Yes, core dill is the way to go. You will need a soil exploration drilling machine so it can advance the dill bits a greater distance from the ground. Once the drill bits hit the concrete, stop, you don't want to core through the foundation pad.
You have to be careful using a core drill with bolders. A project a year or so back, the geotech report showed 'refusal' at the bottom; they didn't go further. I embedded some soldier piles into the 'stuff' only to find it was glacial moraine bolders and not bedrock. The foundation contractor did about $30K damage to his drilling rig; it broke because it got wedged in the bolders.
Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?
If it’s a shallow foundation, I’ve had success using a ground rod driver with a length of rebar. From the interior, you can drill a hole in the slab first, then drive the rebar probe down until you hit the top of footing.