EXCAVATION AND LOADING TOGETHER
Quantify ground movement from both the basement excavation and the building loading in a single assessment, so short and long term conditions are captured side by side.
Powered by Gemma
IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Ground movement impact assessment for developments interfacing with existing buildings
Gemma is the first assessment tool that captures both basement excavation and proposed building loading, so both short and long term conditions are assessed in a single analysis. Built for engineers, architects, surveyors, developers, and planning consultants.
The Challenge
MOVEMENT WHERE IT MATTERS
Every basement dug next to an existing building raises the same question: how much will the ground move, and will the neighbours be damaged?
Traditional screening treats excavation and building loading separately, if at all. The short-term relief from digging out and the long-term settlement from the new structure rarely meet in the same assessment.
The result is fragmented judgement, conservative assumptions, and slow feasibility work at exactly the stage where speed matters most.
Gemma closes that gap, quantifying ground movement from both the basement excavation and the building loading in one analysis, with damage screening on each surrounding building.
How It Works
THREE STEPS
01
LOCATE
Find the site on the map. Nearby buildings are automatically recognised, so surrounding structures are brought into the assessment with minimal user input.
02
DEFINE
Sketch the basement and the proposed building, then choose the key input parameters. Surrounding buildings are identified automatically.
03
ASSESS
Get the impact envelope and wall/facade-specific damage category in seconds, ready to share with the client and design team.
For preliminary screening and feasibility. Not a replacement for detailed FE analysis or specialist assessments later in the project.
Core Capabilities
WHAT GEMMA DELIVERS
PER-FACADE DAMAGE SCREENING
Key walls and facades of each neighbouring building are identified and assessed using the well-established Burland damage classification scale.
PROJECT-SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT
Locate the site and sketch the proposed scheme footprint. Nearby buildings are automatically recognised, enabling rapid assessments with minimal user input.
SHAREABLE PDF REPORT
Export a brief summary of the impact envelope and damage categories to discuss with the client and the design team.
Who It's For
BUILT FOR THE DESIGN TEAM
ENGINEERS & SURVEYORS
Structural and geotechnical engineers and surveyors get a defensible first-pass envelope of ground movement and neighbouring-building damage in seconds, not weeks.
ARCHITECTS & DEVELOPERS
Test how a basement or new build interacts with its neighbours early, so feasibility and massing decisions are informed by ground movement risk from the outset.
PLANNING CONSULTANTS
Produce clear, shareable screening summaries to support planning discussions and party wall conversations with surrounding owners.
TRY IT ON YOUR
NEXT SCHEME
Gemma is free during beta. Start a free trial, or get in touch to see how impact assessment fits your projects.