The use of dynamic (window) sampling in the site investigation of potentially contaminated ground

Dynamic sampling techniques in ground investigation have been used in continental Europe for many years. In the UK the use of this sampling method has increased rapidly over the last few years and has now become an established method for taking samples for the assessment of contamination potential. This widespread use has been due to the cost-effectiveness, flexibility and speed of operation. Dynamic sampling has also a number of health and safety advantages relative to the conventional investigation techniques (e.g., trial pitting and light cable percussive boring) that have historically been used in the UK for investigating potentially contaminated land. The method can also be used for the installation of a variety of instrumentation including piezometers and gas monitoring wells. This paper reviews the capability and limitations of dynamic sampling as used in the UK and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the technique. A number of case histories are presented to illustrate its operation.