Our firm has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering. We perform geotechnical studies for a wide variety of public and private improvements including: high-rise buildings, low-rise commercial buildings, schools, residential subdivisions, shopping centers, levees, bridges, hospitals, roadways, pipelines, storm water basins and embankment dams for tailings impoundment. Our engineers have extensive experience in evaluating cost-effective earthwork, soil chemical treatment, foundation design, earth retaining, and pavement design alternatives. Our geotechnical investigations use a variety of site exploratory techniques including exploratory drilling, test excavations, cone penetration testing, and geophysical methods, such as seismic refraction surveys. Our engineers use state-of-the-art computer applications to assist with geotechnical analyses.

Our firm has been involved in environmentally related geotechnical and hydrological studies since 1981, shortly after the enactment of the initial Superfund legislation. These early environmentally driven projects were performed for uranium and coal mining clients in the mountain west, and included regional geology, groundwater quality, soil chemistry, surface water hydrology, and geotechnical engineering. In the mid-1980's our firm began performing Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. Currently we perform more than 100 Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments per year throughout California. We also have performed environmental assessments for properties in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Our environmental studies typically are associated with real estate transactions of medium sized commercial properties but also have included 1000-acre-plus properties and industrial process facilities. Our experience has included development of site clean-up strategies and the oversight of environmental remediation. In addition, we provide asbestos consulting and surveys. Our environmental services are approved by most major lending institutions and we are used as a consultant by several banks.

 

Raney Geotechnical Inc. provides professional engineering geology services related to land acquisition, site development, and hazard mitigation. Our engineering geology services include geologic mapping and characterization, geologic hazards investigations, seismic analysis and assessments, fault evaluation studies, liquefaction evaluation, and slope stability/landslide investigation. Our engineering geology services incorporate state-of the-art geologic information, field investigation techniques, and computer analyses.

Since 1987 our firm has been providing a wide range of construction inspection and materials testing services. We are qualified and certified for testing and inspection related to: piling/ drilled piers; earthwork/foundation and field density testing; reinforced concrete (cast in place, pre-cast, reinforcing steel/pre-stressed/post-tension); pneumatically placed concrete (gunite); structural steel welding/ high strength bolting /non-destructive testing/welder certification; structural masonry; insulating concrete; anchor load testing; and, spray applied fireproofing. All inspecting and testing is performed under the supervision of a professional engineer by qualified inspectors and technicians in compliance with industry standards, including California Council of Testing and Inspection Agencies (CCTIA) guidelines, California and International Building Codes, California Department of Transportation, Division of the State Architect (DSA), and ASTM D3740 and E329.

Raney Geotechnical Inc. operates a full testing laboratory facility at our West Sacramento offices to supplement our consulting and construction testing services. We maintain calibrated equipment and testing apparatus to perform a variety of strength and index property tests on soil and aggregate samples for engineering evaluation.  In addition, we perform testing on a variety of construction materials for specification conformance consideration. We maintain a large moisture cure room with controlled and monitored humidity and temperature conditions for the curing of concrete and masonry samples. Our laboratory is inspected on a regular basis by DSA, Caltrans, and the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.