Geotechnical investigation and consulting under one roof at Aelmans Adviesgroep

Conducting soil testing is one thing, finding something from it is two. It is exactly what the Aelmans Adviesgroep specializes in. Its strength lies in its total approach, thanks to the five business units that -where necessary- complement each other seamlessly. The design and realization of Windpark Egchelse Heide is a fine example of this. An interview with geotechnical consultant René Kroonen about the project and the sustainable approach of the Aelmans Adviesgroep, such as the probe truck that runs on completely fossil-free fuel.

Since the 1990s, the Aelmans Advisory Group has been engaged in environmental engineering soil research. "The organization has also been active in geotechnical engineering for many years and has been doing so under its own title for the past three years," Kroonen begins. "We provide all kinds of environmental, geotechnical or  soil testing and consulting for a wide variety of clients. Think of research and advice for the reconstruction of roads or for disconnecting rainwater runoff from sewers, currently a hot topic. We do this from our six branches for projects throughout the Netherlands."

Since the 1990s, the Aelmans Advisory Group has been engaged in environmental engineering soil research.

Sustainability Projects

Anyone can probe, but finding something from it is not everyone's cup of tea, Kroonen continues. "Clients can come to us for the complete picture, from the permit application, research and advice to even the land or property purchase. Everything under one roof. Egchelse Heide Wind Farm is one such project for which we take care of the entire process. That means not only the extensive soil investigation and supervising the expropriation of land from stakeholders, but also the entire process surrounding the environmental permit and project management during the preparation phase and later during construction. The goal is for the five wind turbines, which will soon provide 21 MW, to be operational in the second quarter of 2021. We also supervise similar projects for solar parks.

In addition, we are currently working in the municipalities of Maastricht and Landgraaf on geotechnical investigations and advice for disconnecting rainwater runoff, sewer reconstruction, and asphalt construction and quality. A similar project is also underway in Gulpen. In addition, we are regularly deployed by water companies for route checks on environmental quality to prevent mechanics from coming into contact with contaminated soil. For all projects, we think along with our clients in an economically most advantageous solution."

The Aelmans Adviesgroep is working hard in the field of sustainability. Kroonen: "We are not only working on sustainability, but also expressly communicate it to the outside world. We are certified according to the CO₂ Performance Ladder at level 3 and can already deploy a probe truck that runs on fossil-free fuel. Sustainability is a really high priority for us. Our facility in Ubachsberg is completely self-sufficient in electricity and, wherever possible, sedum roofs have been installed that, among other things, provide rainwater harvesting (thus less burden on the sewer system), oxygen production and increased biodiversity."