Before You Break Ground: Site Assessment and Decisions That Pay Off

Good preparation starts with understanding the ground and surroundings.
Geotechnical surveys, network mapping, access road assessments, and soil-bearing tests aren’t just “paperwork” — they guide key decisions on excavation protection, drainage needs, and even material storage layout.
Choices made at this stage can shorten or extend the construction schedule by weeks.

Temporary Infrastructure – Power, Water, Lighting, Waste

A construction site functions like a small town.
It needs power supply (temporary connections, switchboards, site lighting), water and sewage, waste management, and containers for offices and storage.
Each element carries both investment and operational costs — connections are one thing, but metering, losses, and pump operation (e.g. for drainage) can quickly become significant monthly expenses.

Logistics and Traffic – Smooth Flow Instead of Chaos

On a limited site, conflicts over every square meter are inevitable.
That’s why we plan access routes, delivery zones, and temporary roads — sometimes even specifying off-peak delivery windows.
Good logistics rarely make a show, but in practice, they prevent traffic jams, miscommunication with neighbors, and critical delivery delays.

Earthworks and Safeguards – The Realm of Soil and Water Risks

Topsoil removal, leveling, and control excavations begin only after reviewing all existing underground utilities.
For deep excavations, we add shoring (boxes, walls, sheet piles), anchors, and — when necessary — vibration and settlement monitoring.
Drainage may involve anything from simple trenches to advanced pump systems.
These works are not just technical — they carry major risks, so it’s essential to plan them based on geotechnical data and soil behavior forecasts.

Facilities and Safety – People’s Comfort as Productivity and Protection

Social containers, sanitary facilities, showers, rest areas, clear signage, and lighting — none of these are “extras.”
They impact safety and efficiency.
It’s worth planning emergency routes, evacuation procedures, and on-site communication systems early (especially for first aid points or fire safety).

Investment Environment – Neighbors, Noise, Dust, and Roads

The unsung hero of this stage is communication: notifying authorities, coordinating with the road manager for temporary lane closures, wheel washers, acoustic screens, and dust curtains.
It’s also wise to photograph nearby buildings — not to assign blame later, but to prevent disputes before they arise.

Where Do “Surprises” in the Budget Come From?

Most often from hidden or scattered items: mobilization and maintenance of site facilities, energy and water costs, drainage pump servicing, reinstating pavement after temporary road occupation, vibration monitoring, and control excavations for undocumented utilities.
These are easy to overlook — and hard to ignore later.

How to Fairly Reflect It in the Budget?

A good practice is to list “construction organization” as a separate budget item, broken down into:
temporary utilities (setup and operation), social facilities (purchase/rental and maintenance), logistics (roads, signage, deliveries), excavation protection and drainage (with weather allowance), road occupancy and restoration, and monitoring.
Such a breakdown doesn’t inflate costs — it protects schedules and peace of mind.

If you’d like to check whether your project is ready for kickoff, consult your pre-construction setup — a short review of key risks and organizational costs can prevent major issues later.