Probing on land and water

Van der Straaten has operated on the border of land and water for more than a century. Innovation is in the company's DNA. Recently a new platform for probing from the water was added to the fleet, the VDS Mono Pile CPT, which is also suitable for accurate measurements on tidal waters. And at the end of September, a new, fully automatic CPT truck supplied by A.P. van den Berg will be put into service.

Van der Straaten Geotechniek emerged from the contracting company to offer clients a complete package. "After all, work often starts with taking soil surveys," acknowledges Lars Kloet of Van der Straaten Geotechniek. "Over the years, we have grown into an independent branch within the group. We perform CPTs for third parties, where we get added value from the knowledge and equipment from the contracting company. That is also directly where our strength lies. We are especially good at taking a practical approach to assignments."

New probe truck

Innovation is in the DNA. "We invest as much as possible in the latest technology," Kloet continued. "For example, we are in 'happy anticipation' of our new CPT truck which on the one hand considerably lightens the tasks of the CPT master and on the other hand can also be used much more efficiently. We already have the most Health and Safety friendly equipment to perform CPTs with wireless sensors and automatic locking of the rods. That said, performing a CPT still represents a relatively physical strain for the CPT technician. On an average day, just under 4 tons of rods pass through his hands. With the new CPT truck, the CPT process is fully automated; the CPT master becomes more of an operator. This reduces physical strain and increases speed. A win-win situation."

VDS Mono Pile CPT Platform

Another development focuses on conducting soundings on water bottoms. "We can be found on the water almost daily," says Kloet. "The VDS Mono Pile CPT Platform is an in-house development and a solution to take much more accurate measurements on tidal water that is constantly moving. With standard sounding equipment on ships, this leads to large deviations in depth recording in particular. A jack-up island provides a good, but much more complicated alternative. With our VDS Mono Pile CPT, we offer the best of both worlds. The platform is mounted on a working vessel equipped with spud poles."

Van der Straaten Geotechniek is thus very well equipped to conduct CPTs on land and on water. "For probing from the water, we have our own vessels and pontoons. If required, we mount the Mono Pile CPT Platform on our clients' working vessels."