Estudio geotécnico in Santa Olalla

In Santa Olalla, the ground composition is dominated by sandstones, conglomerates and flysch, accompanied in significant proportions by limestones, dolomites and marbles. These materials usually favour the ground’s bearing capacity and allow direct foundation solutions in most cases, although it is important to characterise the variability of the materials, particularly in the transition to deposits of gravel and compacted sands. The presence of slates and schists, although occasional, may imply localised changes in shear strength and slope stability. It is essential to carry out a detailed analysis, as lithological heterogeneity can influence the uniformity of the foundation–ground contact.

Local seismicity shows a high level of recorded activity, with 200 events over 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 5.1, which makes it necessary to incorporate seismic criteria into the structural and foundation design. No karst development is observed, but the discontinuous presence of non-expansive or dispersed clays within a non-clayey matrix means that the risk of expansivity cannot be ruled out completely, requiring specific verification in the project area. Thus, the main constraint for the geotechnical study in Santa Olalla is the integration of seismic hazard and the precise assessment of the local expansive potential.