Seven disciplines. One team.

Geotechnical Engineering

What's beneath a site determines its foundation options, earthwork costs, and construction risk. Before drilling a single boring, we review available subsurface records for surficial geology and bedrock geology, USGS geologic mapping, state and federal databases. We then characterize actual site conditions through field investigation, laboratory testing, and analysis, including limit-equilibrium and finite element methods, to support reliable, code-compliant design.

• Subsurface Exploration & Boring Programs — Targeted soil and rock sampling, in-situ testing (SPT, CPT), and groundwater monitoring to define site stratigraphy and support reliable design parameters.
• Geotechnical Engineering Reports — Comprehensive data interpretation, design recommendations, and expert opinions for permitting and construction documents.
• Foundation Design & Engineering — Tailored to site-specific soil/rock properties and structural demands.
  • Shallow foundations — spread footings, continuous footings, and mat/raft slabs for competent near-surface strata.
  • Deep foundations — cast-in-place piles (drilled shafts, auger-cast/CFA), driven piles (HP steel, timber), micropiles, and helical piles for weak/compressible soils, heavy loads, or restricted-access sites.
• Earth Retention & Ground Stabilization — Design of retaining walls, tieback anchors, soil nail walls, sheet-pile and soldier-pile-and-lagging systems, and anchored earth support for deep excavations and unstable slopes.
• Slope Stability, Bearing Capacity & Finite Element Analysis — Limit-equilibrium analysis (Bishop, Spencer, Morgenstern-Price methods) and coupled stress-deformation finite element modeling to evaluate global stability, factor of safety, allowable bearing pressure, and staged-construction performance.
• Seepage Analysis, Dewatering & Drawdown Evaluation — Steady-state and transient seepage analysis (flow nets and finite element seepage modeling), construction dewatering system design (wellpoints, deep wells, sumps), and drawdown prediction to assess impacts on adjacent structures and utilities.
• Dam, Levee & Embankment Engineering — Embankment and earthen dam design, seepage and piping/internal-erosion evaluation, foundation treatment, and stability analysis for new and existing embankments; instrumentation and periodic dam safety inspections.
• Karst & Sinkhole Hazard Assessment — Desktop and field screening for karst-prone geology, geophysical investigation (GPR, electrical resistivity) for subsurface void detection, sinkhole risk evaluation, and remediation design (compaction/permeation grouting, structural fill).
• Pavement & Subgrade Engineering — Subgrade modulus (k-value) assessments, CBR and resilient modulus testing, and flexible/rigid pavement thickness design (AASHTO and mechanistic-empirical methods).
• Soil & Rock Laboratory Testing Coordination — Index property, strength (triaxial, direct shear), consolidation, and permeability testing to calibrate reliable design parameters.
• Construction-Phase Geotechnical Monitoring — Field observation, proof-rolling, compaction testing, and instrumentation to verify performance, ensure compliance, and mitigate claims.
• Seismic Site Classification & Liquefaction Screening — Site-specific seismic design categories (per ASCE 7) based on shear wave velocity and soil behavior type, with liquefaction susceptibility screening for shallow saturated granular soils.

Structural Engineering

Structural systems are engineered to endure sustained loads for decades—not merely satisfy a one-time design review. Our firm provides comprehensive analysis, design, and rehabilitation services for structural elements, ranging from new building framing to aging bridges and roadside infrastructure. We ensure every project meets current code requirements and delivers reliable, long-term in-service performance.

• Structural Analysis — Thorough load-path evaluation and capacity assessments for new and existing structural systems under all applicable loading conditions.
• Structural Repair and Reinforcement — Targeted retrofit and strengthening solutions for deteriorated or overstressed members, including concrete restoration and steel reinforcement.
• Structural Stability — Rigorous evaluations of buckling, overturning, and global stability for both permanent structures and temporary construction conditions.
• Steel Connection Design — Detailed design of bolted and welded connections—including moment, shear, and bracing configurations—in full compliance with AISC standards.
• Sign Structure Design — Engineering of overhead and cantilever highway sign supports and their foundations, with careful consideration of all applicable loading conditions in accordance with AASHTO specifications.
• Noise Barrier Wall Design — Design of ground-mounted and structure-attached noise wall systems, and site-specific foundation conditions.
• Bridge Foundation Design — Development of abutment, pier, and wingwall foundations that seamlessly integrate geotechnical data with structural design criteria.

Transportation Engineering

Our transportation practice carries projects across the full lifecycle—planning and traffic analysis, roadway and pavement design, permitting, and construction-phase support—for public-sector clients and private developers alike. Whether the work is a local road rehabilitation or a major intersection overhaul, the infrastructure we deliver is engineered to satisfy agency review criteria and to perform reliably under the traffic loading and maintenance demands it will actually encounter in service.

• Pavement Evaluation — Condition assessment of existing pavements through distress surveys, pavement coring, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing, dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) testing, and as-built record review, to support rehabilitation design, overlay selection, and load-capacity determinations.
• Roadway & Geometric Design — Horizontal/vertical alignment, cross-section, and sight-distance design per AASHTO and agency standards.
• Highway Drainage Design — Storm drain systems, inlet spacing, and culvert sizing integrated with roadway design.
• Sidewalk, ADA & Complete-Streets Design — Accessible pedestrian facility design compliant with ADA/PROWAG standards.
• Municipal Permitting — Preparation and processing of roadway occupancy and access permits with state and local agencies.
• Construction Inspection Support — Field engineering support during roadway construction to verify compliance with design and specifications.

Environmental Services

We help clients understand environmental risk before it becomes a liability — and manage it through permitting, remediation, and closeout when it already has.

• Phase I & Phase II Environmental Site Assessments — Records review, site reconnaissance, and subsurface sampling to identify recognized environmental conditions.
• Remedial Investigation & Remediation Oversight — Site characterization and oversight of remedial actions to achieve regulatory closure.
• State Environmental Compliance & Permitting — Permit applications and compliance support for state environmental regulatory programs, including common permits such as the Construction General Permit, Dewatering Permit, and Water Withdrawal Permit.
• Wetlands Delineation & Permitting — Field delineation of wetland boundaries and preparation of state/federal wetlands permits.
• Air, Water & Soil Sampling and Monitoring — Sampling and monitoring across all media, conducted by Sunbeam as a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and coordinated with ELAP-certified partner laboratories — standalone, or as part of any project above.
  • Organic Vapor & Dust Monitoring
  • Heavy Metals Monitoring, Indoor and Outdoor
  • Soil, Groundwater & Surface Water Sampling
  • Laboratory Coordination and Result Reporting
• Soil Management — Characterizing, handling, and tracking soil — hazardous and non-hazardous — from the point of excavation through disposal.
  • Materials Handling / Soil Disposal & Transportation Plans
  • Soil Sampling and Characterization
  • Construction Waste Management Plans
  • Health & Safety Plans (HASP)
  • Community Air Monitoring Plans (CAMP)
• Percolation & Infiltration Testing — Field percolation and infiltration testing to establish design infiltration rates for stormwater basins and subsurface disposal systems.
• Underground Storage Tank (UST) Closure — Tank removal oversight, soil sampling, and closure reporting per state regulatory requirements.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) — NPDES-compliant erosion and sediment control planning for construction sites.
• Drainage Basin Design — Sizing and layout of detention, retention, and infiltration basins to meet municipal and state stormwater management requirements.
• Due Diligence Environmental Review — Environmental risk screening to support property transactions and lending requirements.
• Air & Water Quality Monitoring — Field monitoring programs to document compliance with air and water quality standards.
• Brownfield Redevelopment Support — Site investigation, remediation planning, and regulatory coordination for contaminated property reuse.

Hydrologic & Hydraulic Analysis and Modeling

Floodplain and stormwater analyses carry direct design and regulatory consequences: an underestimated peak flow results in an undersized detention basin, and a model that fails to meet agency review criteria delays permit approval. We develop hydrologic and hydraulic analyses that meet the standards of regulatory review, supporting design, permitting, and flood risk determinations from initial modeling through final approval.

• Watershed & Hydrologic Modeling (HEC-HMS, TR-55) — Rainfall-runoff modeling to establish peak flows and runoff volumes for infrastructure design, detention sizing, and permit submissions.
• Hydraulic & Floodplain Modeling (HEC-RAS) — One- and two-dimensional flow modeling to map water surface elevations, flood extents, and the hydraulic performance of proposed crossings and improvements.
• FEMA Flood Studies & LOMR/CLOMR Support — Flood insurance study revisions and map change applications, with the technical documentation needed to support Letters of Map Revision.
• Stormwater Management Design — Site-scale stormwater systems designed to meet peak flow attenuation and water quality treatment requirements.
• Detention/Retention Basin Design — Sizing and outlet control structure design for stormwater storage facilities, including stage-storage-discharge routing for design storm events.
• Culvert & Bridge Hydraulic Analysis — Hydraulic capacity and scour evaluation for culvert and bridge waterway openings.
• State Stormwater & Flood Hazard Permitting — Permit preparation and agency coordination for flood hazard area and stormwater management programs.
• Green Infrastructure & Low-Impact Design — Bioretention, permeable pavement, and other LID practices integrated into site design to meet water quality treatment requirements.
• Drainage Area & Conveyance Capacity Studies — Evaluation of existing drainage networks to identify capacity shortfalls and recommend improvements for current and future conditions.
• Erosion & sediment control plans — Construction-phase erosion and sediment control measures prepared to soil conservation district standards to protect downstream water bodies.

Construction Support Services

Our involvement continues once construction begins. We support general contractors and owners with shop drawing preparation, field inspection, and monitoring services that verify the work is built as designed and in compliance with permit conditions.

• Shop Drawing Preparation
• Pile and Drilling Shaft Installation Inspection
• Construction Roadway Inspection
• Construction Material Inspection
• Noise, Dust and Vibration Monitoring
• Special Inspection
• Construction SWPPP Inspection

Instrumentation & Monitoring

Instrumentation turns design assumptions into measurements. We design, install, and monitor instrumentation programs that track ground, groundwater, and structure response, so adjacent structures and utilities are protected and performance is verified in the field.

• Design, Installation and Monitoring
• Piezometers, Inclinometers
• Surface and Structure Settlement Points
• Automated Motorized Total Station (AMTS)
• Multiple Point Borehole Extensometers (MPBX)
• Tilt Sensors / Strain Gauges / Crack Gauges
• Sound Level Meters
• Seismographs
• Vibration Monitoring