GEC Sinkhole Services

The Pine Hills Sinkhole GEC rapidly developed unique engineering solutions to protect two 3-story structures from the largest sinkhole to occur in Central Florida in 20 years. View the Pine Hills Sinkhole Video View sinkhole slideshow (image courtesy of Giken America Corp.) The Pine Hills Sinkhole project was spotlighted in the Summer 2003 Pile Driver Magazine Pile Driver Magazine, Cover Story How Sinkholes Form (courtesy of St. Johns River Water Management District)

Vew Prior to Remediation (Click on picture to enlarge) View from Lip of Sinkhole

Sinkhole Facts Within 2 hours the sinkhole grew to a surface diameter of 150 feet and a depth of 60 feet. The stability of two 3-story apartment buildings was threatened; the apartments were evacuated. Due to heavy rainfall, an impenetrable liner was installed to prevent saturation and erosion of soils between the buildings and sinkhole. As a temporary measure, a chemical grout was injected to solidify the sands beneath the building foundations. The ultimate solution was to install a 200-foot long Giken Wall between the buildings and the sinkhole. Comprised of interlocked 36-inch diameter steel tubular piles that extended to a depth of 50 feet. The Giken wall was installed with the Press-In method that is virtually silent and creates little ground vibration, which was critical for protecting the structures.

Closer view of sinkhole.	Cone penetrometer test sounding equipment
GEC Geologist with ground penetrating radar equipment	Sinkhole being covered by PVC liner
PVC liner further covering sinkhole	Standard Penetration Test drilling near sinkhole edge
Exposed sewer lines within sinkhole	Sinkhole Formation Mechanism
Steel tubular piles lifted into place over building	Giken silent piler wall installation

All images, unless otherwise specified, © Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants.

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