The Robert B Balter

Who We Are

The Robert B. Balter Company is a renowned geotechnical engineering firm with a rich history of providing exceptional services to clients across various sectors. With over a half-century of excellence, we have established ourselves as a trusted authority in our field, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 17,500 projects across the United States and internationally. Our commitment to quality, integrity, and ethical conduct has earned us a reputation as one of the most experienced geotechnical engineering firms in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Our Services

At The Robert B. Balter Company, we offer a comprehensive range of engineering services tailored to meet the needs of our clients. Our services include:

Geotechnical Engineering Services

• Geotechnical, geo-environmental, and pavement engineering
• Subsurface investigation and exploration
• Materials laboratory testing
• Special inspections and acceptance testing
• Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)

Industrial and Construction Services

• Construction quality management (CQM)
• Inspection and testing of military facilities
• Special inspections and testing of construction materials
• Material testing and inspection
• Subsurface exploration and investigation

Consulting Services

• Design and construction management
• Forensic analysis of constructed structures
• Slope and pavement evaluations
• Recommendations for cost alternatives
• Permit-ready designs for segmental retaining walls, flexible, and rigid pavements

Pre-Construction Services

• Alternatives - value engineering
• Site development options for earthwork and foundations
• Review of contractor's CQC plan
• Evaluation of QC laboratory and production facilities
• Review of submissions
• Earthwork and foundation recommendations

Construction Services

• Acceptance testing and inspection
• Special inspections (SI)
• Geotechnical and construction materials consultation
• Review of geotechnical and construction materials
• Act as subject matter expert (SME)
• Provide Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) reports

Our Expertise

With over five decades of experience, our team of experts has mastered the art of geotechnical engineering, providing unparalleled services across various industries. From aviation to transportation, state/municipal to federal, commercial/residential/mixed-use to water/wastewater, we have the expertise to meet the unique needs of each client.

Our History

The story of The Robert B. Balter Company began with Robert B. Balter, who was a laboratory assistant to Arthur Casagrande and Karl Terzaghi, the founding fathers of soil mechanics. His experience led him to establish the first soils/geotechnical engineering department with the J.E. Greiner Company (now AECOM). In 1954, he began private-sector consulting, and in 1963, he co-founded The Robert B. Balter Company with Barbara G. Balter. Our goal has always been to provide personalized service, upholding integrity, quality, and cost effectiveness.

Accreditation and Certifications

We hold various accreditations and certifications, including:

• AASHTO R-18 Standard Recommended Practice for Establishing and Implementing a Quality System for Construction Materials Testing Laboratories
• ASTM E329 Testing and Inspection of Construction Materials
• ASTM C1077 Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• ASTM D3666 Roads and Paving Materials
• ASTM D3740 Soil and Rock in Design and Construction
• ASTM C1093 Unit Masonry
• ER 1110-1-261 US Army Corps of Engineers validations (military facilities)
• Construction Quality Management (CQM) Certified for USACE & NAVFAC for Inspection and Testing of Military Facilities
• WACEL in all building materials
• NASSCO PACP, MACP, LACP, and ITC for CIPP
• ICC, CWI, and NDT in all Building and Structural Elements
• NACE for Coatings