Which survey focuses on river hydraulics, tides, and navigational water flow to support foundation design?

• A. Geotechnical surveys
• B. Seismic surveys
• C. Hydrotechnical surveys
• D. Traffic surveys

Answer: (C)

Hydrotechnical surveys focus on the water environment around a site. They study river hydraulics, tides, navigational water flow, currents, and water levels, providing essential data to design foundations that interact with water, account for scour, sediment transport, and flood or tidal effects. Geotechnical surveys look at soil properties and ground conditions, seismic surveys map underground geology, and traffic surveys analyze vehicle movements—none of these center on how river and tidal water dynamics affect foundation design. That’s why this choice best fits the question.