Fugro Engineering Services research assistance on a steering group is acknowledged by CIRIA in their new publication "Unexploded ordnance (UXO) A guide for the construction industry".

The report includes a guide on how non-UXO specialists can carry out their own preliminary UXO risk assessment. If a risk to piling is suspected then one of the mitigation options described in the guide is Fugro's Magcone probing system which consists of Cone Penetration Testing with a unique probe that simultaneously measures the magnetic field (x,y,z and total field), tip resistance, side friction, depth, inclination (x and y) and pore water pressure.

During 2009 many UXO specialists have used the system successfully following detailed risk assessments. The Magcone detects deep buried high explosive air-dropped bombs and also logs the soil conditions so that the maximum bomb penetration depth is checked at each pile position. As each test takes only 30 minutes, Fugro's Magcone method is recognised as one of the most cost effective means of UXO mitigation before piling.

Attached is an example of magnetic field data taken from a suspected unexploded bomb 11m deep at a proposed piling position. By using the Magcone the potential for a deadly explosion was avoided and the planned test piles were re-located to a safe distance.