September/October 2021 - 86

Is DIGGS Ready for MWD?
There have been numerous discussions
about data collection, interpretation,
the future of machine learning and how
this all will impact the geo industry. It
all begins with the data!
As you may have heard, having a
common exchange format for all the
data being captured in projects is
needed to facilitate the wonderful datarelated
goals of the future. DIGGS (Data
Interchange for Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Specialists) is filling
this gap. A recent article by Antonio
Marinucci, Ph.D., P.E., V2C Strategists,
and Franz-Werner Gerressen, Dipl. Ing,
Bauer Maschinen, in Geostrata provides
a nice description of the state of practice
in the foundation drilling industry as it
relates to data capture and use (May
2021). Further, researchers at the University
of Florida, and the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) A-GaME
(Advanced Geotechnical Methods in
Exploration) program on measurement
while drilling (MWD), have identified
the value of using site-specific data captured
by drilling equipment for quality
control and as a potential future design
tool for deep and shallow foundations.
We have now evolved to an exciting
point where every hole drilled can be a
near-continuous string of data used to
improve our understanding of ground
conditions, in an objective format.
Further, using this data is key to improving
the efficiency of installing and
maintaining equipment for peak
performance.
However, like our long history of
site exploration, data are often captured
in proprietary formats and shared in
hard copy (or now PDF-formatted)
reports. This very restrictive, limited
format for real-time interpretation
offers minimal value for long-term
storage and future use. We must begin
to consistently transfer projects'
AUTHOR Allen Cadden, P.E., D.GE
86 * DEEP FOUNDATIONS * SEPT/OCT 2021
We have now evolved to an exciting point where every
hole drilled can be a near-continuous string of data...
DIGGS does just that. It is not a
database into which everyone must
dump their valuable information, but a
tool to facilitate transfer - ideally from
the point of capture (devices on the drill
rig) to the designer's interpretation tools
and models, and to the owner for QA and
archival. The schema (or structure) of the
data is XML, just like the data behind
web pages that we all use every day. It is
built on Geography Markup Language
(GML) to capture location information so
users can relate data in real space with
mapping tools. And the structure is open
source, so the definition is developed by
industry consensus, not a providerpreferred
format. The result is a consistent
structure regarding what data can
and should be captured that has clear
metadata so we are all using the same
names for data elements being recorded.
The data structure for DIGGS is
already set up to accommodate linear
borehole features. Following the
enhancement recently completed to
accommodate rock grouting (funded
through the DFI Committee Project
Fund), the construction activity has been
established to now handle data sets such
as MWD. The last step in the process will
be to define the specific objects generated
by modern construction equipment
associated with MWD (i.e., torque,
crowd, depth, rotation, drilling-fluid
pressure and flow rate) and concrete or
grout placement.
not be appropriate or necessary. It is
perfectly acceptable to collect data and
share it with certain, but not all, entities
involved in a project. Care and clarity
will be needed to specify the value to
each party and to define required
elements to share in accordance within
contract documents. Certain data elements
may be key to contractors as they
manage their fleet of equipment or
optimize productivity and processes that
have no value to designers or owners.
Having these data elements in a common
format may be beneficial to the
contractor; however, distributing those
elements of the data sets should not be
required if they are not key to understanding
the site or for long-term asset
management.
The FHWA has recognized the value
of MWD and the consistent transfer of
its data using DIGGS. Now, it is time to
make these data available and to
broadly build on the knowledge that
can be gleaned.
DFI members interested in DIGGS
activities participate in a monthly
conference call to discuss progress and
needs. Reach out to the Geo-Institute of
the ASCE at https://www. geoinstitute
.org/special-projects/diggs/contactus
to become part of the DIGGS effort
and help shape our future.
underlying data into a common format
so users can compare data across
equipment l ines, designers can
interpret the big picture of site data, and
owners can archive data as an asset.
The schema can be further expanded
to include drill rig performance and
operation objects. However, even though
such objects may exist, capture of the
data and transmittal to all parties may
https://www.geoinstitute.org/special-projects/diggs/contact-us https://www.geoinstitute.org/special-projects/diggs/contactus
September/October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2021
