Geotechnical specialist Lucion Group is urging developers to make ground investigation an early priority in data centre projects, warning that the scale and weight of modern facilities can make them particularly vulnerable to unexpected ground conditions.

Densely packed server racks, cooling infrastructure, backup power systems and large reinforced concrete structures place substantial loads on foundations. Even relatively small amounts of differential settlement can affect raised floors, sensitive equipment and cooling systems, according to Gary Shawley, associate director at Lucion.

He said developers should not rely on generalised information about a site, as soil strength, groundwater levels and conditions at depth can vary considerably, even between apparently similar locations.

Investigations can include boreholes, trial pits and cone penetration testing, supported by laboratory analysis and groundwater monitoring. On data centre projects, boreholes may extend to depths of 40 metres or more to identify bedrock levels and weaker soil layers that could influence foundation design.

Specialist testing can also inform other aspects of development, including thermal resistivity measurements to assess how the ground conducts heat and electrical resistivity testing to support earthing system design.

Lucion also highlights the risks associated with previously developed industrial sites, where buried structures, voids, poorly compacted Made Ground and contamination, including asbestos, may introduce further complications. Access roads, car parks and utility infrastructure should also be included in site assessments.

Shawley said understanding ground conditions at the outset gives engineering teams the opportunity to design around potential problems, rather than discovering them once construction is under way.

“As the UK builds more of the infrastructure needed to support an increasingly digital economy, we have to remember that even the most advanced technology ultimately depends on something very physical: the ground it stands on,” cautioned Shawley.

The warning comes at a time of growing demand for and public cnoncern over increased data centre capacity, fuelled by AI, cloud computing and increasing requirements for data storage and processing.