Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists, 2007. All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists. The document is not intended to be exhaustive. Although every effort has been made to check the accuracy of the information and validity of the guidance given in this Guide, neither the members of the Working Party nor the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists shall be held liable for any loss, damage or claim of any kind sustained by any person or organisation as a result of the contents of this document or anything contained herein. All brand names, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

1. Introduction

The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) believes that clear and concise communications between all parties involved in the construction of the built environment will benefit those parties by reducing misunderstanding and hence reduce rework, loss of opportunities and possible litigation. This guide aims to help its readers improve the style, language, and terminology used in their reports. It does not aim to be comprehensive, but instead concentrates on those areas of particular relevance to geospecialists. Readers of this guide are encouraged to read some of the numerous books written on the subjects of report writing, English grammar and writing plain English. The need for guidance documents on the preparation of geotechnical and geoenvironmental reports was identified by the AGS some while ago. In 1996 the Model geoenvironmental site assessment report was published as an aid to control the risks in geoenvironmental practice. The need for a guidance document on the preparation of geotechnical reports was identified by the AGS in 2000 after a presentation to them by the late Sir John Knill. Two documents were published by the AGS in 2005 Guidelines for the preparation of the ground report and Management of risk associated with the preparation of ground reports. These supersede the 1996 document. The former concentrates on the structure and content of ground reports. The latter on good practice for minimising and managing business risks in the report writing process. The 1996 document contained guidance on terminology which was not incorporated in the subsequent documents. This guide reproduces and extends that guidance. This guide has not been issued in hard copy form, but as a document that can be readily accessed and viewed on the Internet. It is hoped that contributions, comments and criticisms will be received from AGS members and their employees. Updates to the guide can then be based on the experience and expertise of a wide group of geospecialists which should help make it more useful and relevant to practitioners.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

2. Layout of the Guide

This guide is divided into several sections. Firstly guidance is given on general style. The next section is devoted to common grammatical errors. The third section concentrates on the correct use and the misuse of words. In these sections guidance on the use of English has been sought from a number of books published by the Oxford University Press. The last section presents a glossary of terms which are commonly used in geotechnical and geoenvironmental reports which are sometimes not well defined.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

3. Report Style

3.1

Introduction

Most companies will have their own format for presenting their reports and correspondence. This will usually include font type and size, the layout of the text on the page, the format of the front pages, the logos to be used, and the main headings. There may even be some guidance on what to say and how to say it. The client may also have requirements regarding the presentation and style of the report. The style of writing the text should be appropriate for the type of document being produced, e.g. report or letter, and the expected audience. Nevertheless, within these constraints, each writer will develop his or her own particular styles of writing. A number of issues regarding report writing style are discussed below, and a number of other issues are listed in Appendix 1.

3.2

Factual and interpretative sections

A technical report should be divided between factual and interpretative sections. The factual part should come first, and at the beginning of the factual part should be the terms of reference. The interpretation comes afterwards and is based on an assessment of the factual information. As a result, the client should be able to clearly distinguish facts from interpretation and opinion. It is common for those inexperienced in writing technical reports to mix the two, and in the early factual parts of the report to include their deductions and opinions. For example the statement no water was encountered in the borehole because the water table was low mixes fact (no water was encountered in the borehole) with interpretation (low water table). Other reasons for not recording any water in a borehole exist. In geotechnical engineering and environmental science there are matters which are often treated as facts, which actually are the results of interpretation. Information in borehole logs is one example. Such information is usually presented in its own section in a report, and a discussion on the limitations of the interpretation. The geotechnical and geoenvironmental elements of work presented in a report should also be separated. Careful consideration will be required to ensure that the information, assessment and comment are adequately included in the appropriate sections as indicated below. Terms of reference summary (optional), introduction, including the brief, and limitations and exceptions. Factual sections the existing environment (including site location and access, site description and surrounding land use), information from studies, inspections, interviews/contacts and inquiries (covering geology, ground conditions and groundwater, historic development, past usages, potential contamination and impairment, etc.), information from investigations and monitoring, details of remediation or other works and summary of factual information. Interpretative sections assessments, calculations, interpretations and other comments.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Final sections conclusions, which are the main findings and should be kept brief, and recommendations. Appendices these provide a place to put the fine detail that readers only need to know if they are studying the report in depth.

3.3

Consistency

Throughout the report the writer should be consistent in the use of names and terms. The writer shouldnt try to use different terms and phrases for the same items (e.g. buried void, underground void, cavity) as the reader may be confused as to whether or not they are different items. There should be consistency in the formats used for dates, abbreviations, references, numbers, parentheses, quotations, units of measurement, etc.

3.4

Use of capital letters

The use of capitals should be kept to a minimum and used only where consistent with normal grammatical usage. There is a tendency nowadays for writers to use leading capital letters for any term they consider important, e.g. Client. This is unnecessary, but if used great care should be taken to ensure consistency throughout the report. In some company formats leading capitals are used for specific items, e.g. "Figure 1", but would not be used generally, for example Figure 1 is presented in the same format as the rest of the figures. Appendix 1 gives more details.

3.5

Punctuation

In some cases the use of punctuation can be a matter of style as much as correct use of language. Some suggestions are given in Appendix 1.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

4. Language

The report should be written in straightforward, clear and concise language. Part of writing well is writing tight unnecessary words should be cut out. Readers of geotechnical and geoenvironmental reports will be busy people. Writing tightly will enable the information presented to stand out more clearly. The language used should be pitched at a level of sophistication that suits the intended readers. Simple words should not always be used at the expense of the most accurate words, although jargon or certain technical terms may need to be defined. Although this guide deals with the words in a report, authors should not forget that there are other ways of presenting information to the reader, for example through the use of tables, graphs, figures and photographs. These should also be drafted clearly and precisely to a level of sophistication that suits the reader and the publishing techniques used for the report. There are a number of mistakes in use of language and in grammar which are frequently made by report writers and these are listed in Appendix 2. In particular it is common to misuse words, and a list of some of these words is given in the appendix.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

5. Definitions of Terms

Report authors must consider the background of their readers when using special terms in the report. The author should consider whether the term being used could have a common meaning, or be used differently by another profession, to the meaning intended. Some terms might not have a common meaning or usage within the industry. Authors should consider the inclusion of a glossary for terms which might have a restricted or non-standard meaning in the report. A glossary of terms relevant to geotechnical and geoenvironmental practice is included as Appendix 3. This list is not exhaustive, nor are the terms necessarily widely accepted. However, by developing an industry standard definition of terms there should be an improvement in understanding between the parties. These terms may need to be referred to earlier when the terms of reference for the project are agreed. Writers should be cautious in applying new definitions to accepted and previously defined terms, as this may lead to confusion. Report writers should be careful to define fully any new words or terms which could be open to other meanings or misinterpretation.

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Appendix 1: Style

Writers of technical reports should consider the following points of style. It is not wrong to use the words or phases that are considered undesirable below, but if used they should be used intentionally for a particular reason.

1.1

Report style
It is common to write geotechnical and geoenvironmental reports in the third person, i.e. avoiding the use of I or we. It helps to quote the source of data for information. Sentences and paragraphs should not be too long. An average of about 15 to 20 words per sentence is about right. Try to keep to only one main idea in a sentence. Adjust the style to suit the audience. Use words the intended reader is likely to understand. Use a report layout that is convenient to the reader.

1.2

Use of words and phrases

Use short, simple, familiar words and phrases in preference to long complex sentences. It is important to help the reader understand what you mean by using familiar words rather than confuse them with an unfamiliar word or phrase: breakdown not cessation of work due to mechanical non function Use precise words rather than vague ones: the hole was 100m from the bridge not the hole was some way from the bridge Use words whose meaning are well defined rather than abstract ones: rain rather than inclement weather Avoid the unnecessary repetition of words (tautology): Use adequate or enough, not both Use positive expressions rather than negative ones: less than 20m rather than not in excess of 20m Avoid double negatives (they cancel out and leave a positive). Be careful in the use of barely, hardly and scarcely (meaning 'almost not') and do not use with another negative. I could barely walk not I couldnt barely walk Use one word in preference to wordy phrases: at this point in time is merely now or during the course of is merely during

AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Cut out superfluous words: head or lead not head up up until should be up to or until it is not in preference to in point of fact it is not Do not use words thoughtlessly or propose the impossible: remove all debris, plant, boreholes, pits,... Take care with the use of the words all or any. Do you really mean all or any? Do not use auxiliaries or conditionals where unnecessary: The borehole encountered clay not The borehole encountered what one might call clay Put companion words as close as possible together: Water was encountered whilst boring between 10 and 20m not Water, whilst boring between 10 and 20m, was encountered Limit the use of words such as however, moreover, therefore, hence, etc. they are normally superfluous. Keep them for when you really need them. Similarly be careful in your use of words such as appropriate, necessary, considered, actual, etc. considered Avoid the use of due to, owing to, in relation to, etc. by recasting the sentence. See also reason and conclusion. Be careful in your use of which and that in starting clauses: That should be used to introduce a definitive or restrictive clause which cannot be omitted from the sentence without greatly altering its meaning. Which should be used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause (and the rest of the sentence can stand without the which clause). Which can be preceded by a comma, that cannot. Avoid outdated and overused clichs, preferably do not knowingly use clichs at all: Raining cats and dogs, new lease of life, state of the art, etc. are of no help at all. Be wary of overusing the impersonal passive voice: It is believed that... It is hoped that... Who believes? Who hopes? This can usually be avoided by recasting the sentence (or by using the first person I or we believe if the context is appropriate). Avoid nominalisations. A nominalisation is a type of abstract noun formed from a verb. For example: Complete completion Introduce introduction Investigate Investigation We discussed the matter is better than we had a discussion about the matter

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Also remember that believe has two meanings that can be muddled. I believe in family planning is different from I believe the 403 bus stops here Finally, check that you understand the meaning of what you have written. You may have to defend what you have written in court. Consultants should be particularly careful about introducing a fitness for purpose statement into their report, e.g. the site is suitable for residential development.

1.3

Sentence construction
Many sentences have a reason and a conclusion. Possibly as a result of logical thinking, the reason is often put first with the conclusion forming a subsequent clause. This frequently leads to the use of the passive tense, initial propositions and a wordy sentence. Putting the conclusion first followed by the reason leads to a more friendly sentence: In view of the existing steep slopes, the area will be filled with unsuitable material from elsewhere can be read more easily as The steep slopes will be infilled with unsuitable material from elsewhere in view of the existing steep slopes. Do not switch between grammatical constructions in related clauses particularly between verb tenses and active/passive voices. Put clauses in the right order to make the meaning clear: Walking down the street one day, a dog crossed his path does not mean what is intended, which presumably is that the author was walking down the street, not the dog. Use the tense which controls the sentence when dealing with past and present simultaneously: Then, as now, the Contractor thought he would receive payment not then, as now, the Contractor thinks he will receive payment. Do not use a relative clause you cannot get out of: It is the type of structure which, if you ever used, you would encounter many problems. Or if you do, abandon it and start again. Use verbs in the active rather than the passive voice unless there is a good reason to do otherwise: The trial pit revealed no evidence of water not No evidence of water was revealed in the trial pit. Put the emphasis in the right place: The ground investigation completed, our representative left site on ... not Our site representative left site on ..., the ground investigation having been completed. completed Do not make the odd man out in a list relate to the wrong verb: The clock is fast and unreliable and it chimes every two hours not The clock is fast, unreliable and chimes only every two hours.

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Never write gobbledygook which says very little at great length. You should not need more than one short sentence if you have little or nothing to say. Think of a neat acceptable way of dealing with the situation if you have an unpleasant truth to present.

1.4

Consistency
Be consistent when dealing with a list: The Contractor, the Subcontractor and the Client not The Contractor, the Subcontractor and Client.

1.5

Use of prepositions
Avoid starting sentences with sub-clauses or prepositions: Boreholes were sunk to assess foundation conditions not To assess foundation conditions, boreholes were sunk. Avoid finishing sentences with a preposition: A preposition is the wrong word to end a sentence with would be better written as with which to end a sentence.

1.6

Punctuation
Take care to use punctuation accurately so that the meaning of your writing is clear. Remember the book title Eats, shoots and leaves! Do not over-punctuate but never fail to supply the closing comma to a phrase defined by commas: One borehole, in the centre of the area, was abandoned not One borehole, in the centre of the area was abandoned. Colon. A colon marks a pause in thought whereas a full stop marks a change of thought. A colon is also used, without addition, to mean as follows. Use of dashes. A hyphen is used for connecting words such as sonin-law. An en dash, a dash the width of an n, is used to replace words such as to in 3-5. An em dash, a dash the width of an m, is used instead of a colon, or to set apart a strong interruption like using brackets in a sentence. There is little consistency in the use of hyphenated words. Note that groundwater is one word, as are drillhole and borehole, build-up (of gas) has a hyphen, but ground level is not hyphenated. Brackets. Brackets are used to denote a phrase or clause which does not belong to a sentence grammatically. Where brackets are used at the end of a sentence the full stop is outside the bracket.

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1.7

Lists
Do not over-use bullet points. For short lists it is often better to use letters or small Roman numerals than bullet points. It will then be easier for the reader to identify the number of points, to remember them and to refer to them. Where the text of each point in the list is long then it may be a complete sentence, so start each sentence with a capital letter and finish with a full stop. Where the list is part of a long sentence: i. use a colon (:) to introduce the list; ii. put a semicolon (;) after each point; iii. start each point with a lower case letter; iv. use an and or or after the second last item; and v. finish the sentence with a full stop; which might be at the end of the list or at the end of the continuing text. If the items in the list are each only one or two words long then sometimes the punctuation may be omitted. Make sure each point follows logically and grammatically from the introduction to the list.

1.8

Use of capital letters

Leading capital letters should be used for the names of geological formations, e.g. London Clay, but not otherwise for descriptions of soils and rocks, e.g. glacial till. Abbreviations for units of measurement should be written in the lower case unless the term abbreviated is a proper noun, for example N Newton, V Volt, A Ampere, J Joule, W Watt. It is common to use leading capital letters for words which are specifically defined in the report. Otherwise, leading capital letters should be restricted to common English usage such as for names of people (Karl Terzaghi), places ( ( (Hong Kong), special days (New Year's Day), main words in the titles ( of plays and books etc., the main words in the titles of people (the Prime Minister), and institutions (the Institution of Civil Engineers), and in acronyms (MICE). Some authors write Client, Contractor in their reports. It is recommended that leading capitals only be used where the word is a persons title, such as the Engineer as defined in a particular contract. Use capital letters sparingly and err on the side of using lower case letters. Take care with section headings. The seemingly random distribution of capital letters in headings, and the elevation of importance of words which in the text dont have capital letters, can be distracting.

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Appendix 2: Language

2.1

Invention of words
Do not invent verbs or use as verbs, nouns which themselves originate from verbs: evinced not evidence Do not stretch words out: dissociate not disassociate, preventive not preventative Do not shorten words such as: Interpretative not interpretive, quantitative not quantitive, authoritative not authoritive

2.2

Qualification of words
Do not qualify absolutes; impossible not quite impossible or unique not fairly unique Similarly take care when using the word very. If you say something is very big, will big be an alternative but adequate description? If something else is bigger then is it extremely big? What is bigger still?

2.3

Spelling
Use a spell checker, but also carefully read the text. Check for missing words, and misspelt words which look like other words: from / form trial / trail Use English spelling and English vocabulary in an English report. For example: grey not gray colour not color metres not meters (for length) programme not program (for a plan)

2.4

Grammar
Most sentences in a report will be statements. A statement sentence will normally have a subject, verb and object. Use the correct tense. The split infinitive. An infinitive is the form of the verb made by adding to to its stem. To boldly go is a split infinitive. Traditionalists may say that the infinitive should not be split. However, there is no grammatical justification for this rule. In trying to avoid a split infinitive the flow of the sentence can be disrupted, or the meaning can be changed. It is suggested that reports be written in a style that the reader is most comfortable with rather than always being grammatically correct. Note that the majority of English speaking people neither know nor care what a split infinitive is!

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2.5

Possessives
Writers frequently mistype there when they mean their. It is an easy mistake to make, but indicates carelessness and devalues the rest of the report. Writers frequently do not know the difference between its and its. To misuse these words indicates lack of care or lack of education, either way not good for a professional trying to persuade a reader that his advice is worth following.

2.6

Words to avoid
The writer should use plain words and phrases where possible which will be clear to the reader. Some examples are given below, and many more can be found at www.plainenglish co.uk: Additional/extra Advise/tell In the event of/if Purchase/buy Nevertheless, the author should bear in mind the convenience and interest of the intended reader, and the impression the report is intended to have on the reader. The report will be made more interesting to read, and its meaning more precise, by using fewer plain words and more well chosen difficult words which would still be in the everyday vocabulary of the reader.

2.7

Foreign words
English has thousands of directly borrowed foreign and foreignderived words. However, it is not always easy to determine which words have become, or are still, well enough understood by readers of geotechnical and geoenvironmental reports. Latin words and phrases once in common use can be particularly difficult. Some have made it into plain English, such as vice versa, curriculum vitae, etc. (et cetera), i.e. (id est), but others may not be so readily understood, for example mutatis mutandis (with the necessary changes). If you are not sure that the reader will understand what you mean then it is best to avoid the use of the word or phrase.

2.8

Misuse of words
Ensure that you are using the right words with the right meaning and in the right way. A few frequently encountered examples are given on the next page. Look them up in a dictionary if you dont know the difference!

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absence/lack accept/except adverse/averse aerial/areal affect/effect aggravate/irritate allege/affirm/assert/explain alibi/alias allegedly (not reportedly) alternative (of two)/option or choice (of three or more) analogous/similar anticipate/expect appraise/apprise approve/endorse around/about assume/presume because/as because/that beneath/under between (of two)/among (of more than two) bulk (of mass or volume)/most (of numbers) centre (of an area)/middle (of a line) comprehensive/comprehensible council/counsel countless/many compare with/compare to decent/descent definite/definitive delimit/delineate deny/refute deplete/reduce depreciate/deprecate despite/although diminish/minimise disclose/expose disinterested/uninterested dispose/dispose of distinct/separate disused/unused each/both eliminate/exclude/isolate excessively/exceedingly exhaustive/exhausted explain/allege fortuitous/fortunatefresh/new -ful/-full -ible/-able imply/infer interpolate/extrapolate -ise/-ize is/are lay/lie less/fewer

licence/to license like/such as may/might modest/moderate none is/are number is/are possible/probable practical/practicable practise/practice presently/at present principal/principle replace/substitute shall/will should/would stationary/stationery there/their verbal/oral who/whom within/in you and I/you and me

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Appendix 3: Glossary of Terms

Note: The definitions given here may vary from everyday use or use by custom elsewhere. If writers of geotechnical or geoenviromental reports use one of the terms given below, but with a different meaning, then they should consider providing a definition in the report. Many of them are based on those contained in the following. ASTM E1527-00 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. DETR Guidance on the Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2000: Annex 6 Glossary of Terms. BURA Guide to Contaminated Land Assessment & Development. Adjoining properties any property or properties, the border of which is contiguous or partially contiguous with that of the site, or that would be contiguous or partially contiguous with that of the site, but for a road, or other public thoroughfare separating them. Appropriate enquiry enquiry into the history, past and present uses, environmental setting and the ground, groundwater and contamination of a site and its vicinity consistent with good commercial or customary practice. Approximate minimum search distance the area in the vicinity of the site for which records must be obtained and reviewed subject to the limitations as defined. This will be site specific and will include areas outside the site and should be measured from the nearest site boundary. This term is used in lieu of radius to include irregularly-shaped sites. Assumptions conditions accepted as being true without proof but based on engineering judgment and experience for the purpose of design or argument. Brownfield site land or premises that have previously been used or developed and are not currently fully in use, although they may be partly occupied or utilised. The site may also be vacant, derelict or contaminated. Building any structure or erection, and any part of a building including any part below ground, but not including plant or machinery present in a building or any materials stored or deposited in the building. Business environmental risk a risk which can have a material environmental or environmentally driven impact on the business associated with the current or planned use of a site, not necessarily limited to those environmental issues required to be investigated during a geo-environmental assessment. Calculations mathematical predictions of the behaviour of the ground, groundwater or contamination. Conceptual ground or site model a model or hypothesis regarding the geology, ground, groundwater, contaminant distribution and its mobility on a site derived from the preliminary investigation, used as a basis for planning detailed investigation work, and subsequently amplified by such work. Construction debris concrete, brick, asphalt, timber and other such building materials discarded in the construction of a building or structure or other

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improvement to a site. This is also likely to include discarded containers for paints, solvents etc. and plastic, foam and similar manmade materials. Construction sequence sequence of operations followed during construction (which must be assumed by the design). Contaminant a substance which is in, on or under the land and which has the potential to cause harm or to cause pollution of controlled waters. Contaminated land The more rigorous definition of contaminated land as contained in Section 78A of the Environment Act 1995 means land which appears to the authority to be in such a condition, by reason of substances in, on or under it that either: (a) significant harm is being caused or there is a significant possibility of such harm being caused; or (b) pollution of controlled waters is being caused or is likely to be caused. The statutory definition applies only for the purposes of the Environment Act 1995. It is not intended to be used as a definition of contaminated land for general use. Land might be contaminated but not be contaminated land for the purposes of the Act. Similarly land might be contaminated but not polluted depending on the nature and amount of the hazardous substances present. Controlled waters defined at length in the Water Resources Act 1991 (s 104), but in simple terms includes: coastal and territorial water (i.e. tidal waters and seawater within 3 nautical miles of the coastline); inland surface water (i.e. lakes, ponds, inland rivers and watercourses); ground waters (but not necessarily water in underground strata).

Note: land-locked bodies of water that do not drain into water are excluded. COSHH assessment an assessment of workplace hazards carried out in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. Current use any use which is currently being made of a site, or is likely to be made, and which is consistent with any existing planning permission. Such uses include temporary uses, and informal recreational use (if appropriate). Dedicated guidelines and standards values derived specifically for the purpose of assessing the risks associated with contaminated land - they may be set for soil, groundwater, surface water or other media. Demolition debris materials arising in the demolition of a building or other improvement to a property/or structure. The materials are likely to be similar to construction debris, but might include asbestos or other materials (e.g. lead pipes) which would not now be used in new construction.

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Derelict land land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment. Design report a report which sets out assumptions, design values, calculations, recommendations and a monitoring plan for the design and construction of the works. Design values numerical values for engineering or other properties of an individual stratum, derived from ground parameters and used in design calculations. Desk study a study involving desk based research and site inspection by a geotechnical or geoenvironmental specialist by appropriate enquiry to obtain and review the practically reviewable and publicly available records that will help to identify geotechnical conditions or potential geoenvironmental impairment in connection with a site. Detailed ground model a model of the ground and groundwater derived from the results of detailed site investigations, usually a refinement of the conceptual ground model. Due diligence the process of inquiring into the environmental characteristics of a site, or other conditions, usually in connection with the sale or purchase of the site. The degree and scope of due diligence may vary for different properties and differing purposes. End user an individual and/or company based on a site after redevelopment has taken place. Environmental database providers companies that offer access to databases of environmental information obtained from a wide variety of publicly available sources such as the Environment Agency, local and central government. Environmental setting the physical and environmental characteristics of the vicinity of the site, which includes but is not limited to, geology, land uses and land designations. Factual report a report which gives a factual description of investigation works undertaken and presents the results of tests and field records. Fill man-made ground placed in a controlled manner comprising rock, soil, or other naturally occurring material arising from the ground or any man-made material that is used to fill holes or depressions, create mounds, or otherwise artificially change the grade or elevation of the land. The material may arise from onsite activities or be imported to the site. (Not to be confused with made ground which is material placed without strict engineering control.) Generic guideline value (or GAC generic assessment criterion) numerical value (e.g. concentration of a contaminant in soil in mg/kg) issued by an authoritative body to aid the assessment of contaminated land. The value is not site specific and is therefore generally conservative. Geoenvironmental audit the investigative process to determine if the operations of an existing facility are in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. This term should not be used to describe geoenvironmental site assessment, although a geoenvironmental audit may

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include a geoenvironmental site assessment or, if prior audits are available, may be part of a geoenvironmental site assessment. Geoenvironmental impairment Typically the presence or the likely presence of any contaminant in, on or under a site that has a potential to cause harm to a receptor, whether or not there is legal liability. A site may be geoenvironmentally impaired without contamination by the presence of natural radon, effects of quarrying, presence of other hazardous substances, etc. Geoenvironmental specialist a person possessing sufficient training and experience necessary to undertake a geoenvironmental site assessment. An individuals status as a geoenvironmental specialist may be limited to the type of assessment to be performed or to specific segments of the assessment for which the professional is responsible. Geoenvironmental site assessment (GSA) the process by which a person or organisation seeks to determine if a particular site is subject to geoenvironmental impairment. At the option of the user, a GSA may include more or less enquiry than that constituting appropriate enquiry. A geoenvironmental site assessment is both different from and less rigorous than a geoenvironmental audit. The work is normally phased (see phase I and phase II geoenvironmental site assessments). Geotechnical specialist a person possessing sufficient training and experience necessary to undertake geotechnical work. An individuals status as a geotechnical specialist may be limited to the type of work to be performed or to specific segments of the project for which the professional is responsible. Government agency those agencies of government having jurisdiction over and affecting the site and the vicinity of the site. Government agencies include, but are not limited to, county and district councils and similar entities and also include the Environment Agency and any other pollution or waste management agency. Ground investigation the physical investigation, normally by intrusive exploratory means, of the materials comprising the surface and underlying strata of a site, including geotechnical, geological, geochemical and hydrogeological assessment and all monitoring and subsequent laboratory testing and reporting. This term should not be confused with the term site investigation. Ground parameters numerical values of individual engineering or other properties assigned to a stratum through interpretation of ground conditions and derivation from test data. Ground report Term used to describe a geotechnical and or a geoenvironmental report consisting of the following five sequential parts which may be combined or extended to suit the project: 1. desk study; 2. factual report; 3. interpretative report; 4. design report; and 5. validation report. Groundwater (one word not two) Hardstanding (one word not two)

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Harm injury to the health of living organisms or other interference with the ecological systems of which they form part, and in the case of man includes injury to his property. Hazard a property of a substance or a situation with the potential to cause harm. Hazardous substance any material or substance which might be damaging to the health and well being of humans or damaging to the environment. Hazardous waste harmful materials including solids and liquids, usually unwanted or superfluous by-products of industrial or manufacturing processes and including harmful refuse derived from human activities. For a statutory definition refer to the Waste Management / Hazardous Waste Regulations. Interpretative report a report which gives an interpretation of the ground conditions and their engineering properties and an interpretation of the implications of the ground conditions for the subsequent development. Such interpretation is usually specific to an individual project. Interviews/contacts questions to be asked of owners and occupiers of the site, especially the key site manager and questions to be asked of officials of government agencies. Intrusive investigation an investigation of land which involves actions going beyond simple visual inspection of the land, limited sampling or assessment of documentary information. Will involve some form of boring, drilling, probing or excavation. Key site manager the person identified by the owner or occupier of a site as having good knowledge of the uses and physical characteristics of the site. Land condition record a standard form for information about land contamination, provided on a voluntary basis by a site owner or developer to record the physical and chemical nature of land contamination and the steps that have been taken to remediate it. Landfill a place, location, tract of land, area, or premises used for the disposal of solid wastes. Landfill gases gases that are generated by the degradation of waste within a landfill. They include, but are not limited to, methane and carbon dioxide. Licensed landfill a landfill licensed under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 or the Environment Act 1990. Made ground Reworked natural soil or man-made materials that have been placed without strict engineering control. (Not to be confused with fill where the material has been placed in a controlled manner.) Monitoring geotechnical or geoenvironmental measurements made before during or after construction to check the behaviour of the ground or groundwater against assumed or predicted behaviour.

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AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Non-dedicated guidelines and standards values not derived specifically to aid the assessment of contaminated land but which nevertheless may be useful during risk assessment. Obvious that which is plain or evident; a condition or fact that could not be ignored or overlooked by a reasonable observer or geoenvironmental professional while visually or physically observing the site or evident from practically reviewable and publicly available records. (Note the legal definition might vary). Occupier person, such as a tenant, who is in control of a piece of land. Opinion a belief not based on absolute certainty of knowledge but on what seems true, valid or probable or positive. Owner the person or organisation having legal title to the site. Pathway one or more routes or means by, or through, which a receptor is or could be exposed to, or affected by, a contaminant. Petroleum products petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, and synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). The word fraction refers to certain distillates of crude oil, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, jet fuels, and fuel oil. Phase I geoenvironmental site assessment normally, the first phase of a geoenvironmental site assessment which seeks to gather and maximise the information without intrusive or other field investigation, laboratory testing and/ or monitoring. The phase normally includes: desk study and services enquiry; site inspection and interviews/contacts; appraisal carried out continuously throughout and after all or any of these activities; and reporting of the above. Phase II geoenvironmental site assessment normally, the subsequent phase of a geoenvironmental site assessment which may comprise of ground investigation including: exploratory holes or non-intrusive methods of investigation; sampling; in situ testing; monitoring; laboratory testing; appraisal carried out continuously throughout and after all or any of these activities; and reporting of the above. Pits or lagoons man-made or natural depressions in a ground surface that are likely to hold liquids or sludge containing hazardous substances. The likelihood of such liquids or sludge being present is determined by evidence of factors associated with the pit, pond, or lagoon, including, but not limited to, discoloured water, distressed vegetation, or the presence of an obvious wastewater discharge.

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AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports

Pollutant linkage the relationship between a contaminant, a pathway and a receptor. Pollution the introduction by humans into the environment of substances, agents or energy in sufficient quantity or concentration as to cause harm to human health and living organisms and ecological systems, damage to structure or amenity, or interference with legitimate uses of the environment. Polluted sites sites where pollution is present. They should also be considered to be sites on which a release of a contaminating substance has occurred or is suspected to have occurred or is otherwise present. The release or suspected release may or may not have been reported to a government agency. Qualitative risk assessment a non-mathematical, subjective, assessment of risk. Quantitative risk assessment the assessment of risks to receptors from contaminated land which uses mathematical methodologies to determine site specific guidelines on which to base the magnitude of the risk. There are a number of computer based methodologies which can assist in assessing risks to humans and groundwater. Receptor a living organism, a group of living organisms, an ecological system, a piece of property or controlled waters which could be affected or harmed by a contaminant. Remediation the prevention, minimisation, mitigation or remedying of the harmful effects of the condition of a site. Risk the combination of the probability, or frequency, of occurrence of a defined hazard and the magnitude (including the seriousness) of the consequences. Risk assessment risk assessment comprises hazard identification, hazard assessment, risk estimation and risk evaluation. Risk estimation estimation of the likelihood that an adverse effect will result from the exposure to the hazard and the nature of the effect. Risk estimation may focus on human health effects, effects on flora and fauna, the water environment, or other targets such as building materials. Risk evaluation evaluation of the significance of estimated risks, taking into account available guidelines and standards, the uncertainties associated with the assessment and the costs and benefits of taking action to mitigate risks. Risk management in the context of contaminated land risk management comprises risk assessment and risk reduction Risk reduction risk reduction comprises risk evaluation and risk control. Services enquiry the process of requesting and assessing the potential services on and in the vicinity of the site and adjoining properties. The process usually involves the written request for details of services, plant, etc., of any undertaker in a specified area from that undertaker and includes telephone,

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gas, electricity, water, sewage, communications, and other cables, ducts and pipelines. A nil response should be recorded as appropriate. Significant pollutant linkage a pollutant linkage which forms the basis for a determination that a piece of land is contaminated land Site the property or land that is the subject of the geoenvironmental or geotechnical site assessment described in this report. The site includes buildings, their contents and other fixtures and developments located on the site and affixed to the land. Site inspection the visit to the site and its vicinity during which observations are made constituting the site inspection. These observations are limited to those which are obvious at the time of the inspection. Site investigation the determination of the ground, groundwater and contamination conditions of a site and its environs by the systematic collection of data, through a variety of means, including desk study and services enquiry, site inspection, walkover and offsite surveys, interviews/contacts, remote sensing, ground investigation, physical inspection, monitoring and reporting. This term should not be confused with the term ground investigation. Site-specific guidance values values (e.g. permitted residual concentrations of contaminants in mg/kg) derived to reflect the specific circumstances of an individual site. So far as is reasonably practicable to carry out a duty `so far as is reasonably practicable means that the degree of risk in a particular activity or environment can be balanced against the time, trouble, cost and physical difficulty of taking measures to avoid the risks. The greater the risk or the seriousness of the consequences of the hazard, the more likely it is that it is reasonable to go to very substantial expense, trouble and invention to reduce it. (Note - the legal definition might vary.) So far as practicable this term generally embraces whatever is technically possible in the light of current knowledge which the person concerned has or ought to have at the time. The cost, time, and trouble involved are not taken into account. (Note - the legal definition might vary.) Soil gas all gaseous phases within the soil mass. These include but are not restricted to those generated by landfill, and those introduced by mans activities as well as naturally occurring gases such as methane and radon. Solvent a chemical compound that is capable of dissolving another substance and is itself a hazardous substance, used in a number of manufacturing/ industrial processes including but not limited to the manufacture of paints and coatings for industrial and household purposes, equipment, clean-up and surface degreasing in metal fabricating industries. Sump a pit, cistern, or similar receptacle where liquids drain, collect, or are stored. Supervision the process of overseeing the construction to ensure that the works comply with the design. Target see receptor.

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Underground storage tank any tank, including underground piping connected to the tank, that is or has been used to contain hazardous substances or petroleum products and the volume of which is 10% or more beneath the surface of the ground. User the party seeking a geoenvironmental site assessment of the site. A user may include, without limitation, a purchaser, a potential tenant, or an owner of a site, a lender, or a site manager. Validation report a report which presents as built records of the construction works and the results of any monitoring data. Vicinity of the site the site specific approximate minimum search distance from the site boundary appropriate to the records to be obtained and reviewed subject to the limitations of the terms of reference and current best practice. Visually and/or physically observed during a site walkover survey, this term means observations made by vision while walking through a site and the structures located on it and observations made by the sense of smell, particularly observations of noxious or foul odours, sound or touch as appropriate. Wastewater water that (1) is or has been used in an industrial or manufacturing process, (2) conveys or has conveyed sewage, or (3) is directly related to manufacturing, processing, or raw materials storage areas at an industrial plant. Wastewater does not include water originating on or passing through or adjacent to a site, such as storm-water flows, that has not been used in industrial or manufacturing processes, has not been combined with sewage, or is not directly related to manufacturing, processing, or raw materials storage areas at an industrial plant. Zone of contamination a volume of land/water having a contamination profile which is distinct from other zones within a site.

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AGS: Guide to Good Practice in Writing Ground Reports