Geotekninen

Geotekninen is a Finnish term that denotes the geotechnical branch of civil engineering. It concerns the behavior of soils and rocks and their interaction with structures, foundations, and infrastructure. The field combines geology, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, and hydrology to evaluate ground conditions and to inform safe, economical design and construction.

Key activities include site investigations with boreholes, sampling, field tests such as the standard penetration test (SPT) and cone penetration test (CPT), and in-situ hydraulic and settlement measurements. Laboratory testing analyzes grain size, Atterberg limits, shear strength, compressibility, and permeability to characterize soils and rocks.

Geotechnical design covers foundations for buildings and bridges, earthworks, slope stability, retaining systems, and excavation support. It also encompasses ground improvement methods such as compaction, stabilization, grouting, and reinforcement, as well as groundwater management and drainage. Instrumentation and monitoring of settlement, pore pressure, and lateral movement are standard for risk control during and after construction.

Special topics include seismic geotechnical engineering, site response analysis, liquefaction assessment, and environmental geotechnics dealing with contaminant transport and remediation in soils. Geotechnical practice integrates code requirements and standards, such as Eurocode 7 in Europe, with national guidelines.

In Finland and other Nordic countries, geotekninen practices are applied across construction, transport, energy, and environmental projects, supported by universities, testing laboratories, and engineering consultancies. The aim is to provide reliable ground models and safe, economical foundations while addressing geotechnical risks.