Electronic Storage and Interchange of Geotechnical

Engineering Data

Jennifer D. McPhail

Geotech XML (GML) Project

• What the GML Project is.

• Why the GML Project is so important.

• The capabilities of the GML Project.

• Fruition of the GML Project.

Contributions to the Project

• Provided a global review of the current state of affairs concerning geotechnical data processing.

• Established a need for a standard concerning the storage and transfer of geotechnical engineering data.

• Identified geotechnical data sources and the geotechnical data interchange process.

• Established design goals.

• Proposed a standard.

• Identified the logical structure of geotechnical data.

• Identified core tags of the GML language.

• Recognized privacy and authenticity issues concerning geotechnical data.

• Proposed the method to continue the GML language by adding “fourth level tags”.

XML

Geotechnical Data Sources

• Office

• Field

• Laboratory

Office

• Bid proposals• Project planning and

scheduling • Work delegation• Project design• Decision-making• Computations

performed

Field• Plans implemented• Progress takes place• Site characterization• Investigations

performed• In-situ soil tests

performed• Samples obtained• Tests conducted

Laboratory

• Data generated• Data analyzed• Data produced

The Geotechnical Data Interchange Process

• The “Three-Plus-Site” Model of Data Interchange

Future Scenario

Better Judgements for the Continuation of the ProjectData Made Publicly AvailableData Captured for Research

The Proposed Standard• Design Goals• A First Step into the

Proposed Standard• A Tagged Data

Scheme• “<“ and “>” Identify

a Tag• “</” and “>” Identify

Closing of Tag

<Project> <Client> City of Stillwater </Client> <Engineer> Prime Geotechnical </Engineer > <Consultant> Geotechs-R-Us </Consultant ></Project>

Logical Structure of Data

• The “Three-Plus-Site” Model Used

• Categories Established• First Level of

Geotechnical Data Structure

• Second Level of Geotechnical Data Structure

Geotechnical Data Structure:

• SITE 1. The typical tasks performed in the office include:

• Preparations <Prep>

– Reconnaissance survey with maps and available reports

– Site visit records and report

• Plans and Specs <Specs>

– Boring locations and depths

– Sampling locations and sample types

– Tests to be performed in the field

– Tests to be performed in the laboratory

• Results/ Reports <Reports>

– Field work reports

– Lab work reports

– Analyses, including consultants' work

• Recommendations / Final Report

• SITE 2. The typical tasks performed in the field include:

• Borings <Borings>

• Sampling <Samples>

– ID, location, depth, diameter, method

– Borehole ID, depth, method, day/time, company, technician names,…

• Field tests <FieldTests>

– SPT

– CPT

– GWT

– Dilatometer

– Pressuremeter

– Cross-hole, etc.

• Plate Load Test (historic)

Geotechnical Data Structure:

• SITE 3. Some tasks performed in the laboratory are

• Index property tests <Index>

– Sieve analysis

– Hydrometer analysis

– Atterberg Limits

– Natural water content

– Specific gravity

– Void ratio

• Engineering/Mechanical Property Tests <Mechanical>

– Compaction and relative density determination by the standard Proctor compaction test

– Permeability tests

– Shear strength determination

– Direct shear test

– Unconfined compression test

– Triaxial tests

• Compressibility and consolidation tests

• Special tests <Special>

• Chemical tests and special triaxial tests and others

<GML>

<Prolog> <Project> <Name> </Name> <Date> <SecurityLevel> <Status> </Project> <Authorization> <AuthorizationCode code/> <AuthorizedBy> </AuthorizedBy> <Security> </Security> </Authorization></Prolog>

<Office> <Prep> </Prep> <Specs> </Specs> <Reports> </Reports></Office>

<Field> <Borings> <boring> (ID, depth, method, day/time, company, responsible technician name) </boring> </Borings>

<Samples> <sample> (HoleID, depth, type, method) </sample> </Samples>

<FieldTests> (SPT, CPT, GWT, etc.) </FieldTests></Field>

<Laboratory> <Index> (LL, PL, SL, PI, w, etc.) </Index> <Mechanical> (Triaxial, direct shear, consolidation, permeability, etc.) </Mechanical> <Special> (Chemical tests, etc.) </Special></Laboratory>

</GML>

Privacy and Authenticity of Data

• Maintaining Privacy by Using Public Key and Private Key System

• Maintaining Authenticity by Using a Digital Signature

• Examples of Tags

<Prolog> <Project> <Name> <Date> <SecurityLevel> <Status> </Project>

<Authorization> <Signature> <AuthorizationCode> <AuthorizedBy> </Authorization>

<Security> <SecurityMethod> <PublicKey> </Security></Prolog>

The Future Possibilities

• How Fourth Level GML Tags Can Be Selected

• Definition Process of New Tags

• Dr. Toll’s Work at Durham College

Computer Integration with Geotechnical Equipment