation)

2. The recommendations section of the report includes
   A. only the client's name
   B. type and depth of foundation, allowable bearing pressure and construction precautions
   C. only borehole diameters
   D. only the laboratory fees
   Answer: B. Recommendations are the practical output the designer uses. (Key point: Recommendations)

3. The subsoil profile section presents
   A. only photographs
   B. only the cost estimate
   C. borehole logs, soil sections, groundwater level and classification
   D. only reference codes
   Answer: C. Logs and sections with GWL and IS/USCS classification describe the ground. (Key point: Subsoil profile)

## Related in Foundation Engineering

- [Importance and stages of site investigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Ffoundation_engineering%3Aimportance-stages-site-investigation) — Foundation Engineering, chapter 2
- [Investigation details for bridge foundation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Ffoundation_engineering%3Abridge-foundation-investigation) — Foundation Engineering, chapter 2

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- [Preparing and presenting an energy audit report](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fenergy_resources%3Aenergy-audit-report-preparation-presentation) — Energy Resources, chapter 9
- [Contents of a good project proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-contents-components) — Project Engineering, chapter 2, asked 3×
- [Contents of project appraisal report](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aappraisal-report-contents) — Project Engineering, chapter 2
- [Purposes of site investigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Asite-investigation-purposes) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 4, asked 7×