Estudio geotécnico in Villar del Olmo

In Villar del Olmo, the subsoil is widely dominated by formations of limestones, dolomites and marbles, known for their high strength and bearing capacity, which is advantageous for the stability of foundations. Sandstones, conglomerates and flysch are also found to a lesser extent, while the presence of expansive clays is residual, which limits problems associated with deformable soils. These lithologies, with low permeability at the surface but potentially water-bearing at depth, require correct characterisation when designing the foundation, especially in projects of a certain scale.

The municipality’s seismicity is very low, with only 6 recorded events over 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 1.8, which minimises the influence of seismic action on structural design. However, since the predominant carbonate materials (limestones and dolomites) may be affected by karst processes, it is essential to verify the presence of cavities before carrying out the foundation, as the risk of sinkholes associated with them may compromise the project’s safety. The main technical constraint in Villar del Olmo will be to identify and mitigate possible karstification processes beneath the area of intervention.