As our name suggests we specialise in Geotechnical Monitoring

Our focus is on supplying data you can trust

Trust us to deliver your monitoring

Scroll down to find out more about our products, our services and our team

The top three risks to quality in projects where geotechnical and structural instrumentation is of high importance are:

1. Using the wrong instrument in the wrong place,

2. Installing and/or reading the instrument badly regardless of whether it is the right instrument and in the right place, and

3. Not being able to understand if the monitoring data makes sense in the context of the problem being investigated.

Geotechnical Observations mitigates all of these risks by firstly employing geotechnical engineers with knowledge of instrumentation, so we are able to advise our clients on what instruments will work well in the context of the engineering problem being investigated , thereby ensuring that the instrumentation is designed properly. We are also able to advise our clients about the results that are obtained from the instrumentation and interpret them in the context of the engineering problem. Probably the biggest risk though is not installing the instrument properly and we mitigate this by making sure all of our field technicians are given time to prepare properly for a project and all installations are supported by an appropriate inspection and test plan with clearly identified check points. Checks include those on an instrument before it leaves our facility, where we have UKAS accredited calibration equipment and technicians that are trained to operate it, those on an instrument when it arrives at the site, before it is installed, these are collectively known as pre-installation checks, and checks on an instrument during and immediately after installation, and throughout the lifetime of the monitoring project.

Our Measurements Inform Your Decisions

Our flagship products are Geodaisy® & ShapeArray

Geodaisy® is our unique in-house web-based software for analysing and interpreting geotechnical monitoring data.

SHAPEARRAY is used to monitor deformation of soil and structures like dams, tunnels, mines, and buildings. Geotechnical Observations is the exclusive distributor of ShapeArray in the UK and Ireland. ShapeArrays are manufactured in Canada by Measurand Inc.

We have also partnered Elastisense from Denmark to distribute their innovative range of displacement sensors for structural health monitoring.

Use the navigation bar to find out more about what we do and where we do it

Senior Management Team

Dr Andrew Ridley

Owner and Managing Director

Other members of our team

Dr John Kavanagh - Data Manager

Anthony Baggs - Senior Instrumentation Technician

David Haugh - Business Administrator

Sam Holloway - Projects Manager

Cristiano Sabatti - Senior Software Developer

Charlie Cuppleditch - Software Developer

Joseph Ludlow - Senior Monitoring Engineer

Ben Ryan - Monitoring Engineer

Want to know how we can help you…?

Our aim is to be the company that is most trusted to deliver high quality instrumentation and monitoring.

Interested in working with us?

We're always on the lookout for like-minded, talented people to be part of our team. If you are interested in joining us just download and complete our Application Form.

Why work with us?

We are a talented structural and geotechnical monitoring company based in Surrey and working out of different sites across the UK. We are a place where clients feel looked after, where they trust our ability to deliver good quality data and come up with new products to support them.

Our people, technology and extensive experience help our clients with civil engineering projects large and small.  We work on exciting and prestigious projects at the forefront of the civil engineering sector including the new Wembley Stadium, Heathrow Airport, Crossrail, Northern Line Extension and Hinkley Point C. 

We are also proudly the exclusive distributor for UK/Ireland of Measurand SAA Geotechnical Instruments Shape Sensing Products.

What can we offer you?

We actively offer opportunities across our company, encourage development and career progression.   We have also recently developed an internal career path for our monitoring engineers to support development and progression.

You will have the opportunity to contribute, attend and take part in industry events, exhibitions and supplier development sessions. 

We value fairness, inclusion and respect.    Respect and working together well, is a number one priority for us. We want your experience of us to be professional and one that you will tell others about.

We like giving something back. All our employees are able to take up to 2 days paid leave per year to undertake charity work of their choice.  

We are dedicated in supporting our engineers of the future.  We support many STEM events and are passionate about the future of engineering.

We like to get together as a company regularly. Expect to be invited to all our social events and communication catch ups.  It’s just one of the ways we stay in touch with each other.

We have strong values and ways of working. Our professional reputation is second to none, which makes us an attractive place to work. Our values and the way we work can’t be separated – it’s who we are.

Our real life employee stories

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of our employees and recent Interns say about their life at GeO:

Georgia Peeler, Monitoring Engineer

I joined Geotechnical Observations in July 2018, as a ‘Monitoring Engineer’. In my role, I have taken part in projects such as HS2 and the Northern Line Extension, installing and reading various instruments. These instruments have included inclinometers, extensometers and two types of piezometers; all devices used to monitor ground conditions in innovative and creative techniques. I have also been involved in processing data on some smaller projects. The best thing about working for Geo-Obs has been meeting and working alongside individuals who have knowledgeable and interesting career backgrounds in a diversity of areas.  This has been a great stepping stone to the next challenge in my career.

Joe Birnie, Intern

During my time with GeO I gained good solid work experience, which wasn't only sitting behind a desk - actually getting onto site in person and seeing all the engineering aspects which surround a project (props, piling rigs etc.). It helped me with my MSc as I had something to talk about which they could relate to. Great project experience on Northern Line Extension. Seeing something in first person and being able to ask questions like 'what is a capping beam' is always better than reading about it or being shown a picture/presentation.

Theo Clayton, Intern

Working on the Northern Line Extension with Geotechnical Observations provided me with invaluable industry experience. I was able to put some of the skills I had learnt during my first year at university into practice; as well as gaining new ones and providing me with an insight of how work is carried out on site. My internship at Geotechnical Observations also helped me to be accepted onto the University of Surrey's ICE scholarship scheme.

Current Opportunities

We do not currently have any open opportunities available, but we are always looking out for talented people with knowledge and experience of geotechnical monitoring, so if that is you, feel free to send us your CV and fill out an application form, which can be found on the contact us page.

Accreditations include:
 

We put safety and quality as our highest priorities because we believe it fosters trust between us and our clients.

Download our policies here:

— Quality Policy

— H&S Statement

— Drugs and Alcohol Statement

— Environmental and Sustainability Policy

— Anti-bribery Policy

— Equal Opportunities Policy

— Fatigue Management Policy

— Retention of Personal Data Policy

— Job Applicant Privacy Notice

— Modern Slavery Policy

— Rail Working Hours Policy

— Employee Volunteering Policy

— Insurances