What is the purpose of field sampling?

Field sampling serves the essential purpose of collecting representative soil samples for laboratory testing. This process is crucial because it allows engineers and geologists to obtain accurate data about the soil's properties, such as its composition, moisture content, density, and strength. These laboratory results are foundational in informing design and construction decisions, ensuring safety, stability, and performance of structures being built on or in the soil.

When soil samples are collected in the field, it is vital that they are representative of the actual conditions present at the site. This means that the sampling technique must minimize disturbance to the soil and capture its natural state and heterogeneity. By using methods like undisturbed sampling, professionals can obtain reliable data that reflect the soil's true characteristics, which might vary significantly across different areas of a site.

The other options mentioned may involve important aspects of soil and site assessment, but they do not directly relate to the primary objective of field sampling, which is to gather samples for subsequent laboratory analysis.