About
Visit Fee
Free
Highlights
As part of the Government’s initiative for the development of the Northern Metropolis, GEO Contract No. GE/2023/20 - Ground Investigation Works in the Northern New Territories (Northwest) (2023-25) has commenced to gather essential geotechnical data to support future design and planning. The scope of works includes vertical drillholes, trial pits, groundwater monitoring, in-situ testing, laboratory analysis, and geophysical surveys. In addition, pile load tests have been carried out on different test piles, including large-diameter bored piles and rock-socketed steel H piles to obtain design parameters for foundation design.
A highlight of the site visit will be a detailed focus on trial piles instrumented with YJack system. YJack is a pile load testing system used in geotechnical engineering to assess the performance and capacity of foundation piles. Functioning similarly to the well-known Osterberg Cell (O-cell) system, YJack applies bi-directional loading within the pile, enabling precise assessment of axial load distribution and pile-soil interaction.
The primary objective of the loading tests is to examine the feasibility of increasing the allowable bearing pressure beyond the standard baseline value of 3000 kPa, as specified in the Code of Practice for Foundations 2017, for pile foundations in Metasedimentary (MS) rocks in Hong Kong. A positive outcome would allow for more efficient utilisation of pile capacity, leading to potential material and cost savings in future construction.
The event will conclude with a guided site tour, offering participants an up-close view of the ongoing trial bored pile operations and advanced YJack testing procedures. This visit provides a valuable opportunity to gain insights into innovative geotechnical engineering techniques.
Safety Requirements
Participants should prepare their own safety gears (including safety shoe, reflective jacket and safety helmet) and hold a valid safety Green Card.
Registration
The number of participants is strictly limited. Priority will be given to members of the AGS (HK). The number of attendees will be limited to 25 and the applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Successful applicants will be informed about 1 week before the event. CPD certificates will be provided. If you have any queries, please call Martin Yip at 6012 0019.
Book Prize
Professionals under 35 years of age are encouraged to submit a Book Prize Report (max. 500 words) on webinars and site visits arranged by AGS (HK).
Contributors to successful Book Prize Reports will be awarded a Book Prize that comprises of a book "Geology of Site Investigation Boreholes in Hong Kong" written by Chris Fletcher, and a coupon of HK$500 for Eslite Spectrum (誠品生活). The successful Book Prize Report will also be published on the AGS (HK) website to showcase your accomplishment.
Prior to report submission, please refer to the “The AGS Book Prize Reports – Assessment Framework”* on the AGS (HK) website. You may submit your Book Prize Report to our assessors by uploading the report file through the AGS (HK) website at https://www.ags-hk.org/book-prize. Should you have any questions, please contact us at agshk@meinhardt.com.hk.
*Link to the AGS Book Prize Reports – Assessment Framework:
https://www.ags-hk.org/_files/ugd/521a4c_b94496034732484687441cf4ed4d0bf9.pdf Event Flyer
Will be available soon
Keywords: Foundation
RECAP OF THE DAY
On 4 October 2025, the Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) conducted a technical site visit to the trial pile works under GEO’s Contract No. E/2023/20.
A highlight of the visit was the detailed examination of trial piles equipped with the YJack proprietary load testing system. Observing YJack in operation gave participants valuable insights into its capacity assessment capabilities. The test pile was also instrumented with fibre optic sensors to measure stress changes along its length.
The trial pile programme aims to generate critical data to refine the presumed allowable bearing pressure, along with the allowable bond or friction between rock and grout for piles founded in meta-sedimentary rock in Hong Kong.
This event was made possible through the generous support of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ove Arup & Partners HK Ltd, China Geo-Engineering Corporation, Castco Testing Centre Limited, YJACK Technology, and PolyU.
The programme began with a comprehensive presentation delivered by OAP, YJack, and PolyU speakers, in person or via Teams. Participants then travelled by coach to the site, where a guided tour provided a close-up view of trial pile boring operations, fibre optic sensor instrumentation, and the precision involved in YJack testing.
A big thank you to the organisers and site team for hosting this visit and generously sharing their expertise. It is inspiring to witness innovative techniques driving progress in foundation engineering.
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Reference materials
Download the presentation slides and other reference materials below.
