Role
Geotechnical Intern
Geotechnical Engineering · CSIR-BRRI
Geotechnical Site Characterization from Field & Lab Testing
A three-month hands-on geotechnical internship at Ghana's Building and Road Research Institute, spanning field investigation, laboratory soil testing, and the geotechnical report for a proposed building.
The context
Before a building can be designed, the ground beneath it has to be understood. Site characterization is the discipline of turning boreholes and soil samples into a clear picture of subsurface strength and behavior, so that engineers can recommend the right foundation with confidence.
This project covers a three-month internship at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI), Ghana's leading built-environment research institution, working across both the field and the laboratory.
Field investigation
The fieldwork centered on subsurface investigation using the Standard Penetration Test (SPT), the workhorse method for assessing in-situ soil strength.
- Participated in Standard Penetration Tests to obtain N-values describing soil resistance at depth.
- Collected both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples for laboratory analysis.
- Built a working understanding of how field measurements translate into subsurface strength profiles.
Why SPT matters
The N-value from a Standard Penetration Test feeds directly into foundation design, correlating with soil density, bearing capacity, and settlement behavior. It is one of the most widely used in-situ tests in geotechnical practice.
Laboratory testing
Alongside the field program, the laboratory work characterized the physical and mechanical properties of the sampled soils.
- Sieve analysis, particle size distribution and soil classification.
- Compaction (Proctor) tests, determining optimum moisture content and maximum dry density.
- Triaxial testing, measuring shear strength parameters of the soil.
The deliverable
The field and laboratory results came together in a geotechnical investigation report for a proposed storey building, the kind of document that directly informs a real construction decision. Contributing to it meant seeing the full arc: from a blow count in the field, through classification and strength testing in the lab, to foundation-relevant recommendations on paper.
Tools & methods
Standard Penetration Test
Sieve Analysis
Proctor Compaction
Triaxial Testing
Soil Classification
Geotechnical Reporting
The takeaway
This internship is where geotechnical theory became tactile. Running the tests, handling the samples, and contributing to a live report gave me a grounded sense of how subsurface data actually supports engineering decisions, the exact intersection of field, lab, and analysis that mining and geotechnical roles depend on.
Want to talk geotechnical work or site investigation?
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