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New Guide for Detailed Karst Investigations for Site Development
1. Scope
1.1 This guide refers to ASTM methods to perform a detailed site investigation in karst terrain for engineering, design and construction purposes. The scope of the investigation should reflect the size and complexity of the development project, the preliminary site plan, and the requirements of the plan reviewing authority. No single investigative approach works in every location. The sequence begins with a visual assessment of diagnostic karst features, and analysis of subsurface heterogeneity through geophysical investigations, excavations, borings, and hydrological characterization conducted under the direction of a qualified professional with experience working in karst terrain. All references in this standard to the “qualified professional” refers to individuals (such as engineers, soil scientists, geophysicists, engineering geologists or geologists), who have the appropriate experience and, if required by local regulations, applicable certification, licensure, or registration. The term “engineering” must be understood to be associated with the practices or activities of that qualified professional.
1.2 Laboratory testing of soil, rock, and groundwater samples is specified by other ASTM standards not listed herein. Subsurface exploration for environmental characterization purposes is also outside the scope of this guide.
1.3 Prior to commencement of the site characterization the site should be checked for potentially hazardous or otherwise contaminated materials or cultural/archeological conditions. If evidence of unknown potentially hazardous or otherwise contaminated materials or conditions are encountered in the course of the site characterization, work shall be interrupted until the circumstances have been evaluated and revised instructions issued.
1.3.1 In addition, the location and nature of underground and overhead utilities should be identi?ed to ensure that there is no impact to the proposed site characterization. Impacts may include but are not limited to interference with geophysical methods, damaging utilities, creating unsafe work conditions, and limiting accessibility for exploratory equipment.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Inch-pound units are provided in brackets for convenience.
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a speci?c course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for signi?cant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.
1.8 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/ recorded or calculated, in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the signi?cant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce signi?cant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this standard to consider signi?cant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1 This guide is intended to assist qualified professionals in conducting a detailed karst site investigation, specifically if the results of a preliminary karst survey (D8512-23, section 7.5) indicate that karst features will or could impact or be impacted by development. The detailed site investigation will provide relevant information on one or more of the following subjects:
5.2 Location and extent of subsurface karst development, both horizontally and vertically, for features that may impact, or be impacted the proposed construction including structures, roadways and stormwater management areas.
5.3 Determination of site hydrology and its potential for impacting water sources such as springs, wells, and streams.
5.4 The detailed site investigation may require the collection of sufficiently large soil and rock samples of such quality as to allow for adequate testing to determine the soil and rock classification or mineralogic type, or both, and the engineering properties that may be pertinent to the proposed design.
5.5 This guide is not meant to be an inflexible description of requirements; methods defined by other ASTM standards or non-ASTM techniques may be appropriate in some circumstances. The intent of the detailed investigation is to assist in the preparation of a Detailed Site Investigation Report which can be used to develop a karst management plan for both the construction phase of development and the life of the facility.
