What We Do

Three disciplines.
One principal. Every engagement.

Geotechnical engineering, water resources, and hydrogeology — each scope of work led and delivered directly by Farshid Bateni, P.Eng. Twenty years of site experience informs every recommendation.

Geotechnical Engineering Investigations, foundations, shoring, retaining walls, slopes, and ground improvement. 6+ services → Water Resources Stormwater management and erosion & sediment control for development projects. 2+ services → Hydrogeology Groundwater assessment, infiltration testing, construction dewatering, and monitoring. 4+ services →
Geotechnical Engineering

Where every project begins — below grade.

Our geotechnical practice spans the full development cycle: preliminary site assessment, formal investigation, design, and construction monitoring. Every scope is led personally by Farshid Bateni, P.Eng. — not delegated to junior staff reviewing borehole logs they have never walked past.

G.01

Geotechnical Investigation

We design borehole programs, CPT/CPTu deployments, and in-situ testing suites calibrated to your site conditions — not copied from generic templates. Deliverables include formal Geotechnical Investigation Reports (GIRs) with foundation recommendations, liquefaction assessment, and seismic site classification per NBCC.

  • Borehole drilling & soil sampling
  • CPT / CPTu with pore-pressure dissipation
  • In-situ SPT, vane shear & pressuremeter testing
  • Laboratory testing programs
  • Liquefaction & seismic site class (NBCC)
  • Formal GIR with foundation recommendations
G.02

Foundation Design

Foundation recommendations are derived from actual site-test data and structural loads — not default bearing-capacity assumptions. We cover the full spectrum from spread footings and mat foundations to driven and drilled displacement piles, with load-testing frameworks and construction monitoring programs.

  • Spread footing & mat foundation design
  • Driven & drilled displacement pile design
  • Grade beams and pile cap detailing
  • Load test program design & review
  • Foundation monitoring during construction
  • Differential settlement analysis
G.03

Excavation + Shoring

We design and review temporary earth retention systems for underground parkades, utility trenches, and adjacent-structure-sensitive urban cuts. Our design-and-construction-support model means we remain engaged through RFIs, field reviews, and instrumentation monitoring — not just the report.

  • Sheet pile & soldier pile wall design
  • Tieback anchor and deadman systems
  • Dewatering strategies & subdrain design
  • Settlement monitoring of adjacent structures
  • Construction monitoring & RFI response
  • As-built review and sign-off
G.04

Retaining Walls

We design retaining walls across the full structural spectrum — gravity, cantilevered reinforced concrete, tieback-anchored, and MSE systems — for residential gardens, roadway embankments, and large infrastructure. All designs include explicit drainage recommendations and construction-phase sign-off.

  • Gravity & cantilevered RC wall design
  • Tieback-anchored wall systems
  • Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls
  • Drainage system design & outlet detailing
  • Global stability analysis (SLOPE/W)
  • Construction monitoring & structural review
G.05

Slope Stability

We conduct slope hazard assessments using limit-equilibrium and numerical modelling (SLOPE/W, RS2), incorporating seismic analysis (pseudo-static and Newmark displacement methods). Output ranges from hazard mapping and risk ranking to full remediation design and the development permit geotechnical letters required by municipalities across Canada.

  • Slope hazard assessment & risk ranking
  • Limit-equilibrium modelling (SLOPE/W)
  • Seismic slope stability analysis (Newmark)
  • Remediation design & grading plans
  • Drainage & erosion control design
  • Development permit geotechnical letters
G.06

Ground Improvement

Where deep foundations are disproportionate to the load, we evaluate and design ground improvement alternatives including dynamic and vibro-compaction, preloading with prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs), and grouting programs. We provide QA frameworks and back-analyse settlements to confirm performance.

  • Dynamic & vibro-compaction
  • Preloading with PVD wick drain systems
  • Grouting program design & QA
  • Settlement monitoring & back-analysis
  • Suitability studies and cost comparison
  • Construction monitoring sign-off
Water Resources

Surface water managed from permit to close-out.

Development sites demand more than geotechnical clearance — they require integrated surface water management from permit application through construction close-out. We prepare drainage assessments, design LID systems, and close out ESC permits with the same rigour applied to our geotechnical work — and the same principal doing both.

W.01

Stormwater Management

Effective stormwater management reduces downstream impact, satisfies development permit requirements, and protects receiving watercourses. We design site drainage systems from preliminary assessment to permit-ready drawings — including Low Impact Development measures, conveyance infrastructure, and detention facility design — coordinating directly with civil engineers and approving authorities.

  • Site drainage assessment & grading review
  • Runoff analysis (rational method, SWMM modelling)
  • LID measure design: bioretention, infiltration galleries, permeable pavement
  • Detention & retention facility sizing
  • Culvert and conveyance capacity analysis
  • Municipal drainage compatibility review
W.02

Erosion & Sediment Control

ESC plans are required for land development across Canadian jurisdictions, and enforcement during the construction phase is increasing. We prepare site-specific, construction-ready ESC plans, provide monitoring services during earthworks, and support contractors through permit close-out — reducing regulatory risk at every phase.

  • Development permit ESC plans (site-specific, construction-ready)
  • Construction-phase monitoring & field inspection
  • Sediment control structure design & layout
  • Streambank & shoreline erosion assessment
  • Post-construction stabilization & revegetation specs
  • Regulatory coordination & permit close-out support
Hydrogeology

Groundwater understood, not assumed.

Groundwater conditions determine excavation feasibility, foundation performance, and drainage system efficiency. Our hydrogeology practice integrates directly with geotechnical and water resources work — providing a unified characterization of subsurface conditions above and below the water table. A single point of contact means no gaps between disciplines.

H.01

Groundwater Assessment

Understanding where groundwater sits, how it moves, and how it responds seasonally is foundational to sound foundation and drainage design. We characterize aquifer conditions and translate them into practical design parameters — providing a single subsurface picture that informs geotechnical, structural, and stormwater decisions simultaneously.

  • Water table depth & seasonal fluctuation characterization
  • Perched groundwater identification & assessment
  • Aquifer classification & hydraulic conductivity estimation
  • Groundwater influence on bearing capacity & slope stability
  • Integration with foundation and drainage design parameters
  • Monitoring well installation specifications
H.02

Infiltration Testing

LID systems and soakaway designs depend on accurate, field-measured infiltration rates — not assumed values from published tables. We conduct percolation and falling head tests at the appropriate soil horizons and integrate measured results directly into stormwater design parameters, preventing over- or under-designed infiltration facilities.

  • Single and double ring percolation testing
  • Falling head & constant head hydraulic conductivity tests
  • Soil horizon characterization for infiltration suitability
  • Design-parameter reporting for LID & soakaway systems
  • Seasonal variability assessment
  • Integration with stormwater management design
H.03

Construction Dewatering

Excavations below the water table require a reliable dewatering strategy before work begins. We design dewatering systems, assess the risk of dewatering-induced settlement on adjacent structures and utilities, and establish monitoring protocols that manage risk from first excavation through backfill.

  • Dewatering system design: sumps, wellpoints, deep wells
  • Drawdown analysis & radius of influence estimation
  • Settlement risk assessment for adjacent structures
  • Recharge assessment & environmental considerations
  • Dewatering monitoring programs
  • Contingency planning & RFI support
H.04

Groundwater Monitoring

Long-term groundwater data supports environmental compliance, construction permit conditions, and post-project performance confirmation. We design monitoring well networks, deploy instrumentation, and deliver concise reporting that satisfies regulatory requirements — whether for a single permit condition or a multi-year environmental program.

  • Monitoring well design & installation specifications
  • Vibrating wire piezometer & data logger deployment
  • Groundwater level & quality sampling programs
  • Long-term monitoring reports & trend analysis
  • Permit compliance reporting
  • Post-construction performance confirmation

Not sure which discipline applies?

Describe your project and we will advise on scope, timeline, and fee estimate within one business day. You are writing directly to the engineer.

Get in Touch → info@specterra.ca