Soil Survey
A geotechnical report establishing a plot's soil-bearing characteristics (load capacity, borehole depth, soil class) that the structural design is built on. Under Turkey's Planned Areas Zoning Regulation, Article 57, the structural project must be prepared in line with this report; without it there is no structural project, and without a structural project no building permit.
Also available in:Türkçe (Zemin Etüdü)·دراسة التربة
What the report establishes
A soil survey is a technical report in which an authorised geology or geophysics engineering firm uses boreholes and laboratory tests on the plot to establish the soil's bearing capacity, layer structure, groundwater level and earthquake behaviour (soil class). The structural engineer chooses the foundation type (raft, pad, piled) and the structural calculations based on this report.
Two separate reports in the regulation
Under Turkey's Planned Areas Zoning Regulation, for new construction the application obtains from the authority the part of the approved geological and geotechnical report underlying the zoning plan that covers the parcel (Art. 55/2); the authority issues a copy together with the zoning status document within two working days at most (Art. 55/4)[1]. In addition, the structural project is prepared in line with the soil and foundation survey report made for the specific parcel (Art. 57)[1]. So the plan-level report and the borehole survey on your plot are not the same document.
Why it matters more on a slope
On sloping land the survey also reveals slope stability, possible slip risk and drainage; this information determines the level the building sits on and whether a retaining wall is needed. For details see our article on building on a sloped lot.
Frequently asked questions
Is a soil survey mandatory?
Yes. Under Article 57 of the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation the structural project is prepared in line with the soil and foundation survey report; without the report there is no structural project, and without that no building permit.
What does a soil survey report contain?
Bearing capacity, soil layers, groundwater level and earthquake behaviour (soil class), based on boreholes and laboratory tests.
Is a geological report issued with the zoning status document?
Under Article 55/4 the authority issues a copy of the approved geological and geotechnical report together with the zoning status document within two working days at most. This is the plan-level report; it does not replace the survey made for your own parcel.
Sources
Articles that use this term
- Building a House in a Village Near Trabzon: What You Need to Know About Permits and Zoning
- Buying Land in Trabzon: An 8-Point Checklist Before You Invest
- What Is a Soil Survey and Why Is It Required Before Building in Turkey?
- Building on a Sloped Lot: Architectural Solutions for Black Sea Terrain
- What Is a Retaining Wall? When You Need One and What Drives the Cost
- Villa Construction Cost per m² in Turkey: What Actually Drives the Price in the Black Sea Region
Other terms
- Cliff
- Brutalism
- Mass Optimization
- Rational Plan
- Asymmetric Façade
- Site Plan
- Schematic Design
- Zoning Status
- Building Permit
- Cantilever
- Landscape Design
- Land Parcel
- Floor Area Ratio
- Retaining Wall
- Coastal Edge Line
- Construction Supervision (Yapı Denetim)
- Urban Transformation (Kentsel Dönüşüm)
- Site Coverage Ratio (TAKS)
- Title Deed (Tapu)
- Independent Unit (Bağımsız Bölüm)
- Condominium Ownership (Kat Mülkiyeti)
- Occupancy Permit (İskân)
- Alteration Permit (Tadilat Ruhsatı)
- Building Class (Yapı Sınıfı)