MICROCOMPUTER FRAMEWORK FOR GEOTECHNICAL SITE CHARACTERIZATION

The geotechnical site characterization process, aimed at defining small-scale properties for large range of material, is unique to geotechnical engineering. Compared to many other engineering disciplines, geotechnical site characterization process is not highly computerized. This can be attributed to the process being based on experience and testing. Much of the information handling is done through manually prepared forms and drawings. The intention of this study is to automate those parts of the geotechnical site exploration process that traditionally have been labor intensive. Part of the work deals with the integration of the standard "off-the-shelf" personal computer software to automate the process of data collection, interpretation, and display, and another part with the development of a knowledge based expert system (kbes) to infer the soil types and stratification along the single boring. Using microcomputers and standard software, automation of the site characterization process can be made through the course of the investigation. This aids the field engineer in determining if and where additional samples or boreholes may be needed. The final product is a tool for immediate displays of soil borings at any stage of the project. The main advantages of the system are that it can be updated regularly and can rapidly provide pertinent information about subsurface conditions. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 288957. (Author/TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Civil-Comp 85. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, 3-5 December 1985, Volume 2.
• Corporate Authors:

  Civil-Comp Press

  10 Saxe-Coburg Place
  Edinburgh,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Du Plancic, N
  • Righetti, G A
• Conference:
  • Civil-Comp 85, Proceedings
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 303-308
• Serial:
  • Volume: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Boreholes; Conferences; Expert systems; Geotechnical engineering; Information processing; Microcomputers; Software
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 5711: Bore hole; 8525: Conference; 8655: Data processing; 8673: Digital computer; 9045: Micro; 5722: Site investigation; 8645: Software; 4156: Soil
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00471232
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1987 12:00AM