Professional Practice Architecture Practice Test

Who typically initiates the Soil Investigation process?

1. Contractor

2. Architect

3. Geodetic Engineer

4. Civil Engineer

The correct answer is: Contractor

The Soil Investigation process is typically initiated by the contractor. This is because the contractor has a primary interest in understanding the site's conditions before construction begins to ensure that the project can be built as planned and to evaluate the potential risks and challenges associated with the site. The contractor needs to gather information about soil properties, load-bearing capacities, and other geotechnical aspects to prepare accurate estimates, improve safety, and plan the construction methods accordingly. While other professionals, such as civil engineers and geodetic engineers, play crucial roles in the overall process of site analysis and construction planning, it is usually the contractor who directly orders the soil investigation to gather the necessary information for their scope of work. The architect may be involved but typically focuses more on the design and aesthetics rather than the technical requirements driven by soil conditions.