What is ground improvement?

Sinking floors, unstable machinery, or settlement cracks in your commercial property all point to one critical issue: the ground beneath your building is failing. Ground improvement is the engineering solution to fix this.

In the UAE, ground improvement primarily refers to densification—the process of increasing the density of loose sandy soils to improve their strength. The goal is to increase the ground's bearing capacity (its ability to support a load) and reduce the potential for future settlement.

It's the modern, efficient alternative to disruptive deep foundations or "dig and replace" methods.

Detail view of failed concrete slab creating uneven surfaces in factory
View of a mechanical digger scooping ground in a construction site with a pool of water.

Why your property might need it

Your property is a valuable asset, and ground failure is a direct threat to it. You may need ground improvement if you have:

Loose sandy soils: Common across the UAE, these soils can settle under vibration or heavy loads if not confined.

Poor compaction: Often found on reclaimed land or backfilled sites where the soil was not properly densified during construction.

Voids and washouts: Caused by leaking underground pipes or drainage issues, leaving the slab unsupported.

Increased load requirements: If you are adding new, heavy machinery, high-bay racking, or mezzanine floors, the original ground may not be strong enough to support the new weight.

The Geobear ground improvement solution

Geobear's solution uses a specialist geopolymer injection process to densify and strengthen the soil in-situ.

We inject a high-density expanding resin through small-diameter holes directly into the weak soil layers. As the material expands, it exerts significant pressure on the surrounding soil particles, forcing them closer together. This action:

  1. Fills voids: Eliminating empty spaces in the ground.
  2. Densifies the soil: Significantly increasing the Relative Density (Dr) of sandy soils.
  3. Increases bearing capacity: Creating a solid, stable base capable of supporting heavier loads.
Our solution is up to 70% faster than traditional methods and has a 60% lower carbon impact.

Geobear crew at open construction site with sabhka soil

 

The Geobear ground improvement solution

Traditional "dig and replace" methods are slow, expensive, and cause massive disruption. Our geopolymer injection solution is different.

3D view of exposed soil under concrete slab in warehouse with Geobear techs injecting geopolymer

 

1
Survey and plan

Our in-house engineers conduct a thorough site assessment (using soil tests and dynamic cone penetrometer data) to create a precise, engineered plan tailored to your soil conditions.

2
Treatment

We drill small diameter holes through the affected slab deep into the weak ground below.

3
Expansion and compaction

We inject our specialist geopolymer resin. As it expands (up to 40 times its volume), it powerfully compacts loose soils, fills voids, and binds the ground into a solid, stable mass.

4
Monitoring and verification

The entire process is monitored in real-time with lasers to ensure precise results. We verify the improvement using post-treatment testing to confirm the required bearing capacity has been achieved.

The commercial advantage:

Why choose Geobear?

For a commercial property, downtime is the biggest cost. Our solution is designed for businesses:

Minimize disruption

Our process is clean and requires no excavation. We can work in targeted areas, overnight, or on weekends, allowing your business to remain fully operational.

Engineered expertise

With 40+ years of experience and over 200,000 projects using our technology, our in-house engineering team designs your solution. No third-party consultants needed.

Fast and efficient

Our solution is up to 70% faster than traditional methods.

We solve your problem in days, not the weeks or months required for excavation and curing.

Sustainable choice

Geobear's solution has a 60% lower carbon impact than traditional underpinning, helping you meet your sustainability goals.

Geobear treatment container being carried to site via front loader on sandy ground.

Sabkha soil settlement

We densified the loose Sabkha soil and filled voids. The non-disruptive process stabilized the ground and re-leveled the floor in just seven days while the factory remained fully operational.

Learn more
Geobear techs removing injection tubes inside an electrical substation

Substation foundation for Fugro in JAFZA

Geobear utilized non-intrusive geopolymer injection to bind loose soils and fill voids, restoring the foundation's load-bearing capacity in just five shifts without operational downtime.

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Geobear tech working at foundation of boundary wall

Boundary wall foundation at Wafi Mall

We restored bearing capacity and stabilized the wall without excavation or disrupting the busy Sheikh Rashid Road area.

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Challenges this solves

Sinking slabs

Re-leveling floors caused by deep soil settlement.

Machine vibration

Stabilizing loose sands that settle under dynamic loads.

New structural loads

Strengthening ground to support new columns or mezzanines.

Washouts

Filling voids caused by water erosion under foundations.

Ready to improve your ground conditions?

Don't let unstable ground put your commercial operations at risk. Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation site assessment and a quote.

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Bear pointing Bear pointing

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about ground improvement

No. Our solution is designed for minimal disruption. The small footprint of our equipment and the lack of excavation mean you can often remain fully operational. We can work in targeted areas or overnight to avoid interrupting your workflow.

Yes. Our geopolymer is an engineered solution that measurably increases the ground's bearing capacity. The material itself is incredibly strong, durable, inert, and hydro-insensitive, designed to last as long as the structure itself.

Yes. Our solution is ideal for targeted treatment. We can stabilize the ground directly under a specific machine pad, high-traffic aisle, or racking leg, without affecting the surrounding area.

Absolutely. Our technology is particularly effective in granular, sandy soils. The expansion of the resin provides excellent compaction and confinement, turning loose sand into a dense, load-bearing block.