BEG SA Géologie & Environnement

Bureau d'Etudes Géologiques SA (BEG) offers services in all areas of geology and the environment related to the interaction of human activities with the subsurface or the exploitation of underground resources.

 

Composed of a team of experienced geologists and engineers, as well as young professionals trained in the latest techniques, BEG has maintained and developed more than 45 years of expertise, making it one of the leading players in this field in French-speaking Switzerland.

 

 

Originally based in Valais, the BEG has expanded its activities throughout French-speaking Switzerland, and our expertise is regularly sought after beyond our borders.

In construction, the most common problems encountered are related to building foundations, the stability of excavation enclosures, underground works, and conflicts with the water table.

BEG carries out all the necessary geotechnical investigations (drilling, excavations, penetrometers, laboratory tests) in order to prevent difficulties and propose optimal technical solutions, including the dimensioning of structures, tendering, calls for tenders, site supervision, and quantity surveying. BEG also offers geotechnical project monitoring techniques and, in the case of renovation or demolition, asbestos diagnostics.

 

Foundations

When a simple solution for foundations or subsoil consolidation cannot be adopted, other indirect foundation solutions are studied (e.g., bored piles, driven piles, micropiles).

 

Geotechnical works and excavation shoring

High excavation walls in poor soil conditions must be reinforced (nailed or anchored walls, Berlin-type walls, jetting).

 

Underground works

Tunnel boring requires a geotechnical study, and a geologist is essential for monitoring the work site. In this field, the BEG has carried out a unique experiment: securing the underground lake at St-Léonard, a flooded tourist cave in a gypsum massif.

 

Groundwater lowering

When excavating in groundwater, it is necessary to lower the water table by pumping (wells, wellpoints), possibly with the installation of sheet piling. Such situations are modeled using advanced calculation codes in order to optimize the sizing of the equipment (... more).

 

Earthworks

BEG is active in the dimensioning and stability calculations of earthworks subjected to various stresses. These include, for example, equilibrium calculations for natural or man-made slopes, earth dams and dykes, taking into account various factors such as loads, the effects of water pressure and suction, hydro-mechanical coupling and seismic action.

In this field, the BEG is particularly active in securing the levees of the 3rd correction of the Rhône.

The BEG offers solutions to protect the population and infrastructure against:

•  landslides

• rockfalls and landslides

•  subsidence and collapse

•  slope erosion

•  debris flows

 

Geological assessments

The BEG conducts assessments of various types of geological hazards for individuals and public authorities. This involves:

•  assessing hazards and vulnerabilities

•  proposing protective measures in land use planning projects

•  proposing appropriate construction measures in building projects.

The BEG is also regularly consulted by civil engineering and architectural firms to characterize foundation soils.

 

Hazard map

The BEG produces hazard maps for ground movements (landslides, collapses) and rock phenomena (rockfalls, landslides). Hazard maps for watercourses (floods, torrents) are produced in close collaboration with hydraulic engineers.

 

Protective structures

The BEG is often commissioned to draw up defense projects.  These involve, in particular:

• designing protective structures against rockfalls (nets, protective dikes, etc.)

• proposing measures to stabilize landslides (drainage, anchors, reinforced structures, etc.)

• proposing structural reinforcement measures for buildings

• planning blasting operations

• planning and supervising the execution of works (defense projects, drilled drain campaigns, installation of nets, etc.)

In this field, the BEG participated in the major landslide remediation project at La Frasse in the canton of Vaud (... more).

 

Monitoring

The BEG develops monitoring programs and installs instruments to track the evolution of natural hazards. The control and interpretation of data (setting alert thresholds) provide the authorities with decision-making support in the event of an alarm (... more).

 

Crisis management

The BEG offers alarm plan solutions (advice to clients) and regularly supports the authorities in managing crises caused by natural hazards.

Monitoring – Natural hazards, construction sites, landfills, quarries, riverbanks

With its own measuring instruments and staff certified in cliff intervention and hazard management, the BEG offers several monitoring methods at very attractive prices. At the same time, the BEG manages data processing and interpretation, advises clients on risk management, and maintains the systems in collaboration with specialized firms, as needed. The BEG also offers hydrogeological and environmental monitoring services.

 

Monitoring through on-site interventions

The following services are offered:

• Inspection work

• Installation of monitoring devices and measuring instruments (extensometers, targets, reference points, weather stations)

• Installation of inclinometers (deformation monitoring) and tilt meters (inclination monitoring)

• Installation of geophones to monitor vibrations caused by anthropogenic sources (blasting, drilling, vehicle traffic) or natural sources (fracture openings, friction, torrential lava flows)

The BEG regularly collaborates with surveying firms to equip sites with geodetic techniques (GPS markers, targets for laser sighting).

 

Optical imaging monitoring requiring no on-site intervention

The BEG has acquired 10 years of experience in the field of optical imaging monitoring by developing its own cost-effective methodology for 2D or 3D monitoring of embankments, excavations, rock faces, landslides, and glaciers. Data is acquired by helicopter, drone, or from the ground.

The BEG offers the following services:

• Historical inventories (qualitative and quantitative revaluation of archive images)

• Detection and monitoring of natural hazards

• Construction site monitoring (assistance with dimensioning, analysis, and stability checks)

• Monitoring of landfills (logistical assistance, mass balances)

• Quarry monitoring (logistical support, mass balance, monitoring and detection of instability)

• Riverbank monitoring (erosion, stability).

Hydrology – hydraulics

The BEG offers comprehensive services in the field of water exploitation, development, and management.

 

Water drainage

BEG advises designers and project owners on how to optimize the management of water drainage from a plot of land, both technically and legally. It also supports municipalities in their monitoring and control work.

BEG offers the following services:

• advice on integrated water drainage management

• Sizing of drainage systems (pipes, manholes, waste disposal, pumps, infiltration/retention structures, etc.)

• advice and control of pipe plans

• advice and inspection of connections.

 

The BEG has specialists certified by the Swiss Water Protection Association (VSA).

 

Hydrological hazards

The BEG provides hydrological advice and expertise at the parcel level for flood, sediment transport, and torrential mudslide hazards.

 

Water management for irrigation

The BEG is involved in several projects aimed at optimizing the management of water for irrigation.

 

Micro-turbining

The BEG is involved in various mini and microturbine projects, studies on drinking water turbines, and assessments of hydroelectric potential.

Hydrogeology covers many areas related to construction, the environment, drinking water resources, geothermal energy, and land use planning. The BEG has experienced hydrogeologists who can cover a wide range of services in this field.

 

Drinking water resources

The exploitation and preservation of drinking water resources is certainly one of the major challenges of our time. To this end, the BEG provides the following services:

• hydrogeological expertise and resource monitoring (quantity and quality)

• Search for new groundwater resources (aquifers and springs)

• validation of the potability of a resource (chemical quality of water, bacteriology, etc.)

• Sizing and monitoring of drinking water supply (pumping wells, spring and river catchments)

• establishment of groundwater protection zones for municipalities with a catalog of protective measures

• Detection of groundwater pollution and identification of the source of pollutants

• Digital hydrogeological modeling using advanced calculation codes.

 

Construction

Current guidelines recommend the reinfiltration of rainwater captured by impervious surfaces (roofs, paved areas) into the water table in order to ensure its replenishment and reduce the risk of flooding. To this end, the BEG carries out:

• dimensioning infiltration structures

• constructing infiltration structures

Lowering the water table is sometimes necessary in geotechnical projects. The BEG carries out:

•  conducting preliminary hydrogeological studies

•  sizing wells using digital modeling

•  monitoring and control of groundwater lowering during construction.

 

Project-groundwater interactions (study and monitoring)

Any project can have an impact on the groundwater (flow, regime, temperature, lowering or pollution). In the event of potential risk, BEG provides the following services:

•  Quantification of the project's impact on groundwater (see also environmental impact studies)

•  monitoring

•  proposal of measures to minimize project-groundwater conflicts.

In this area, the BEG is actively involved in studying the impact of the third correction of the Rhône on groundwater (... more).

 

General water drainage plans (PGEE)

Local authorities' water management includes the reinfiltration of rainwater collected by impervious surfaces in urban areas in order to limit the risk of river flooding in the event of heavy rainfall. In this context, the BEG is responsible for identifying areas within the municipality that are suitable for infiltration.

Geothermal energy – renewable energy

Geothermal energy refers to a technology that exploits the thermal energy contained in the subsoil. It offers interesting alternatives for individual or collective heating (shallow geothermal energy at low to medium temperatures) and, if geological conditions allow, for electricity production (deep geothermal energy at high to very high temperatures). The BEG has acquired solid experience in this field, both in the exploitation and monitoring of thermal springs and in the extraction of energy via heat pumps (HP) and vertical geothermal probes (VGP).

 

Thermal springs and collection wells

Thermal springs have considerable potential for tourism, energy, and the economy. The BEG supports project owners throughout the various stages of their projects by:

• prospecting for new thermal water resources

• evaluating their potential

• establishing final projects

• sizing the equipment (wells) necessary for their exploitation

• monitoring the construction of deep wells.

 

Thermal exploitation of groundwater - water-water heat pumps

Water-water heat pumps are an attractive solution in the Rhône plain. However, these systems are sensitive to water quality and, in some cases, can interact significantly with neighboring systems if they are not correctly positioned and sized. BEG provides the following services:

• Thermal modeling of groundwater

• Energy potential assessment

• sizing of pumping and discharge wells used by water-water heat pumps

• monitoring of well construction.

 

Vertical geothermal probes

At depths of 20 meters or more, the temperature of the subsoil remains constant throughout the year. Individual or field vertical geothermal probes (SGV) allow both the extraction of this energy and the storage of surplus energy. They are an energy source that is perfectly in line with sustainable development. However, in order to comply with current standards, precautions must be taken when sizing and installing them.

To this end, the BEG:

• designs geothermal probe fields using Earth Energy Designer software

• monitors the drilling work for these probes.

 

Deep geothermal energy

At great depths, the geothermal potential is considerable, whether or not water is present. In this field, the BEG provides the following services:

• establishing geological models

• Energy potential assessment

• risk assessment (possible seismic activity in certain geological conditions)

The BEG was involved in the risk analyses for the geothermal project in the city of Basel.

 

The environment has become a constant concern, particularly in the field of water protection, but also in the management of polluted sites and buildings. In order to ensure compliance with the protective measures required by current standards, environmental safety regulations have been drawn up and regular site visits are carried out to ensure compliance. During the execution and operation phases, the project may, in some cases, require stability and/or hydrogeological monitoring.

 

Environmental impact studies

Large-scale infrastructure and construction projects can have a significant impact on the environment (water, soil, air, noise, fauna, flora, forests, landscape, etc.), which must be minimized in accordance with current standards. The BEG provides the following services:

• Management of studies in coordination with specialized third-party firms

• assessment of project impacts on the environment (natural hazards, influence on water resources,

noise pollution)

• Proposing environmentally friendly measures that take into account the interests of the project owner

• support for the project owner in obtaining permits.

 

Contaminated sites

Sometimes unwanted products pollute water or soil. In order to protect the population, remediation and/or monitoring is then necessary. In this area, the BEG:

• diagnoses and identifies potential contaminated sites

• conducts historical and technical investigations to determine the level of water and soil contamination and to classify the site

• conducts detailed investigations and remediation projects

• supervises remediation work and monitors waste treatment.

 

Landfills

Current landfills must not cause any nuisance, particularly to groundwater. The BEG:

• researches and examines suitable sites for their installation based on environmental, geological, and hydrogeological criteria

• proposes technical solutions to ensure landfill safety (geotechnical stability) and minimize their impact on the environment

• monitors operations

• proposes redevelopment solutions at the end of their operational life.

 

Extraction sites (gravel pits and quarries)

The extraction of mineral raw materials has a significant impact on the environment and the landscape.  It requires in-depth studies, whether for the opening of new sites or the renewal of concessions. In this area, the BEG provides the following services:

• Prospecting and site search

• Support for project owners in obtaining permits

• creation of predictive 3D geological models

• site planning and design (operating methods, geotechnical stability)

• monitoring of operations

• redevelopment at the end of operations.

Asbestos – Diagnosis

Asbestos refers to a category of mineral fibers found in certain rocks (serpentinites, amphibolites).

Between the early 20th century and 1990, this mineral was widely used in industry and construction materials. This substance is mainly found in buildings from the 1950s to the 1970s in a wide range of materials (sprayed coatings, tile adhesives, floor coverings, false ceilings, insulation, etc.).

When inhaled, asbestos fibers are responsible for several serious lung diseases.

 

Asbestos diagnosis

If a building was constructed before 1991, it is likely to contain asbestos-containing materials and poses a potential hazard to workers during renovation or demolition work.

The BEG has SUVA-approved experts, enabling it to offer the following services:

• Asbestos diagnostics during normal use or before work

• Expert assessments that meet the requirements of the cantonal authorities.

 

Asbestos removal

When the presence of asbestos-containing materials is confirmed, the BEG:

• advises on managing the risk caused by the presence of asbestos

• provides guidelines for planning and organizing asbestos removal

• monitors the asbestos removal site

Environmental noise – acoustic studies and noise control

Noise is very present in our society and often underestimated. However, it can have negative effects on our health, both physiologically and psychologically, as well as on society and the economy. Currently, environmental requirements in general, and those related to noise in particular, are becoming increasingly stringent. They require projects of various sizes to comply with current legislation and be optimally integrated into the natural and built environment.

 

To meet this need, the BEG, in partnership with EnviroAcoustique, a firm with 25 years of experience in environmental noise, offers environmental acoustic and noise protection studies. The areas studied are as follows:

• industrial and craft noise

• construction site noise

• road noise

• railway noise

• air traffic noise

• noise from shooting ranges

 

In order to address these issues and find integrated, sustainable solutions, we offer the following services:

• Impact or feasibility studies for:

     - new noisy facilities

     - new noise-sensitive facilities

• Noise remediation studies for existing installations

• Noise cadastre and noise mapping

• In situ measurement and determination of noise levels

• Digital acoustic modeling using CadnaA software (the benchmark software in Switzerland and Europe)

• Study and design of noise protection structures

• Advice on establishing zoning plans in accordance with acoustic requirements

• Study of compliance with current legislation (LPE, OPB, and other cantonal and federal directives)

The BEG has a wide range of instruments at its disposal for various types of testing, measurement, and monitoring.

 

Geotechnics

• ME plate tests: measurement of the bearing capacity of infrastructure or foundation soil.

• Dynamic plate tests (deflectometer): measurement of the bearing capacity of infrastructure or foundation soil (Ev).

• Autonomous dynamic penetrometer: shallow surveys in loose soils at low cost (more than 10 meters deep depending on soil type; ... more).

• Vibration monitor (geophones): continuous measurement of vibrations caused by blasting, pile or sheet pile driving, jackhammers, road traffic.

• Inclinometer: measurement of excavation shield deformation or landslides.

• Tiltmeter: continuous measurement of the inclination of a wall and terrain

• Drilling camera: inspection of boreholes and pipes.

• Deviation monitor: measures the deviation of vertical and horizontal boreholes

 

Hydrogeology

• Manual and automatic conductivity meter: manual or continuous measurement of the electrical conductivity of water

• pH meters: measurement of water pH

• Oximeters: measurement of oxygen in water

• Turbidity meters: measurement of water turbidity

• In-situ chemical analyses: measurement of various chemical parameters by titration or colorimetry (iron, sulfates, carbonates, etc.)

• Manual and automatic piezometric probes: manual or continuous measurement of the water level relative to a reference

• Automatic probes: automatic acquisition of physical and chemical data (pressure, temperature, electrical conductivity, etc.)

• Gauging devices: flow measurement by dilution (salinometer, electrical conductivity data logger, fluorimeter) or by volumetry

• Field fluorimeter: device for automatic measurement of the concentration of several fluorescent colored tracers for multi-tracing tests and/or gauging

• Low-flow pump: pump used for water sampling and laboratory analysis

 

Monitoring: hazard detection and deformation tracking

• Vibration monitor: continuous measurement of vibrations caused by displacement or the opening of cracks.

• Inclinometer: measurement of excavation shield deformation or landslides.

• Extensometer: continuous measurement of crack widening

• Tetrahedral remote transmission system: equipment connected to a measuring instrument for remote data transmission

• Tiltmeter: continuously measures the inclination of a wall or terrain

• High-resolution camera: camera used to track deformation using 2D or 3D image processing (photogrammetry)

• Drone: flying wings and quadcopters for inspecting hard-to-reach sites or for photogrammetric surveys