What we do
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering Services
Wilton Joubert provides a full range of geotechnical services for residential and commercial developments across New Zealand. With thousands of site investigations completed over the past two decades, we help clients build with confidence — from early feasibility through to construction and certification.
Whether you’re developing a single residential section, managing a large subdivision, or tackling a technically challenging site, our team brings the insight, experience and clear reporting needed to move your project forward.
- Site Investigations for Building and Subdivision
- Geomorphological Appraisals and Slope Stability Assessment
- Earthworks Supervision and Certification
- Retaining Wall Design
- Settlement Analysis
- Ground Improvement Design
Site Investigations for Building and Subdivision
We carry out geotechnical investigations for a wide range of development types, including:
- Residential dwellings (new builds and renovations)
- Duplex and multiplex housing
- Commercial and industrial buildings
- Multi-lot subdivisions
- Complex hillside or marginal land development
Our reports are designed to support Resource Consent, Building Consent and structural design requirements. We work closely with architects, surveyors, civil and structural engineers, builders and local councils to ensure your site is accurately assessed and well understood from day one.
Geomorphological Appraisals and Slope Stability Assessment
Understanding land behaviour is critical — especially as more developments shift to steeper or less stable terrain. We carry out on-site geomorphological assessments to identify historic and active slope movements, erosion risks, and ground instability.
We combine field mapping with advanced slope stability modelling to assess short and long-term risk. This helps inform safe design choices and reduces the chance of future failures.
Earthworks Supervision and Certification
Earthworks, especially on subdivision and hillside sites, require careful planning and experienced supervision. Our team has decades of experience monitoring, testing and certifying small and large-scale earthworks operations.
We help manage compliance with council expectations and ensure engineered fill and cut platforms meet required standards for strength and settlement performance.
Retaining Wall Design
We provide geotechnical input and design services for a wide range of retaining systems, including:
- Timber pole and plank walls
- Reinforced concrete cantilever or counterfort walls
- Gravity walls (gabion, keystone, mass concrete)
- Soil nail and anchored systems for slope support
- Hybrid retaining and foundation wall solutions
Our designs are backed by analysis tools such as WALLAP and are tailored to each site’s unique soil profile, loading requirements and construction constraints.
Settlement Analysis
Our team carries out both predictive and forensic settlement analysis, using in-house tools and advanced modelling such as Settle-3D.
- Pre-construction settlement analysis for foundation planning
- Post-construction analysis to assess damage or movement
- Design of mitigation strategies or foundation retrofits
These services are particularly important for soft soils, filled land and sites with a history of differential movement.
Ground Improvement Design
For sites affected by soft or compressible soils, we provide practical and cost-effective ground improvement solutions.
- Assessment and treatment of liquefaction-prone soils
- Soil densification, re-compaction and subgrade reinforcement
- Foundation system design adapted to treated ground
Our team offers design solutions that meet council expectations and improve long-term performance for residential and commercial structures.
Let’s Get Your Project Started
Whether you’re early in design or ready to build, we provide structural solutions that are practical, cost-effective and tailored to the unique challenges of your site. Contact Wilton Joubert to discuss your plans with a member of our experienced team.
