Civil Engineering April 2022 | Vol 30 No 3

Civil Engineering April 2022 25 A comparison study was done to assess the existing information systems and determine whether the needs of South African engineers were being met. The database was then concep- tualised and created with a primary focus on SANS3001 standards. Database tables were designed and cre- ated for each of the standard SANS3001 geotechnical engineering tests, advanced geotechnical tests and test pit profiles. These tables were linked to a primary table that contained all the important data for the layer of the test pit from which it originated. The database functions as a system where data can be managed and stored, allowing engineers to compare all relevant site and laboratory information during desktop studies to improve their decision making. REASON FOR DESIGNING A DATABASE A desktop study is an initial study performed by a geotechnical engineer before a site investigation and more detailed geotechnical investigations are executed. A desktop study is a relatively inexpensive method for providing an initial understanding of the site, identifying potential risks, and mapping any relevant geotechnical data from previous construction works on and around the site. However, finding information from previous sites could be challenging, especially in South Africa where there have been no database systems established to capture this data for open access to all geotechnical engineers in South Africa. The CiviLab@CUT is developing a Database for Geotechnical Engineers (DGE) that could eventually be accessed by all geotechnical engineers and allow these engineers to share data and improve the quality of desktop studies and site investigations. Databases are organised collections of data stored and accessed electronically through a computer system. They need to be designed correctly before they are cre- ated, as poor design could lead to failures or major problems in the database itself. To make good decisions, one requires good information derived from raw facts. Development of a geotechnical engineering database for South African engineers Prof. Elizabeth Theron Pr Tech Eng FSAICE Associate Professor | Department of Civil Engineering Central University of Technology etheron@cut.ac.za Samuel Waters Research Coordinator | Department of Civil Engineering Central University of Technology swaters@cut.ac.za As part of an ongoing project to create an information system for geotechnical engineers in South Africa, CiviLab@CUT is creating a database to store and manage geotechnical engineering laboratory and site data. Figure 1 Comparison of geotechnical engineering software Company Soil Office Deep Excavation CivilTech GGU Software DC Software GeoAdvanced GeoSystem Software Gaea Software NovoTech gINT SVSoils Kentucky Transportation Basemap Service SANS3001 Codes No No No No No No No No No No No No Database Capabilities Only for Boring Logs No Compatible with other Databases No No No Yes Yes Compatible with other Databases Yes Yes Yes Spatial Data / Geographical Information System Capabilities Shows Coordinates No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Manipulation of Test Data Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Interface with charting Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Reporting System Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Exportation of GIS file Format No No No No No No No Yes No Yes No No Sample Classification Data Yes Not complete No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Soil Profiles Borehole Logs No No No Borehole Logs No Yes Yes Borehole Logs Yes Yes No Sieve Anaysis Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Atterberg Limits (incl. Linear Shrinkage) Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Hydrometer Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No OMC & MDD No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No CBR No No No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Consolidation No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Direct Shear Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Triaxial No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No USCS Classification Yes No No No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No AASHTO Classification No No No No No No Yes No No No Yes No COLTO Classification No No No No No No No No No No No No Tests Calculations (Not Neccessarily SANS3001) The CiviLab@CUT is developing a Database for Geotechnical Engineers (DGE) that could eventually be accessed by all geotechnical engineers and allow these engineers to share data and improve the quality of desktop studies and site investigations.