Cincinnati, OH
Trusted Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Consulting, and Materials Testing Services for Southern Ohio.
S&ME Cincinnati brings local insight and technical expertise to one of America’s fastest-growing metro regions. Our quality assurance approach is built on consistent geotechnical data and a clear understanding of Ohio’s development needs.
Backed by our 10-state footprint, S&ME Cincinnati can mobilize the right people and resources needed to solve project challenges.
While you have access to S&ME’s full suite of consulting services, our Cincinnati office specializes in:
Our AASHTO accredited lab gives Ohio clients access to in-house materials testing for independent verification. To view the AASHTO Accreditation Directory listing for our Cincinnati location, please visit the AASHTO Re:source website.
Thrive Together in Cincinnati: Our Culture
At S&ME Cincinnati, we’re growing with the region and looking for people who want to grow with us. Our team thrives together through local and regional Town Halls, community events, and everyday collaboration that make it easy to feel part of something bigger.
Giving back is part of how our Cincinnati team connects with the local community and the broader engineering and construction industry.
Our team volunteers with organizations like Rosie’s Girls and participates in events such as Construction Career Days. We also stay involved with professional groups like ASCE and NAWIC in the Tri-State area. These opportunities give us a chance to show up, share what we know, and encourage the next generation of engineers.
S&ME Cincinnati Welcomes New Office Principal
Kristy Cannady brings more than 25 years of technical, project management, and operational experience to her role as Cincinnati Office Principal. Her experience spans Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, where she has managed construction observation, materials testing, and quality assurance services. Kristy is strong AEC industry leader, previously serving as Vice President and President to the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
“Cincinnati has a strong foundation, and I’m excited to build on that momentum alongside our team. I look forward to helping our people grow, strengthening the relationships we’ve built, and finding new ways to serve our clients and community,” says Office Principal Kristy Cannady.
Project Spotlight: Brent Spence Bridge
The $4.4 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project is designed to improve traffic flow, reducing congestion for both freight carriers and local commuters. Spanning the Ohio River, the bridge connects Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a vital link to both central business districts and the broader regional transportation network.
Transportation Corridor Project Highlights:
- Provided materials testing and inspection services across eight miles of corridor improvements.
- Supported 24-hour testing in complex environments, including cofferdams and over-water conditions.
- Partnered with third-party laboratories and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) quality assurance staff to align testing, reporting, and acceptance processes.
Service Spotlight: Geophysics
What lies beneath the surface influences how a project is designed, constructed, and maintained.
Geophysical testing provides nondestructive methods for characterizing subsurface conditions, identifying variations in subsurface materials, and other anomalies.
By integrating geophysical data with geologic and geotechnical analysis, S&ME can guide targeted drilling, expand investigation coverage in difficult-to-access areas, and identify potential risks.
“Geophysical surveys are an environmentally low-impact field technique that provide complete spatial analysis without the need for large-scale clearing or specialized equipment.” – Geophysics Service Line Leader, John Schneider.
Engineering Services FAQ: What Our Cincinnati Clients Ask Most
+ How does the geology of the Cincinnati Arch impact engineering projects?
The Cincinnati Arch affects engineering projects because it creates regional geologic conditions that can vary significantly over short distances. Ohio engineers may need to account for:
- Shallow bedrock
- Limestone and shale
- Weathered rock zones
- Groundwater pathways
- Karst-related features such as voids or solutioned rock
These conditions can influence foundation design, slope stability, retaining walls, and groundwater management. Understanding the local geology early helps project teams identify potential challenges as well as target subsurface investigations before construction begins.
+ What are some common geophysical needs in southern Ohio?
- Karst and void detection: Identifying potential sinkholes, solution cavities, and weathered limestone or shale features.
- Shallow bedrock mapping: Understanding depth to rock and variations in rock quality before design or construction begins.
- Groundwater pathway evaluation: Assessing areas where groundwater movement may influence slope stability, drainage, or construction planning.
- Brownfield and redevelopment support: Locating buried foundations, tanks, fill, or other subsurface features on previously developed sites.
- Slope and retaining wall assessments: Evaluating subsurface conditions that may contribute to movement, instability, or long-term performance concerns.
- Targeted drilling support: Using geophysical data to better place borings and focus investigations where subsurface risks are most likely.
+ What industries and market sectors does S&ME Cincinnati support with engineering consulting services?
As one of the country’s fastest-growing metro areas, Cincinnati is home to a diverse project portfolio shaped by infrastructure investment, redevelopment, and continued regional growth. S&ME Cincinnati brings an array of engineering consulting experience to support:
- Transportation: Corridor improvements, bridge and roadway projects, airport and rail-related infrastructure.
- Utilities and energy: Water, wastewater, stormwater, electric, gas, and communications infrastructure.
- Municipal and government: Public facilities, parks, streetscapes, civic buildings, schools, and infrastructure.
- Commercial and retail development: Site development, mixed-use projects, retail centers, office buildings, hospitality, and redevelopment projects.
- Industrial and manufacturing: Manufacturing facilities, warehouses, logistics hubs, and other operational sites.
- Healthcare and institutional: Medical, education, and campus-based projects.
+ What are the testing capabilities of the S&ME Cincinnati materials testing laboratory?
S&ME Cincinnati maintains an AASHTO-accredited construction materials laboratory that supports quality assurance and construction decisions through testing of key project materials, including:
- Soils: Determine whether soils meets compliance requirements for foundations, embankments, pavement subgrades, and other earthwork applications.
- Rock: Evaluate strength, durability, and material behavior for foundation design, excavation planning, slope stability, and reuse as engineered fill or construction aggregate.
- Aggregate: Verify whether aggregate materials meet project specifications for concrete, asphalt, base stone, drainage layers, and structural fill.
- Concrete: Determine if concrete placed in the field meets design requirements and supports long-term performance.
Partner with S&ME Cincinnati
Backed by decades of local experience and the strength of a full-service consulting firm, S&ME Cincinnati delivers responsive geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, environmental, and geophysical services for projects across Ohio.
