SITE VERIFICATION & CIVIL WORKS
Foundation For Reliable Ground System Performance
GGC will confirm your site is suitable before you build.
Confirming your site is clean from RF interference and suitable to build on is critical to project success.
GGC will complete full RF screening surveys across the entire band required, as well as horizon surveys and ground suitability reports. We make sure your chosen location will support reliable, compliant operations for decades.
Comprehensive Site Assessment Services
The success of any satellite ground system begins with proper site selection and preparation. A location that appears ideal may in fact harbour hidden RF interference, unsuitable soil conditions, or regulatory restrictions that compromise performance or prevent construction. For years, GGC has been providing consultancy and delivery of site preparation for site infrastructure, helping clients avoid costly mistakes and project delays.
Our site verification services identify potential issues early, when they're easiest and least expensive to address. We provide the technical analysis and documentation you need to make informed decisions about site selection, confirm feasibility, and proceed confidently with construction.
RF Site surveys & Interference Analysis
Protecting Your Operational Frequencies
The RF environment is invisible but critical to system performance. Our comprehensive RF surveys identify existing interference sources that could impact operations, including broadcast transmitters, point-to-point microwave links, radar systems, adjacent satellite earth stations, industrial RF sources, and spurious emissions.
We deploy calibrated spectrum analysers and directional antennas to characterise the RF environment across your operational frequency bands. Our surveys run for extended periods, capturing time-varying interference from sources that may not be continuously active. This thorough approach ensures you understand the complete interference picture before committing to construction.
Raw measurement data becomes actionable through expert analysis. We evaluate signal levels versus operational thresholds, assess interference probability and duration, determine impact on link budgets and availability, and recommend mitigation strategies. Where interference potential exists, we can coordinate with other spectrum users to establish operational parameters that protect all parties.
Horizon Surveys & Satellite Visibility
Verifying Unobstructed Access to Your Satellites
Satellite visibility depends on an unobstructed view of the sky. Our horizon surveys create precise elevation profiles in all directions, identifying natural obstructions like hills and vegetation as well as manmade structures including buildings, towers, and power lines. We determine minimum operational elevation angles by azimuth and assess future obstruction risks from planned construction or tree growth.
Using precision surveying equipment and sometimes drone-based surveys, we create accurate 360-degree horizon profiles. Based on your operational requirements and the site's horizon profile, we determine which satellites are accessible, elevation angles for each orbital position, daily access windows for LEO and MEO constellations, and advise on solar interference periods for GEO satellites.
This analysis confirms whether your site can support your planned operations before you invest in construction.
Ground Suitability Assessment
Engineering Foundations That Last
Foundation design depends on understanding subsurface conditions. Our geotechnical investigations include soil sampling and classification, bearing capacity analysis, settlement predictions, groundwater level determination, soil corrosivity assessment, seismic hazard evaluation, and frost depth determination for cold climates.
We engage certified geotechnical engineers and testing laboratories to provide detailed soil reports that inform foundation design. Based on geotechnical findings and antenna loads, we design foundations that ensure adequate bearing capacity with safety factors, minimal settlement over system lifetime, resistance to wind and seismic loads, proper anchorage of pedestal mounting systems, and longevity in local soil chemistry.
Foundation designs include detailed drawings, materials specifications, and construction procedures that contractors can follow to ensure quality installation.
Site Drainage & Water Management
Proper water management protects foundations and equipment. Our drainage designs address surface water runoff, groundwater control, foundation waterproofing, equipment shelter drainage, and cable trench protection.
Poor drainage can inevitably undermine foundations, flood equipment shelters, and create access difficulties, so we design comprehensive water management systems as part of site preparation.
Regulatory & Environmental Compliance
Navigating Approvals and Requirements
We identify regulatory requirements that affect site development, including zoning and land use restrictions, building permits and approvals, environmental impact requirements, aviation clearances for sites near airports, cultural heritage considerations, and utility connection requirements.
Local environmental conditions impact system design and performance. We assess temperature extremes for equipment ratings and HVAC sizing, wind conditions for structural design and operational limits, snow and ice loading, humidity and salt exposure requiring corrosion protection, lightning risk informing grounding design, and seismic requirements for foundation engineering.
GGC’s experience across diverse jurisdictions helps navigate approval processes efficiently, reducing delays and ensuring compliance.
Complete Civil Works Delivery
From Raw Land to Ready-for-Equipment
Once site suitability is confirmed, we manage complete site preparation and civil works construction. Our services include site clearing and grubbing, grading and leveling, erosion control, access road construction, and preparation of construction staging areas.
Foundation construction follows precise specifications with excavation and formwork, reinforcing steel installation, concrete placement and finishing, anchor bolt installation and alignment, curing and strength testing, and foundation survey certification.
Beyond antenna foundations, all sites require supporting infrastructure. We’ll coordinate utility installation including electrical service and distribution, communication connections, water supply for cooling systems where needed, drainage systems, grounding systems, and lightning protection.
Finally, to ensure a complete infrastructure for operational ground stations, we install equipment shelters, cable trench systems, generator and HVAC equipment pads, perimeter fencing, access control, and of course, site lighting.
Integrated Site Development
Single-Source Accountability
Site preparation involves coordination across multiple contractors and disciplines. We provide single-point accountability, managing all relationships and interfaces from geotechnical engineers through civil contractors, electrical utilities, and telecommunications providers.
Our integrated approach eliminates coordination gaps, reduces schedule delays from contractor conflicts, and ensures all site elements work together as a cohesive system.
Experience Across Challenging Environments
Our civil works experience spans diverse environments and conditions. We've prepared sites in permafrost regions requiring specialised foundation techniques, coastal locations with high wind, high water tables and corrosive conditions, mountainous terrain with challenging access and rock excavation, desert environments managing extreme heat and dust, and urban locations with space constraints and neighbour considerations.
This breadth of experience means we understand how local conditions impact construction methods, materials selection, and cost. We adapt our approach to site-specific challenges while maintaining quality and safety standards.
Phased Approach to Site Development
Managing Risk and Investment
We offer flexible engagement models to match your project progression and risk tolerance. Our initial desktop assessments can provide quick feasibility evaluation using available data, helping you screen potential sites before field investigation costs.
For committed locations, we will provide detailed site surveys, including comprehensive RF surveys, precision horizon profiles, geotechnical investigation, environmental assessment, regulatory compliance analysis, and detailed cost estimates.
Design and engineering preparation then develops civil engineering design, foundation calculations and drawings, utility design, construction specifications, and permitting support.
Finally, we will oversee contractor selection and management, quality control, progress monitoring, inspection and testing, and as-built documentation.
Multi-Site Programs
For networks requiring multiple ground stations, we provide standardised assessment methodologies, comparative analysis of candidate sites, site ranking and selection recommendations, design standardisation where possible, and economies of scale in assessment and construction.
Consistent procedures across sites can reduce your engineering costs and ensure uniform quality standards throughout your network.
Health, Safety & Compliance
IOSH-Certified Leadership, Rigorous Standards
Safety is paramount during site preparation and construction. Our IOSH-certified Health & Safety Director ensures compliance with local regulations wherever we operate, while implementing consistent safety standards across all our global operations.
All civil works are executed following rigorous safety procedures, with proper equipment, trained personnel, and systematic risk assessment. Our approach protects workers, the public, and your project investment while maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
