Abstract Manager

With the growing demand for urban development across Canada, accurately determining the lengths

of piles and deep foundations has become increasingly critical. Piles play a critical role in civil

infrastructure by transferring loads from superstructures to stable soils or bedrock. However, many

older structures across Canada lack reliable design and as-built documentation, complicating efforts

to evaluate their foundations for reuse or integration with new construction. These uncertainties pose

risks to stability and safety, particularly in densely developed urban environments. Precise pile

length evaluation is crucial to mitigating these risks and ensuring the sustainable reuse of existing

foundations.

This paper presents three case studies from Montreal, Edmonton, and Toronto, where multiple Non-

Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques were employed to determine foundation pile lengths under

various site conditions. Techniques such as Parallel Seismic (PS), advanced surface-guided waves,

and Length Inductive Testing were applied, with methods tailored to address site-specific challenges,

including limited access, complex soil conditions, and urban construction constraints.

The case studies evaluate the advantages and limitations of each NDT method, considering site

constraints, structural characteristics, and surrounding geological conditions. This work highlights

the importance of a multi-method approach for accurate pile length assessments, supporting safer

and more efficient urban development across Canada.