New Westminster sits at the northern edge of the Fraser River delta, with a population exceeding 80,000 and a seismic history that demands rigorous geotechnical work. The 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake registered Modified Mercalli Intensity VI here, a reminder that deep alluvial soils can amplify ground motion significantly. Our team performs soil liquefaction analysis to quantify how saturated sands and silts will behave during the next major event. We target the loose, water-charged deposits common along the riverfront and in Queensborough, where the water table often sits less than 2 meters below grade. The assessment follows in-situ testing protocols that capture pore pressure response, combined with lab work to verify cyclic resistance. This gives structural engineers the parameters needed to design foundations that won't fail when the ground temporarily loses strength.
New Westminster's Fraser River sediments can lose over 50% of their bearing capacity in less than 10 seconds of strong shaking.
