AESCO Services

AESCOBudget/Schedule Performance

AESCO has been successful in consistently completing its projects within the assigned budget and schedule. We thoroughly evaluate our task and scope of work, and build an efficient budget for our work. Therefore, we seldom exceed the budget or schedule. AESCO has a practice of obtaining advance approval from clients prior to initiating any work which will add costs to the originally approved budget.

Construction Materials Testing and Inspection Services

AESCO operates a construction materials engineering (CME) laboratory in Huntington Beach, California, and is capable of performing in-house or on-site testing and inspection services. Our laboratory produces thousands of reports annually involving concrete, aggregates, soils in-place, and bituminous materials. AESCO also regularly tests and inspects brick, granite, stone masonry, mortar, reinforcing steel, and manufactured elements such as pre-stressed beams and pre-cast panels.

Engineering consultation and inspection services are available for each phase of construction including:

  • Aggregate Evaluation
  • Concrete Mixtures-Design, Inspection, and Testing
  • Bituminous Materials Testing
  • Refractory Testing
  • Roof Inspection and Testing
  • Soils Compaction and Stabilization Tests and Inspection
  • Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection Inspection
  • Qualification of Welders and Procedures
  • Welding Inspection
  • Rebar Inspection


Geotechnical Engineering Capabilities

Information from geotechnical investigations are used to develop preliminary evaluations. Our experienced field engineers and drillers assess the subsurface conditions as they are encountered to achieve an accurate representation of the soil and bedrock materials beneath a site. AESCO can deliver geotechnical services, from routine classifications, to triaxial shear and consolidation tests. Our laboratory testing services include testing of soils, concrete, masonry, fireproofing, asphalt, roofing, and aggregates. Laboratory testing is performed using ASTM, AASHTO, and other applicable specifications and guidelines. Special testing services and field laboratories can be provided, as necessary. In addition to comprehensive soil testing, we are equipped to perform a variety of rock mechanics test procedures, in accordance with standard methods specified by ASTM, ISRM, and CANMET.

AESCO’s geotechnical investigations have included:

  • Foundation and pavement design
  • Special site investigations for vibration monitoring
  • Field permeability tests
  • Settlement problems
  • Compaction monitoring and testing
  • Slope stability problems such as earthen dam failures
  • Shallow foundations and rigid mats
  • Deep foundations and pressure injected footings
  • Earth retaining structures and reinforced earth
  • Geological reinforced fill
  • Deep, dynamic ground improvement, surcharge and grouting
  • Highways, airports, railroads and pavements
  • Slope design, soil and rock stability
  • Landslide analysis and control
  • Expansive/collapsing soils
  • Geologic and seismic hazard per Title 24
  • Settlement and subsidence analysis
  • Underpinning and special foundations
  • Dams, reservoirs and dam studies
  • Liners
  • Hydroelectric facilities
  • Dynamically loaded foundations
  • Soil and rock instrumentation and blast monitoring
  • Construction dewatering and drainage
  • Tunnels, pipelines and utilities
  • Forensics
  • Creek, river and waterfront protection
  • Liquefaction analyses
  • Fault evaluation

AESCO provides full grading inspection services during construction. Our inspectors are capable of performing field inspection and testing of fill materials, excavations, foundations, and shoring. Our inspectors are trained to perform compaction testing with the sand cone or nuclear density gauge test method and are licensed to operate nuclear density gauges. To expedite site grading, AESCO can set up a portable laboratory on site, capable of performing most of the essential tests that may be required by the district.

Environmental Engineering

In many instances, especially with projects involving sediment sampling activities, geotechnical activities can overlap with environmental aspects. AESCO’s combined expertise in environmental, geotechnical and material testing services has made AESCO a leader in providing a package of comprehensive services. To ensure that drilling operations are performed under the highest quality standards, either a registered professional engineer or a geotechnical engineer always supervises the drilling operation.
AESCO provides monitoring well installation services and groundwater analyses. For environmental drilling operations, AESCO units frequently utilize hollow stem augers. This drilling technique provides a continuous casing as the boring advances, minimizing cross contamination or mixing of upper zones of soil and groundwater with lower zones.

Environmental Site Assessments

The potential liabilities associated with the presence of hazardous substances on a property can be substantially greater than the value of the property itself. Environmental laws and court decisions have increased the risk of liability for lenders as well as for buyers, sellers and operators of property. AESCO assists clients in making critical, timely and economically sound decisions on property management and ownership transfers. Our Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) services are offered in phases to provide maximum benefits in the most cost effective manner.

Phase I
The purpose of the Phase I ESA is to identify any obvious concerns for potential environmental impairment. The scope of work consists of the following activities:

  • Determine the existing site conditions: complete a comprehensive visual walkthrough examination of the site.
  • Review the site history: collect historic maps, photographs and directories; examine aerial photographs and title abstracts, and interview persons familiar with the site
    (e.g., former owners, occupants, workers, neighbors).
  • Evaluate physical setting information: topography, soil conditions, site geology, regional ground water conditions, and floodplain and zoning information.
  • Visually examine surrounding land use: research surrounding properties for present and past activities that may affect environmental suitability.
  • Regulatory review: inquire of appropriate local, state, and federal agencies to identify environmental concerns.
  • Prepare Phase I report: evaluate all data and prepare an opinion and/or conclusions stating that either the site has minimum probability for environmental concern, or that
    the assessment has led to questions regarding environmental suitability. If potential environmental liabilities are identified, recommendations are made for additional
    activities, including possible Phase II investigation.

    Phase II
    The Phase II investigation commonly consists of subsurface exploration to obtain samples and analysis of soil and/or groundwater samples for the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products. AESCO’s typical approach to a Phase II ESA includes:

  • Preparation of a site-specific sampling and analysis plan to confirm the extent and concentrations of contamination.
  • Preparation of a site-specific health and safety plan.
  • Sample collection of waste, waste streams, hazardous materials, surface water, groundwater, soils, asbestos, or other material samples, and the testing of underground
    storage tanks for content and structural integrity.
  • Comprehensive review of the regional and local geology and hydrogeology to determine the migration pathways of surface and subsurface contamination; and the installation, as required, of groundwater monitor wells to determine site hydrogeology and extent of contamination.
  • Approval of design plans.
  • Preparation of Chain of Custody documentation for samples collected and processed.
  • Laboratory analyses of environmental samples; chemical analyses vary from site to site and typically include parameters such as petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic
    compounds, inorganic contaminants, and asbestos.
  • Preparation of a summary report.
  • Aerially Deposited Lead (ADL). AESCO is specialized in ADL surveying studies. AESCO performed ADL studies for numerous freeways in Los Angeles, and Orange
    Counties. This study involves soil sampling, testing, and statistical analyses of the lead deposit. AESCO follows the acceptable most recent format and variance of Caltrans.