Civil Engineering April 2022 | Vol 30 No 3

26 April 2022 Civil Engineering In this way, data is managed more ef- ficiently in databases. The difference between data and information is that data is raw facts that have not been processed, whereas infor- mation results from processing the raw data to reveal meaning. This processing could be as simple as revealing patterns or as complex as making forecasts. This information could be used as the basis for decision-making. Raw data should be appropriately formatted for storage, processing, and presentation. During site investigations, samples are collected for geotechnical laboratory tests. These tests are essential for assessing soil engineering properties under controlled conditions. Some of these are index tests that help to classify and identify the soil. Others are performance tests that help engineers estimate soil engineering prop- erties for analysis and design (De, 2015). The results from these tests work well with the site investigation information to give a geotechnical engineer a good impression of the soil conditions on a site. Therefore, these tests were included in the database. The tests, however, must strictly follow the SANS3001 codes, which are standard in South Africa. SABS provides a range of standards cov- ering the civil engineering industry require- ments, from quality management systems to testing methods for specific materials or parts. SANS3001 refers to standards that test materials require for civil engineering practice. As the SANS3001 series of test methods are published, they supersede the previously used TMH1 methods (South African National Roads Agency, 2013). COMPARISON OF EXISTING GEOTECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS Several geotechnical software programs that transform, store, or visualise geotech- nical data have already been developed. Most of these products have been devel- oped in countries outside South Africa, resulting in systems that do not cater for South African geotechnical engineers. These geotechnical information systems were thoroughly assessed to determine if they provided the specific requirements of a database for local geotechnical engi- neers. Specific criteria were used to assess these systems. These systems need to have storage functionality. Databases provide this type of functionality which allows the user to store, manage and update data. The database also requires relating all forms Figure 2 Relationship of tables within DGE Relationships for ISGE_V3 Wednesday, 16 March 2022 A_Sample_Data_TBL B_Soil_Profiles_TBL C_Sieve_Analysis_TBL D_Hydrometer_TBL E1_Atterberg_Limits_TBL G1_OMC_MDD_TBL H1_CBR_TBL I1_Consolidation_TBL J1_Direct_Shear_Test_TBL K1_Triaxial_TBL E2_Linear_Shrinkage_TBL G2_OMC_Readings_TBL H2_CBR Tests_TBL I2_Axial Stress_Time Heights_ J2_Stress_and_Displacement_ K2_Triaxial_Readings_TBL F_Falling_Cone_TBL Sample ID Location Description Soil Description Testpit ID x-coordinate y-coordinate Job Reference Engineer Depth City Province Testpit ID Sample ID Date of Test Layer Number Top Depth Bottom Depth Moisture Condition Colour Colour Pattern Sieve Analysis Test ID Sample ID Date of Test Md Md1 Md1 (Passing Riffler) Md3 Md4A Md4B Hydrometer Test ID Sample ID Date of Test P2 mm Md2 Md3 Mw1 W Relative Density LL Test ID Sample ID Date of Test Tin Number (Label) A Tin Number (Label) B Tin Number (Label) C Number of Taps A Number of Taps B Number of Taps C OMC Test ID Sample ID Date of Test VW1(mL) VWR (mL) VWA1 (mL) MWA1 (g) WA1 (%) WAEST CBR Test ID Sample ID Date of Test Tin Number (Label) A Tin Number (Label) B Number of Taps A Number of Taps B Mass of Tin and Wet Soil A Mass of Tin and Wet Soil B Consolidation Test ID Sample Id Date of Test Particle Density Specific Gravvity Initial Specimen Diameter Initial Specimen Area Final Specimen Diameter Final Specimen Area Direct Shear Test ID Sample ID Date of Test Tested By Specimen Length Specimen Width Secimen Height Container & Dry Sand Mass (B Container & Dry Sand (After) UU Triaxial Test ID Sample ID Wet Specimen Mass Moisture Content Initial Average Length of Speci Initial Average Diameter of Sp Initial Area Specific Gravity Final Degree of Saturation Linear Shrinkage ID LL Test ID Date of Test Shrinkage Number of Taps Moisture Content Test ID OMC Test ID Mass of Compacted Soil Density Dry Density Mass of the water CBR Bearing Test ID CBR Test ID Specimen Number Reading Penetration Depth Applied Load Load & Interval Test ID Consolidation Test ID Axial Loading Number Axial Stress Vertical Dial Reading 1 Vertical Dial Reading 2 Vertical Dial Reading 3 Vertical Dial Reading 4 Vertical Dial Reading 5 Direct Shear Test Readings ID Direct Shear Test ID Normal Load Date of Stage Normal Stress Horizontal Displacement 1 Horizontal Displacement 2 Horizontal Displacement 3 Horizontal Displacement 4 UU Readings Stage ID UU Triaxial Test ID Reading Number Dial Gauge Dial Gauge 2 Dial Gauge 3 Proving Ring Reading Dial Gauge 4 Load Falling Cone Test ID Sample ID Cone size Date of Test Number penetration Penetration Depth Mass of Tin Mass of Tin and Wet Soil Mass of Tin and Dry Soil The difference between data and information is that data is raw facts that have not been processed, whereas information results from processing the raw data to reveal meaning. This processing could be as simple as revealing patterns or as complex as making forecasts. This information could be used as the basis for decision-making. Raw data should be appropriately formatted for storage, processing, and presentation.