The infrastructure network is ageing faster than it is being renewed
Yet premature replacement is not inevitable: in many cases, ground deterioration—not structural failure—is the real cause of early decline. Weak or variable soils, groundwater movement, and cyclic loading lead to settlement, cracking, and deformation that shorten design life.
The infrastructure network is ageing faster than it is being renewed
Yet premature replacement is not inevitable: in many cases, ground deterioration—not structural failure—is the real cause of early decline. Weak or variable soils, groundwater movement, and cyclic loading lead to settlement, cracking, and deformation that shorten design life.
Geobear solutions use advanced solutions to stabilise and strengthen foundation soils in situ. This restores load-bearing capacity, mitigates settlement, and enables continued service without reconstruction. The approach is applicable across all asset classes—from transport networks to industrial and civil structures—and has been independently proven to deliver up to 75% faster project completion and service-life extensions of 5–15 years, depending on ground conditions.
Technical basis
Ground improvement mechanism
Geobear solutions are applied to the weak layers under confinement, compacting the soil and filling voids. Resulting improvements include:
2–3× increase in stiffness modulus (E)
2× increase in CBR and bearing capacity
Reduced deformation and differential settlement
Sealing of voids and micro-fissures that accelerate degradation
Design and verification
Each project follows Eurocode 7 design methodology, supported by finite-element modelling and validated field testing (DCP, PLT, FWD).
Typical post-treatment performance
|
Parameter |
Pre-Treatment |
Post-Treatment |
Improvement |
|
Subgrade stiffness (E) |
40–60 MPa |
100–150 MPa |
2–3× |
|
Bearing capacity |
200 kN/m² |
450 kN/m² |
2.2× |
|
In-situ CBR |
40 % |
85 % |
2.1× |
|
Design life |
50 yrs |
≥ 120 yrs |
+70 yrs potential |
Monitoring and assurance
Laser-level monitoring controls lift to ±1 mm. All data—pressures, injection volumes, lift profiles—are logged for traceability and QA certification.
Cross-sector benefits
The Volterra Transport Study found that the speed and efficiency of Geobear methods produce major economic and social value compared with traditional reconstruction.
|
Sector |
Key Operational Gain |
Typical Time Saving |
Indicative Annual Economic Benefit* |
|
Road |
Reduced closures and congestion |
5–10× faster |
£70–90 million (UK equivalent) |
|
Rail |
Lower possession penalties and user delays |
2–10× faster |
£60–400 million (UK equivalent) |
|
Airports |
Faster runway return to service |
5–15× faster |
£3–19 million per event |
|
Ports & Marine |
Mitigation of voiding and washout |
4–6× faster |
— site specific |
|
Buildings & Utilities |
Prevented subsidence and tilt |
3–5× faster |
— project based |
*Derived from Volterra (2018) modelling of maintenance speed advantage and user-cost savings.
Lifecycle and socio-economic impact
Lifecycle extension
In treated foundations, expected service life increase of 5–15 years confirmed through CBR and stiffness gains
Societal cost savings
Faster maintenance reduces delays, congestion, and emissions—cutting user-borne costs by 60–80 % relative to conventional methods.
Carbon reduction
Up to 75 % lower CO₂ emissions due to zero excavation and minimal material usage.
Financial value
Road and rail sectors alone could save £1–2 billion annually across the G7 if such rapid, non-disruptive maintenance methods were standard.
Applications
Transport corridors
Highways, railways, runways, and bridge approaches.
Industrial and logistics hubs
Yards, warehouses, tank bases, and loading areas.
Energy & utility infrastructure
Substations, buried pipelines, wind turbine foundations.
Marine & waterfront
Quay walls, reclamation fills, and coastal defences.
Buildings and urban assets
Commercial, heritage, and residential structures suffering settlement or voiding.
Sustainability advantage
Zero spoil
All improvement done in situ.
Industrial and logistics hubs
Yards, warehouses, tank bases, and loading areas.
Immediate reuse
Treated areas return to service the same day.
Circular economy
Extends the functional life of existing assets, delaying carbon-intensive reconstruction.
Why asset owners choose geobear
Asset life extension
Extends infrastructure life by 5–15 years depending on load and soil conditions.
Downtime reduction
Cuts maintenance downtime by 50–90 %.
Carbon savings
Delivers measurable CO₂ and cost savings verified by independent economic studies.
Compliance
Fully compliant with Eurocode 7/8 design and ISO 9001 QA.
Track record
Solutions applied to more than 200,000 projects worldwide.
Contact us to learn how we can help
