As-built investigations · Structural engineering
AAE delivers reliable as-built data and structural analysis when records are incomplete or unreliable, so owners, engineers and contractors can make confident decisions on infrastructure nationwide.
Who we are
At Anderson & Arellano Engineering, we specialize in providing valuable, accurate information on existing structures and foundations that may not be readily available.
AAE is a structural engineering firm and small business that primarily assesses, inspects, and maps existing structures and foundations of all types using a variety of non-destructive testing technologies to provide essential information necessary for engineering analysis, modification design, or construction efforts.
Why clients call us
Before a structure is modified, repurposed, or loading is updated, someone has to know what was actually installed below-grade. When the drawings are missing, generic, or incorrect, that is our job.
Before a structure is modified, repurposed, or loading is altered, we need to know what is actually below grade. When the drawings are missing, incomplete, generic, or incorrect, we provide the specific details needed.
Our method can also determine critical dimensions of below-grade pads and footings reliably without excavation, which saves cost and schedule especially when the area is crowded with existing equipment.
We instrument piles from the side in many cases, so bridges, piers, and beach houses remain in-service while we determine their depth.
Industries
From transmission lines to piers and docks, structures change; the need for accurate as-built information does not.
As-built geometry, condition and capacity of transmission line foundations.
AAE provides information on the as-built foundation geometry, condition and structural capacity of transmission line foundations when available information may not accurately reflect the as-built condition of a particular foundation.
Foundation and structure mappings of towers and rooftop sites, plus modification design.
AAE is qualified to conduct the most difficult and detailed foundation and structure mappings of towers, structures mounted to rooftops and other specialty structures. AAE also offers structural modification design and analysis of these structures, as well as carrier mounts and more.
Mappings and field assessments done with the care broadcast structures demand.
AAE brings uncompromised quality to the broadcast industry, conducting foundation and structure mappings with a rare level of care. That attention to detail gives our group the best possible in-field assessments and structural engineering services in an industry where work quality is essential.
Trunnion anchor rod evaluation, tension testing and retensioning at Tainter gate dams.
AAE provides trunnion anchor rod condition evaluation and tension testing in Tainter gate-style dams, as well as retensioning operations, to determine the overall health of a dam’s anchorage for private, municipal and government owners.
Bridge pile depth for state DOTs and anchor rod evaluation for USACE.
AAE offers a variety of engineering investigations to the US government, such as foundation investigations for the depth of bridge piles for state DOTs and trunnion anchor rod evaluation for USACE. We also develop services to capture specific information in support of construction and analysis of government assets.
Field and lab data collection, so researchers can focus on research and modeling.
AAE provides hands-on support to universities through field and laboratory data collection on infrastructure projects. Our team collects large amounts of complex data that can be difficult for universities to gather when access is limited or significant time off campus is required, allowing students and professors to focus on research and modeling.
Pile length of steel, concrete and timber piles, measured while they stay in service.
One of AAE’s core offerings is determining the length of in-situ steel, concrete and timber piles quickly and cost-effectively with dispersive wave testing. We tailor the technology to piers, docks, beach houses, marinas, seawalls, sheet pile walls and more, to support construction and revitalization.
When a foundation has already been installed and poured and an inspection was not completed first, we can help.
We use ground-penetrating radar and our investigation services to determine the as-built configuration of poured residential foundations such as point-load footings, perimeter footings, thickened slabs and more. We also frequently consult on deteriorating foundations: we start by defining the nature and extent of the problem and documenting it, then we can plan a solution.
When structural details are needed of an existing commercial roof system, foundation or entire structure, we can help.
We frequently investigate commercial buildings and a variety of other structures to provide the specific details needed to upfit them. Examples include structural details of roof systems for the installation of larger HVAC systems or wireless equipment.
When a wind turbine needs to be repowered or sustains a limited failure event, we can determine if the foundation remains intact.
Wind turbine foundations and anchorage sustain enormous loads and vibrations over years of continued service. As turbines age, the need for repowering grows, and so does the number of failures. We combine dispersive wave testing to locate internal cracking with anchor rod tension testing to determine the current condition of the foundation, so the owner can decide whether it can remain in service.
When a foundation is unknown and a fast response is needed, we can help.
Oil field sites are constantly changing, and refineries are under constant maintenance and servicing of equipment. When a new piece of equipment needs to be added and an existing foundation is available but unknown, we provide the necessary details of that foundation quickly and concisely.
When factories have large machines with specialized foundations that are unknown or deteriorating, we can help.
We investigate specialty foundations to determine the extent of deterioration and cracking. We also investigate unknown foundations in challenging areas to determine as-built geometry when machines are being replaced or serviced.
Water towers, soil anchor walls and other specialty structures come across our desk too. Tell us what you are trying to learn.
Services
Nondestructive testing where it is the right tool, traditional investigation where it is not, and engineers reviewing the data by hand either way.
Our cornerstone service: determining the as-built concrete geometry and condition of existing foundations. We combine dispersive wave technology, ground-penetrating radar and other nondestructive equipment to find the critical dimensions, and can add reinforcing steel details, concrete compressive strength and more.
Above-grade mappings that give complete or partial structural details for analysis or modification design of telecom towers, commercial roof systems, commercial buildings, water towers and other specialty structures. The details are assembled into a clear, concise drawing set built around what the client needs.
Traditional structural analysis and design for telecom and broadcast towers and a range of foundation types, informed by as-built data rather than assumptions.
Dispersive wave testing paired with hydraulic tensioning equipment are used to determine the in-situ tension in post-tensioned anchorage for wind turbines, Tainter gate dams, soil anchors and more. We work with Dywidag, Williams Form, and Stress-Steel rods, and even smooth anchor rods using Howlett grip nuts and Stress-Steel wedges.
Piles and rock anchorage foundations can be some of the most challenging foundations to measure in place. Combining nondestructive techniques, including dispersive wave testing, with traditional investigation, we can provide details that are often considered not attainable.
We detail and quantify damage related to degradation such as cracking in order to design appropriate repairs for the specific situation. We also utilize dispersive wave testing in some cases on foundations such as wind turbine spread footings, to locate internal cracking from a failure event or from fatigue over the service life. We also apply this method to locate soil intrusion in large caissons and drilled shafts in unstable soils.
We use drones to photograph and video areas of structures that would otherwise be inaccessible, greatly reducing access costs. In some cases we also use drones to capture specific geometric information about a structure.
We inspect and assess the condition of many types of structures to the codes set by the industry or by the client. The goal is to identify deficiencies that increase risk to our clients or to the people using the structure.
We use industry-leading ground-penetrating radar equipment to scan for utilities, reinforcing steel, obstructions, voids and more. Clients use it to find what they are looking for and to avoid what they must not hit when drilling or cutting.
Our method
Automated impact-echo devices hand back an answer in an instant. Our investigations are built to be defensible.
Engineers confirm the foundation type (drilled shaft, pad and pier, pile cap, mat at grade) and its lateral geometry, choosing investigation methods to suit the site.
We read the impact-echo data manually across multiple data sets, so the depth or thickness we report is consistent throughout, and damage such as soil intrusion is caught.
Our dispersive wave methods can determine thickness of below-grade pads and footings without excavation, which saves cost and schedule, and makes a huge difference in crowded areas where equipment overlays the footings.
Belled caissons too. We can find a bell’s depth and profile its shape, to see whether it is intact or partly collapsed during construction.
FAQ
An automated device relies on a computer to give the right answer from a series of strikes. We verify the foundation type and lateral geometry first, then review the impact-echo data by hand across multiple data sets so the reported depth is consistent and damage such as soil intrusion is identified. For below-grade pads and footings, our dispersive wave method avoids excavating to measure thickness directly, which is valuable in crowded tower compounds and substations.
Yes. We determine the belled caisson depth and create a relative profile of the bell’s shape, to tell whether it is intact or was partially collapsed during construction.
Yes. We have two different approaches, depending on the configuration at the site.
Not necessarily. It depends on the engineer’s, owner’s or contractor’s tolerance for risk. We review the portfolio with you to find which structures are most critical, which carry higher loads and what other risks apply, so you can decide whether investigating a sample set is appropriate and how large it should be.
The more the better, but in some cases we can work from as little as the structure’s GPS coordinates and access details. Design drawings, geotechnical reports, previous structural analyses, construction photos and pile driving logs are all welcome.
No. We apply dispersive wave testing so the pile can be instrumented from its side while the structure (a bridge, pier or beach house) stays in service.
For your files
Services, certifications, NAICS codes and contact details, ready to share with your team or attach to a bid.
Start an investigation
Tell us about the structure and what you need to know. We help clients save time, reduce risk and decide with confidence.
