Ground Improvement
Pacific Foundation improves weak or variable ground so foundations, slabs, tanks, embankments, and excavations can be built to the project criteria.
Method selection starts with the required outcome: control settlement, increase bearing or stiffness, manage seepage, reduce liquefaction risk, or support work below groundwater.
How Ground Improvement Works
Ground improvement is selected when native ground cannot meet the project requirements without treatment. The method may improve strength, stiffness, permeability, settlement response, or load transfer.
Pacific reviews the ground profile, treatment target, equipment access, material delivery, spoils, and testing. The work must account for how the treated ground will support the structure or excavation.
When to Use Ground Improvement
Ground improvement can fit when weak, loose, compressible, saturated, or variable soils create settlement, bearing, seepage, uplift, seismic, or working-platform concerns.
It should be reviewed before the foundation, shoring, dewatering, and excavation approach is locked, because treatment geometry and construction sequence can change the right answer.
Weak or compressible soils
Sites where untreated ground may settle too much or cannot support the planned load path.
Below-groundwater work
Excavations, shafts, or structures where seepage, uplift, or bottom stability needs coordinated treatment.
Seismic or coastal soils
Ground profiles where liquefaction, lateral spreading, or soft saturated deposits affect performance.
Large loaded areas
Slabs, tanks, mats, embankments, and building pads where the load can be distributed through improved ground.
Equipment and Tooling
Ground improvement equipment is selected around method, depth, diameter, mixing or jetting energy, binder or grout delivery, platform capacity, access, spoils, and verification requirements.
Final equipment selection should be confirmed after the geotechnical report, treatment layout, platform assumptions, and production requirements are reviewed.
Project Experience
These projects connect treatment selection to groundwater, access, verification, and the construction that follows.
Honolulu, HI / Water & Wastewater Sand Island WWTP
Pacific Foundation supported the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant work with CFA piles and a value-engineered design-build CDSM system for the IPS excavation, utility trenches, and tower-crane foundations.
View project
Manzanita, OR / Public Works Manzanita City Hall
Pacific Foundation installed 4-foot CDSM columns as part of the early foundation package for Manzanita’s new city hall campus.
View project
Honolulu, HI / Commercial HKV Ka Haku Tower
Pacific Foundation supported Hilton Kings Village / Ka Haku Tower with design-build CDSM, jet-grout bottom-seal work, a design-build secant pile wall, and a 120-foot CFA test pile with O-Cell testing.
View projectAdditional method examples can be reviewed once the ground conditions, treatment goal, and construction sequence are known.
Pacific Capabilities
Pacific reviews treatment geometry, equipment access, material delivery, spoils, testing, utilities, and phasing as one construction plan. That coordination helps the improved ground support the next trade as intended.
Ground Improvement FAQs
When should ground improvement be considered?
Consider ground improvement when native soil creates settlement, bearing, seepage, uplift, seismic, or working-platform concerns and treatment may improve performance without changing the entire foundation concept.
How do you choose between jet grouting, deep cement mixing, and rigid inclusions?
The method depends on the treatment objective, soil profile, groundwater, access, spoils, geometry, verification requirements, and how the improved ground will support the structure or excavation.
What should be sent for review?
Send geotechnical information, drawings, loading or settlement criteria, treatment layout, groundwater assumptions, utilities, access limits, platform details, schedule, and testing requirements.
Discuss Your Ground Improvement Scope
Send the geotechnical report, drawings, treatment objective, and design criteria. Pacific will review method fit, access, groundwater, utilities, working platform, and testing requirements before estimating the work.