Automated Static Load Test
ABOUT THE TEST
Traditional top-down pile load tests, such as the Kentledge Static Load Test, demand significant resources — continuous manpower, site witnesses, and extended monitoring. A single test typically requires 5 to 6 consecutive days of execution and supervision, making it both time-consuming and resource-intensive.
The Automatic Static Load Test (ASLT) revolutionizes this process by fully automating the loading and monitoring cycle through the Fully Automated Pile Test System (FAPTS). The system precisely controls the hydraulic jack to maintain target loads, while simultaneously monitoring pile performance in real time.
Data collection is seamless: measurements of load, displacement, and strain are continuously streamed into the system and securely logged. Periodic email updates are automatically sent to designated recipients, allowing stakeholders to monitor test progress remotely without the need for constant on-site presence.
By combining automation, accuracy, and connectivity, ASLT delivers a smarter, safer, and more efficient alternative to conventional static load testing — reducing manpower requirements while ensuring reliable, audit-ready results.
Figure 1 - FAPTS in action
QUALITY ASSURANCE
At Geolutions, quality assurance underpins every foundation test we deliver. All testing activities are conducted under our SAC-SINGLAS accreditation in the ISO/IEC 17025 Civil Engineering - Pile Testing Scheme, ensuring compliance with international standards and independent verification of our processes.
For Automated Static Load Tests (ASLT), our systems are equipped with tamper-proof data logging, 4G connectivity, and UPS backup, guaranteeing uninterrupted operation and secure transmission of results. Test data is continuously recorded — including load, displacement, and strain readings — and exported in standardized formats for audit-ready reporting. Built-in safety features such as limit switches and automated jack control protect both equipment and personnel, while real-time monitoring allows stakeholders to track progress remotely.
By combining accredited testing, advanced automation, and rigorous quality controls, Geolutions delivers foundation tests that are precise, reliable, and fully accountable — giving clients confidence in both the quality of the process and the integrity of the results.
Figure 2 - Nicholas Ng from MTC receiving the HDB Quality Partners Award
or Adoption of APLT System
CONFIDENCE THROUGH CALIBRATION
The Fully Automated Pile Test System (FAPTS) ensures accuracy and safety by automating the hydraulic pump according to a pre-programmed pile test loading sequence. Throughout the test, the system precisely controls the hydraulic jacks while continuously receiving feedback from load cells, pressure gauges, and hydraulic stroke sensors. This closed-loop monitoring guarantees that the test is conducted within defined parameters, preventing both overloading and jack over-stroking.
Crucially, FAPTS is calibrated as a complete integrated system together with its load cells and measurement devices. This unified calibration process ensures that all readings are consistent and accurate. By contrast, calibrating instruments separately and then combining them in operation cannot achieve the same level of precision or confidence. Through this rigorous calibration approach, Geolutions provides clients with reliable, audit-ready test results backed by proven instrumentation integrity.
Figure 3 - Calibration Process of the FAPTS complete with load cells and
measurement instruments