Project pathway
The quickest route to the right decision.
Ordnance investigation for access roads and utilities
For an access road, the road construction, sewers, manholes and house connections are assessed at their respective depths. FONTANA-EOD compares the alignment plan, utility design and construction sections with existing ordnance findings. This establishes which areas still need investigating before the planned earthworks.
Provide the alignment and sections.
Coordinate trenches and manholes.
Document construction sections clearly.
Project information for the route
Which areas need investigating before civil engineering works
Where the suspected ordnance is unclear, the first step is to assess the investigation needed for the proposed roads, sewers, service trenches and connections. The alignment, road cross-section, formation depths, existing utilities and construction sections are compared with the available records. Before tendering, ground investigation boreholes or civil engineering works, FONTANA-EOD coordinates the investigations with the individual planned ground disturbances. Findings for the road's upper layers do not automatically cover a deeper manhole or a lateral service connection.
Housing and site development
Record road construction, utilities and manholes separately
Ordnance assessment depends on where the ground will be excavated or drilled and the final depth to be reached. Road layers, utilities and manholes are therefore recorded separately.
Road alignment and substructure
The road construction includes formation, frost protection, drainage, verges and the final surface. The assessment records which parts actually disturb the ground and which depth matters for investigation or supervision.
Coordinate housing and infrastructure works
Sewers, manholes and drainage
Sewer trenches, inspection chambers, infiltration trenches and drainage-storage facilities may reach different depths from the road's upper layers. Their formation levels and working areas are therefore recorded separately. Equipment access, nearby utilities and interfering objects influence the choice of method.
Establish target depth and borehole positions
Utility routes and house connections
Electricity, water, telecommunications, heating, gas, lighting and house connections create many crossings and separate trenches. These ground disturbances must be assessed individually so that later connections do not rely on findings that cover a different area.
Assign reports to individual utility routesConstruction phases and traffic areas
Access roads are often built in sections. For each section, it should be clear whether the area is accessible, can be investigated, has already been investigated or is relevant only to a later phase.
Document construction sections
Excavation during civil engineering works
For the defined working area, the assessment considers whether ordnance investigation during construction is suitable. Each working level is technically investigated and assessed before controlled excavation in layers with supplementary visual checks. The sequence is repeated down to the agreed formation level. Before work starts, site management and specialist staff agree the excavation layers, stop signal, authority to give instructions, reporting procedures and documentation.
Assess the surveying needed during excavation
Assessment of findings and follow-up work
Survey anomalies are professionally evaluated and assigned to an area on the plan. If a suspicious object unexpectedly becomes visible, stop work immediately. Do not touch, move or expose it further. Leave the immediate area and keep others away without putting yourself at risk. In Germany, notify the police immediately on 110; elsewhere, use the local emergency reporting procedure. The responsible authorities determine what happens next.
Agree how findings will be handledDecision situations
Project questions to resolve before civil engineering works
Before tendering and construction, the route, depths and sequence of construction sections are checked together. Missing records and outstanding investigations are assigned to the affected sections.
The alignment design is available
Once the alignment, road cross-section and construction sections are known, the investigation area can be defined. This early assessment helps coordinate aerial photograph assessment, technical investigation, access and documentation.
Send the alignments and investigation areaSewers and manholes are being designed
Formation levels, manhole depths, retaining works and working areas show the space occupied by a sewer or manhole structure. These details are compared with the documented scope of existing ordnance investigations.
Clarify manhole depthsUtility coordination is under way
Utility routes, crossings and house connections create numerous separate areas. The assessment considers which services will be newly installed, crossed, diverted or connected to existing networks.
Arrange an assessment of the utility sectionA tender is being prepared
The tender documents describe the area to be investigated, depths, proposed method and required documentation. Unresolved requirements, such as unavailable access or outstanding utility plans, should be stated explicitly.
Prepare evidence for procurementThe construction section is only partly accessible
Vegetation, existing structures, traffic, storage areas, site facilities and property boundaries can affect technical methods. Inaccessible areas must be clearly distinguished from investigated areas.
Arrange an access assessmentExcavation is about to start
Before the first ground disturbance, establish whether existing records and investigations cover the proposed working area. If they do not, agree the additional investigations needed and their requirements with site management. Time pressure does not determine whether a method is technically suitable.
Choose the specialist services needed before ground disturbanceRoute sections
Assign investigation findings to the road alignment
Findings are assigned on the plan to the road alignment, relevant depths and investigated construction section. Areas that have not been investigated, or could not be adequately evaluated, remain clearly identified.
Route sections rather than the whole site
Where there are several construction sections, check which area existing findings actually cover. For later service trenches or connections, compare the documented investigation scope with their position, depth and current survey conditions.
State the location and final depth together
Road substructure, sewer trenches, manholes, house connections and lighting columns involve different depths. The assessment therefore follows the depth and actual construction activity as well as the location.
Existing utilities: interference and safety considerations
Existing utilities can interfere with survey methods and also constrain construction. Their position, material, depth, clearance distances and crossings matter when planning an ordnance investigation.
Consider surfaces and the stage of construction
Paved surfaces, ballast, asphalt, made ground, metal objects, installed structures and traffic equipment affect what survey data can establish. The investigation must suit the actual condition of the area, as well as the proposed final road design.
Mark investigated and outstanding sections
A plan shows investigated areas, sections that are not yet accessible and later connections. Route changes are recorded so that site management and the client can see the current investigation status.
Agree reporting procedures for findings in advance
If an unexpected suspicious object is found, stop work in the affected area immediately. Do not touch, move or uncover the object further. Leave the immediate area and keep others away without putting yourself at risk. In Germany, notify the police immediately on 110; outside Germany, use the local emergency reporting procedure. The competent authorities determine what happens next. Inform site management and the client; internal reporting must not delay the emergency call.
Documentation tied to the plan
Reports and plans must clearly show the route section, alignment, chainage, depth and method. Procurement, site management and later maintenance teams can then understand exactly what the findings cover.
Connections to housing plots
An access road adjoins building plots, apartment buildings, underground parking, green spaces and later house connections. The investigation should consider these connections while retaining the separate assessment of other areas.
Project file
Documentation for procurement, site management and later maintenance
Reports show where investigations took place, the depths reached, the methods used and any limitations. Designers, site management and later operators can compare these details with their own work.
Location and alignment references
Chainage, alignment, manhole locations, crossings, house connections and verges are described so that the commissioned investigation area remains clear.
Document status
Aerial photograph assessments, plans, utility records, ground information, official requirements and plan revisions are recorded with dates and references to the section investigated.
Methods and conditions
The investigation methods, access, surface, interfering objects, utilities, investigation depth and operational limitations are documented.
Findings assessment
Anomalies, findings and limitations are linked to their location, depth, construction activity and possible follow-up decisions.
Handover to the civil engineering team
Site management needs to know which areas have been investigated, where work can continue and which areas still need separate assessment.
Records for later ground works
Access roads are later reopened for repairs, house connections and changes to utility networks. Clear documentation helps with later decisions. Where objects have actually been exposed or clearance works undertaken, the relevant finding and clearance records are included.
Evidence dossier
Bring together the route section, method and follow-up decision
The report sets out the plans used, areas investigated, findings and outstanding questions. Later changes to road or utility designs can then be checked against it.
Plan status and revision
Alignment plans, levels, sewer routes, utility coordination and construction sections are linked to the plan revision used for the investigation. Later changes remain identifiable.
Depth investigated
The depth investigated is documented against a clear elevation reference and assigned to the proposed formation, sewer invert, manhole or borehole location.
Interference sources
Metal fixtures, utilities, reinforcement, manhole components, old surfacing and made ground can affect survey results. The report describes where these influences occurred and how they limit interpretation.
Findings and the area affected
Each finding is recorded with its location, section, chainage, depth, description and follow-up action. This makes clear whether an action concerns a single location or a larger area.
Handover to procurement
A specification needs the scope of work, required documentation and details of coordination with construction activities. The dossier can make this information available to the client and designers.
Updating the assessment
The existing documentation can provide a starting point for later house connections, additional works or utility changes, provided that its plan revision and geographical scope remain clear.
Technical assessment points
What influences the choice of method for access roads
The method is selected for the particular investigation area. Factors include the surface, required depth, interfering objects, nearby utilities, access and stage of construction. These conditions determine whether one method is sufficient or several investigations are needed.
Surface and vehicle access
Asphalt, ballast, vegetation, unbound road-base layers, kerbs and construction traffic affect whether a survey can cover the whole area, strips or individual sections.
Utility density
Existing utilities, new utility routes, crossings and house connections can mask signals and restrict clearance distances. Utility plans are therefore central to preparation.
Different investigation depths
Road formation, sewer trenches, manhole structures and house connections have different depths. The investigation must account for the relevant design depth of each construction activity.
Interfering objects and existing structures
Old surfacing, scrap metal, reinforcement, fences, foundations, street furniture and former utility routes can make surveys more difficult. The assessment must identify these influences.
Construction sections
The report distinguishes areas actually investigated from areas that were inaccessible or could not be adequately evaluated. Investigation requirements for later sections are assessed against their designs and the conditions present at that time.
Level of detail in the documentation
For road alignments, chainage, alignment references, cross-sections and manhole references are often more useful than an area description alone. The documentation's level of detail must suit the construction sequence.
Sequence
From alignment plan to investigation report
The process runs from the initial review of records through the technical investigation to handover to procurement and site management.
Record project details
The site, alignment, construction section, road cross-section, proposed depths, utility information and contacts are collected.
Review documents
Site plans, aerial photograph assessments, ground information, utility plans, historical records and known official requirements are brought together.
Define investigation areas
Road construction, sewer trenches, manholes, utility routes, house connections and verges are distinguished by the planned ground disturbance and depth.
Define the method
Historical findings and existing reports inform the plan. A suitable technical method is selected for each area and depth. Investigation during construction also requires an assessment of its suitability.
Coordinate execution
Access, traffic management, restricted areas, utility protection, the construction programme and communication with site management are prepared.
Carry out the investigation
The commissioned work is carried out within the defined area and documented by location, depth and section.
Assess the findings
The specialist contractor evaluates survey data and findings, describes interference and identifies outstanding investigation questions.
Continue the construction sequence
The documentation is handed over to the client, designers and site management for use in procurement, excavation or further coordination.
Route details
Compare findings with chainage and formation levels
Alignment and level drawings show the proposed road and utility routes. Chainage and formation levels help assign investigation findings to individual works.
Road alignments have different requirements from individual building plots. Linear ground disturbances, varying depths, numerous utility crossings and documentation usable section by section are particularly important.
Chainage and section
Chainage, construction kilometre references, sequences of manholes or named sections help locate findings. The report must show which section each finding concerns.
Formation and trench depths
The design depths are specified for sewers, utility services and house connections. Whether an adequate investigation is possible from the surface also depends on the ground, interference, target objects and access.
Crossings and connections
Utility crossings, house connections, road junctions and later additional works need particular attention. They should be clearly marked on the plans.
Actual site conditions
A plan does not always reflect the conditions on site. Existing surfacing, storage areas, traffic, vegetation and structures can change how work is carried out.
Select an investigation
Compare road construction, trenches and deep locations with the findings
Relate existing investigations to the alignment and road cross-section
Chainage, width and formation levels are compared with the documented investigation area. Lateral service connections, larger manholes and additional working areas are recorded separately. A report is applied only to the parts of the road project that its geographical and technical scope covers.
Assign investigation findings to the road cross-sectionChoose methods for different depths and survey conditions
The surface, ground, existing utilities and accessible working area affect the investigations possible. Deeper manholes, borehole locations or sections with substantial interference may need a different approach from the road construction. These tasks are agreed with designers and site management before the relevant ground disturbance.
Assess depth-related investigationProject routes
Guidance on records, investigation and excavation
Before ground disturbance, existing ordnance records are assessed and suitable investigations agreed for the relevant areas and depths. Where preliminary investigation is limited, the suitability of ordnance investigation during construction is assessed.
Assess the suspected hazard
Historical records, aerial photographs, old plans and former uses are assessed in relation to the route.
Assess suspected ordnance along the alignmentCoordinate deep interventions
Sewers, manholes and deep service trenches are considered alongside investigation requirements and the construction sequence.
Coordinate depths and borehole locationsSupervise excavation
Where preliminary investigation is limited, assess whether ordnance investigation during construction is suitable for the planned excavation. Visual checks alone do not replace technical investigation.
Assess the surveying needed during excavationView the housing overview
Building plots, the new residential development, excavations, underground parking and access roads are considered together.
Assess the housing projectPrepare evidence
Reports, location and section references and handovers are organised for procurement and site management.
Prepare evidenceSend project documents
The alignment plan, utility plan, depths, construction sections and available records are supplied for the initial assessment.
Send project documentsChoosing methods
Choose the method for each investigation area
For each section, establish which investigation can cover the planned ground disturbances. Factors include the depth required, ground conditions, existing interference and access.
Historical aerial photograph analysis
The historical assessment reviews suspected areas, previous uses, the route and adjoining areas. It provides a basis before technical investigation, ground investigation boreholes or civil engineering works are commissioned.
Near-surface surveying
Near-surface methods may be relevant for accessible sections, verges, green strips or unpaved areas. Paving, utilities, metal objects and the stage of construction can limit what they establish; these limitations must be documented.
Magnetometry
Magnetometry detects ferromagnetic anomalies in accessible areas. Utilities, reinforcement, foundation remains, fences and site equipment may mask the data. Interpretable areas and measurement limits are documented separately for each section.
TDEM
TDEM detects time-dependent electromagnetic responses from conductive objects. The target object, soil conductivity, required depth and technical installations determine suitability for the excavation or development alignment.
Ground-penetrating radar / GPR
GPR records reflections at material and structural boundaries and can provide supplementary investigation of utilities or installations. Soil, moisture, surface coupling and reinforcement affect data depth. A reflection does not uniquely identify ordnance.
Investigation at depth
For manholes, sewer invert levels, deeper trenches or borehole locations, assess whether a surface method can reach the required investigation depth. Where it cannot, another suitable approach must be defined. If investigation from survey boreholes is selected, their positions, grid, casing, drilling depths and documentation are matched to the planned ground disturbance and local conditions.
Excavation supervision
Where preliminary investigation is restricted, the suitability of ordnance investigation during construction is assessed for the specific working area. Technical investigation and assessment of each working level precede controlled excavation in layers with supplementary visual checks. This sequence is repeated to the agreed formation level. Working boundaries, the stop signal, authority to give instructions, reporting procedures and documentation are agreed before work begins.
Assessing findings
A survey anomaly is not yet an identified item of ordnance. Its location and survey data are professionally evaluated. Whether and how it needs further investigation depends on the specific findings. Any required exposure or recovery of confirmed ordnance is coordinated with the permitted scope of work, local responsibilities and documentation requirements.
Documentation
Documentation connects the method, depth, route section, findings and site conditions. This helps the client, procurement and site management apply the findings correctly later.
Working approach
Coordinate investigations for individual road sections
FONTANA-EOD agrees investigation areas and the work sequence with designers and site management. Reports show the areas and depths covered and any remaining limitations.
Distinguish road construction, sewers and connections
Each investigation is described for the proposed location and depth of the road construction, sewers, manholes and connections. The shared plan shows which areas have been investigated and which works still need coordination.
Agree the working approachProvide the alignment and section
Investigation areas are described by alignment, section, chainage and depth.
State method limits
Utilities, interfering objects, the surface, access and construction phase are taken into account openly.
Involve site management
Working areas, reporting procedures and handovers are prepared before the work.
Document findings clearly
Reports and plans are kept clear for procurement, site management and later maintenance.
Coordination
Roles and coordination for access roads
Road and utility construction involves clients, designers, utility providers, contractors, site management, occupational safety staff and the responsible authorities.
Client
Project owner, municipality or development body
The responsible body brings together the objective, area, budget or project requirements, procurement status and evidence needs. Clear construction areas, depths and time windows matter more for assessment than a completely finalised design.
Design
Engineering office and project management
Designers and project management provide designs, ground information, utility plans and proposed construction phases. With the specialist contractor, they establish which investigations to tender and what conditions are needed.
Execution
Building and civil-engineering contractors
Contractors need information on investigated and outstanding areas. Before work begins, the proposed depths, reporting procedures and handovers are agreed with site management.
Specialist contractor
FONTANA-EOD
FONTANA-EOD reviews existing findings, plans the commissioned investigations and documents their results. Methods, required investigation depths and identifiable survey limitations are described for each road section.
Competent authorities
Authorities and ordnance disposal services
In Germany, state ordnance disposal services and locally competent authorities carry out hazard-response and find-management duties. Their involvement is established for the project location; outside Germany, local responsibilities apply. Private specialist services support clients and project parties in preparation, execution and traceable communication.
The local public order authority and, where relevant, building control are involved according to their project responsibilities. Requirements, contacts and reporting procedures are assigned to the affected road sections.
Occupational safety
HSE, health-and-safety coordination and site management
Working areas, reporting procedures and handovers are agreed with occupational safety staff and site management. Ordnance investigation findings inform preparation for the relevant works.
Framework
Requirements for routes, civil engineering and findings
Before work begins, responsibilities, working areas and reporting procedures are clarified. Investigation findings and outstanding questions are handed over clearly to site management.
In Germany, § 7 SprengG concerns the commercial authorisation for activities requiring authorisation; § 20 SprengG concerns the certificate of competence of responsible persons. Under § 1b SprengG, searching for found munitions also counts as handling them. The requirements applicable to the project depend on the activity actually commissioned and the allocation of responsibilities.
The First Ordinance to the German Explosives Act (1. SprengV) includes requirements for technical competence and state-recognised training courses. For access roads, the required qualifications depend on the specific investigation or clearance brief and the earthworks planned for each section.
DGUV Information 201-027 concerns protective measures during ordnance clearance work. DGUV Rule 113-003 concerns the dismantling or destruction of explosives or corresponding objects and also includes the disposal of found munitions. It applies according to this field of activity; it does not replace a risk assessment specific to the planned ground intervention.
Explosives law and competence
Before commissioning, establish which services are planned and which permits, certificates of competence and responsibilities they require. This assessment relates to the actual activity to be carried out.
Occupational safety during construction
Earthworks, drilling, utility trenches and excavation require organised consideration of hazards, work areas and reporting procedures. Ordnance assessment is therefore coordinated with site management, HSE and contractors.
Specialist guidance
The German federal construction guidelines for ordnance clearance, BFR KMR, address historical and technical investigation, clearance planning, procurement and documentation within their defined federal remit. Their application to the specific road project is established separately. DGUV requirements and other project rules are considered according to the activity, ground disturbance and local responsibilities.
Project responsibilities
The project owner, designers, contractors, specialist contractor and responsible authorities have different tasks. The project file records who supplies each document, assesses findings and coordinates further measures.
Finds and suspicion
If an unexpected suspicious object is found, stop work in the affected area immediately. Do not touch, move or uncover the object further. Leave the immediate area and keep others away without putting yourself at risk. In Germany, notify the police immediately on 110; outside Germany, use the local emergency reporting procedure. The competent authorities determine what happens next. Inform site management and the client; internal reporting must not delay the emergency call.
Documentation
Reports, location references, measurement data, photographs and findings assessments should allow clients, site management, procurement and competent parties to follow the same progress status.
Statement limits
Surface, utilities, interfering objects, reinforcement, ground, moisture, access and investigation depth affect technical conclusions. These conditions are documented so results are not transferred to other areas.
Follow-up decision
After an assessment, further document analysis, surveying, excavation monitoring, clarification of findings, recovery or coordination with authorities may be needed. The specific project situation is decisive.
Project areas
Road alignment, service trenches and excavation in a shared construction sequence
Alignment and utility plans describe the proposed works. Investigations and reports are matched to the areas and depths shown on those plans.
Alignment and site planning
The alignment, construction section, chainage and road cross-section provide the spatial basis for the ordnance investigation.
Assess the housing construction sectionDeep-ground survey
Deep service trenches, manholes and borehole locations need their own technical assessment against the proposed design depth.
Coordinate deep interventionsExcavation supervision
Where investigation during construction is suitable, the working area, excavation sequence and reporting procedures are agreed with site management before work starts.
Arrange excavation supervisionDocumentation
Location references, section, method, findings and follow-up decisions are recorded clearly for the project file and site management.
Prepare documentation
Next project steps
Further technical guidance for your project
Road construction, service trenches and manholes each receive investigations covering the required areas and depths. Findings and limitations are documented for designers and site management.
Housing and site development
Consider building plots, the new residential development, excavations, underground parking and road alignments together.
Assess the housing project
Historical aerial photograph analysis
Assess suspected ordnance before route design, utility installation and civil engineering works.
Assess the suspected hazardDeep-ground survey
Match deep ground disturbances, borehole locations, manholes and service trenches to the required investigation depth.
Arrange an assessment of the required depthExcavation supervision
Clarify the suitability and sequence of ordnance investigation during construction.
Agree specialist excavation supervisionProcess and documentation
Organise reports, plan references and follow-up decisions for procurement and site management.
Prepare evidence
Project enquiry
Supply the alignment plan, utility information, depths, construction section and records for the initial assessment.
Send project documentsIdentify the project location
Clearly identify road sections and the relevant local records
Identify the site and applicable requirements
The project location, road name, chainage and current section boundaries link the technical plans to existing records. Requirements and contacts are assigned to each section. Where connections change, check again how they relate to the previous investigation.
Use results correctly
Use documentation for later road and utility works
Compare the investigated ground with the new task
An existing report remains tied to its area, depth and the conditions at the time. For later utility work or deeper refurbishment, compare the new ground disturbance with these limits. A shared street address alone does not establish full coverage.
Check evidence against the interventionHand over chainage and plan revisions together
Findings, outstanding areas and revised connections use the same location references as the construction design. A clearly identified document version helps with handovers between road construction, utility trades and later maintenance.
Explore the technical principlesTechnical information
Housing and site development: brochure
From development works to excavation: the brochure shows how to consider ordnance risks early and prepare investigations suited to the planned earthworks.
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Project questions
Frequently asked questions about ordnance investigation for access roads
When does ordnance investigation become relevant for access roads?
Where the suspected ordnance is unclear, assess the investigations needed for the proposed road alignments, sewers, manholes, utilities and connections. Their locations and depths, existing findings and the intended construction sequence determine which areas need technical investigation.
Which documents are needed for the initial assessment?
Useful documents include site, alignment and level plans, sewer and utility plans, manhole locations, proposed trench depths, construction sections, ground information, aerial photograph assessments, existing official requirements and information on adjoining structures. A preliminary design can also be assessed if the route and planned ground disturbance are clear.
Which investigation methods may be suitable for access roads?
Historical aerial photographs and records help establish the investigation needed. Depending on the ground, interference, target objects, depth and access, technical methods may include magnetometry, TDEM, ground-penetrating radar or borehole investigation. The suitability of ordnance investigation during construction is also assessed. Visual inspection of excavated material alone does not replace technical investigation.
How are utilities and manholes considered?
Utilities, manholes and crossings are treated as separate areas of ground disturbance. They affect the feasibility of investigation, interference, depth and construction sequence. Areas with existing services, utility crossings, pumping stations, house connections and later additional works need particular attention.
Can an access road be investigated in sections?
Yes. For longer road alignments, working in sections is often useful. Investigated sections, outstanding areas, later construction phases, plan changes and adjoining connections must be clearly distinguished so that the records remain reliable during construction.
What documentation matters for procurement and site management?
Important information includes location references, the commissioned investigation area, methods, conditions, findings, their assessment, limitations and follow-up decisions. Site management and procurement must be able to establish which route section and depth each statement covers.
What should be done if a suspicious object is found during earthworks?
If an unexpected suspicious object is found, stop work in the affected area immediately. Do not touch, move or uncover the object further. Leave the immediate area and keep others away without putting yourself at risk. In Germany, notify the police immediately on 110; outside Germany, use the local emergency reporting procedure. The competent authorities determine what happens next. Inform site management and the client; internal reporting must not delay the emergency call.
What determines survey effort and cost?
The main factors are the length and width of road sections, depths and geometry of service trenches and manholes, crossings, ground conditions, interference, utility density, access, traffic management, construction phases, existing investigations, required methods and documentation. The quotation relates to the commissioned investigation area and the services still needed.
Preparing an enquiry
Documents needed for your enquiry
Send the current alignment plan showing proposed depths, utilities and construction sections. Add existing investigation findings and official requirements.
Location and alignment
Address, site plan, alignment, chainage, construction sections and affected land parcels.
Depths and ground disturbances
Road formation, sewer invert, manholes, house connections, utility trenches, crossings and borehole locations.
Available documents
Aerial-photo analysis, old plans, utility plans, geotechnical data, earlier reports and known requirements.
Construction sequence and purpose of the documentation
Tendering, civil engineering procurement, site management, HSE, operator handover or follow-up decisions.
Submit project details together
Send the available records as completely as possible. A preliminary design can also be assessed if the location, alignment, depth of ground disturbance, construction phase and intended next step are clear. FONTANA-EOD checks which questions the records answer and which investigations or discussions are still needed.
+49 (0) 6843 - 999 499 7
info@fontana-eod.de
Alignment plan, depths and utility information
Designers, site management or project management
Execution
Coordinate working areas and handovers before construction
Route projects need clear coordination between designers, site management, utility coordinators, civil engineering contractors and specialist supervision.
Prepare working areas
Investigation and excavation supervision need accessible working strips, known utility positions, agreed traffic management and realistic time windows. If these conditions are absent, the affected section must be recorded separately.
Check utility plans
Before work begins, utility plans should be compared with current site conditions. Unclear existing services can affect surveying, equipment and occupational safety. They should be identified before the trench is open.
Hand over the construction section
Before starting a section, the client, site management and contractors should know which area has been investigated, which remains outstanding and what follow-up work is planned.
Respond calmly to unexpected finds
If a suspicious object is found unexpectedly, stop work in the affected area immediately. Do not touch, move or expose it further. Leave the immediate area and keep others away without putting yourself at risk. In Germany, notify the police immediately on 110; elsewhere, use the local emergency reporting procedure. The responsible authorities determine what happens next. Inform site management and the client, but internal reporting must not delay the emergency call. Construction staff must not assess or investigate the object themselves.
Keep track of changes
Route changes, additional house connections, moved manholes or revised depths may require a new assessment. The documentation must show which plan revision formed the basis of the investigation.
Coordinate restricted areas
Planned restricted areas are coordinated with access, traffic management, material storage and machinery movements. If an area must be closed because of a finding, the construction sequence is adjusted accordingly.
Consider the trades that follow
Asphalting, street lighting, green spaces, drainage and house connections take place at different times. The documentation should remain clear for later trades.
Prepare the operator handover
After completion, access roads are often handed over to the local authority, utility provider or maintenance team. Clear investigation boundaries and depth references help with later maintenance and additional works.
Construction phases
Check investigation status at each construction phase
Areas, access and planned ground disturbances may change as construction progresses. Before the next section begins, check which existing findings apply and which questions remain outstanding.
Before construction
Before construction, alignment plans, depths, utility information, records and access conditions are brought together. Unclear investigation areas can still be included in the tender documents and programme at this stage.
During site preparation
Necessary investigations and protective measures are planned before ground disturbances caused by vegetation clearance, topsoil removal, site establishment or initial utility work. If these works change access or site conditions, newly accessible areas are investigated before the next ground disturbances there. Investigated and outstanding sections remain documented separately.
During sewer construction
Sewer construction creates deep, linear ground disturbances. Manhole structures, sewer sections, crossings and excavations must be documented by depth and chainage.
During utility installation
Utility installation often takes place at a different time from sewer construction. House connections, crossings and secondary routes need separate assessment where they affect different areas or depths.
During road construction
Road formation, frost protection and verge works may involve additional ground disturbance or remedial work. The documentation should show which stage of construction underpinned the technical assessment.
After completion
For later repairs, additional connections or extensions, the plan revision, investigated section and limits of the findings must remain traceable over time.
Procurement and site management
Tender investigations and hand them over to the civil engineering team
Technical information for later civil engineering works needs to remain usable in the specification, construction programme and site communications.
Define the scope of work precisely
The scope should describe the commissioned road section, depth, construction activity and expected documentation. This makes clear whether the work means reviewing records, investigation, excavation supervision or assessing findings.
Reduce tender queries
For quotations, describe the investigation area, access, proximity to utilities, construction sections and required documentation. Identify conditions that remain unresolved.
Plan realistic construction times
Survey windows, lead time for records, traffic management, restricted areas and coordination with utility installation must fit the programme. A late assessment leaves technical questions to be resolved during civil engineering works.
Circulate plan changes in writing
Designers, the client, site management and the specialist contractor should use the same plan revision. Changes to alignments, manholes, utilities or depths are recorded clearly so that later decisions do not rely on outdated information.
Coordinate investigations with construction progress
Daily civil engineering progress depends on excavation depth, utilities, findings, equipment and the working area. Ordnance assessment should be planned so that technical decisions and construction progress fit together.
Prepare for acceptance
At completion, it matters which areas were investigated, supervised or left outstanding. A clear handover helps with acceptance, transfer to the operator, later maintenance and the assessment of additional house connections.
Scope and limitations
Relate investigation findings to road sections and depths
A report's findings apply within the documented section, depth investigated and conditions described. Before further ground disturbance, this scope is compared with the new design.
Section investigated
A statement about one section does not automatically apply to later construction sections, secondary routes, house connections or revised utility routes.
Depth investigated
The construction activity determines the relevant depth. Sewer inverts, road formation, manhole structures and house connections may each require different investigations.
Method used
Each method has its own conditions and limitations. The surface, interference, utilities and access determine whether it can be used effectively.
Plan revision assessed
Changes made after the investigation must be assessed against its original scope. This keeps the documentation reliable.
Construction sections and civil engineering coordination
Assess access roads as a sequence of ground disturbances
Access roads include formation, service trenches, manholes, house connections, crossings and verges. Ordnance assessment must describe these ground disturbances separately and coordinate them in the construction sequence.
Road formation and upper layers
For work at road formation level, existing surfacing, ground layers, interfering objects and former uses matter. Deeper service trenches are recorded separately with their positions, depths and proposed construction sequence.
Sewers and manholes
Sewer sections and manholes often reach different depths from the road's upper layers. The investigation should therefore be described by the actual depths and manhole structures as well as the alignment.
Water and electricity
Utility services may run parallel to the road or cross it. Nearby utilities, existing structures and the stage of construction affect survey conditions. The suitable method is assessed for the specific planned ground disturbance.
House connections
House connections are often installed later or in stages. They should be included in the investigation and documentation plan so that later individual trenches can be related to the original findings.
Crossings and junctions
Junctions, crossings and temporary connections change the area of ground disturbance. Site management needs to know whether these areas were included in the original assessment or need separate consideration.
Construction phases and traffic
Access roads may be built with phased traffic management, access to adjoining properties or building works taking place alongside them. Ordnance assessment must allow realistic working windows, restricted areas and procedures for findings.
Plan changes
If alignments, levels, utility routes or manhole locations change, the new ground disturbance is compared with the existing investigation scope.
Handover to the operator
After completion, responsibility for the road, utilities and verges passes to maintenance teams or operators. The documentation should show which sections, depths and construction activities were assessed.
The value of documentation
Retain investigation reports for later works
Reliable documentation matters beyond the current civil engineering works. It supports site management, clients, operators and later connection works.
Area investigated
The investigated area is described by alignment, construction section, chainage, manhole, utility or area on the plan. Site management can then identify which part of the access road was covered.
Depth investigated
Base levels, road formation, trenches, manholes and foundations may have different depths. The evidence remains reliable only if the depth assessed is clearly documented.
Methods and survey conditions
The method used and its conditions are recorded. This makes clear why investigation, excavation supervision or a records review was selected for the section.
Findings and outstanding questions
Anomalies, interference, indications of suspected ordnance and follow-up decisions are described so that site management and the client can understand the next technical step.
Check plan changes
Clear initial documentation helps when plans change. New depths, connections or additional manholes can then be assessed more precisely.
Records for later works
At project completion, it remains clear which information can be used for later maintenance, warranty matters, connection works and additional civil engineering works.
Changes to construction areas
When infrastructure and building construction overlap
Where building construction takes place alongside infrastructure works, house connections change or utility work follows later, check whether existing investigations cover the additional ground disturbances.
Trades working alongside each other
Where building contractors, civil engineering teams and utility providers work at the same time, working areas, access routes and investigation areas must remain clearly separated. Otherwise, gaps can arise between the documented ordnance assessment and the actual ground disturbance.
Later connections
House connections, street lighting, telecommunications and drainage details are often finalised later. These ground disturbances should be reassessed against their depths, locations and existing documentation.
Temporary site conditions
Temporary construction roads, open trenches, backfilled utility areas and temporary storage areas change survey and working conditions. Site management should coordinate these conditions with the specialist contractor on site.
Final documentation
At completion, a record that work took place is not enough. What matters is the actual area, depth, plan revision and construction activity documented.
Checks before construction
Final plan check before the first ground disturbance
Shortly before construction begins, the plan revision, route, depths and construction sections should be checked again against the technical documentation.
Current plan revision
Site management works from the latest approved plan. Where this differs from the assessed design, new sections, depths or connections are technically reviewed and the records updated before ground disturbance.
Pre-construction meeting
Before earthworks begin, the client, site management, civil engineering contractors, utility providers and specialist contractor should share the same understanding of the investigation area, reporting procedures and documentation.
Have your project assessed
Whether historical aerial photograph analysis, explosive ordnance surveying, surface surveying using GPR, magnetometry or TDEM, deep-ground surveys, downhole surveys, excavation supervision, area clearance or ordnance recovery is needed depends on the location, ground disturbance, depth, ground and existing documents. An early ordnance assessment provides clarity for tendering, programming, occupational safety and construction.
FONTANA-EOD combines its Section 7 SprengG licence, specialists holding Section 20 SprengG certificates of competence, suitable survey and clearance methods, and traceable documentation. Send the site plan, depth of ground disturbance, construction phase and existing documents for an initial technical assessment.
