Geotechnical study in Val de San Vicente

In Val de San Vicente, the subsurface is dominated by formations of limestones, dolomites and marbles, which represent most of the geological substrate. This type of solid material habitually offers a high bearing capacity, making it favourable for shallow, direct foundations provided that the bedrock mass is sound. However, the occasional presence of sandy levels, silts and, to a lesser extent, slaty materials can introduce zones that are locally more compressible, so it is essential to carry out a correct characterisation of the stratum at each specific site.

The municipality has a notable seismicity, with a record of 145 events over 30 years and a maximum recorded magnitude of 4, which implies that seismic response must be taken into account in structural design to ensure the safe performance of buildings. In addition, the potentially karstic nature of the calcareous formations requires verifying the presence of cavities or dissolution processes before founding, as this may represent a significant geotechnical risk. The non-clayey substrate rules out hazards associated with expansivity, so the main constraint is the possibility of karstification and its prior control before any work.