Format for Geotechnical Data Exchange in the United Kingdom

Because information technology is now a common aspect of geotechnical practice, more emphasis is being placed on electronic storage, manipulation, and retrieval of data. Numerous geotechnical database systems have been developed and are in common use. A major advance in geotechnical data management has been the development of a standard format for interchange of geotechnical and geoenvironmental information developed by the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) in the United Kingdom. The AGS format defines data groups and fields to ensure reliability and consistency for data transfer; it is now widely used as a means of communicating data between and within companies in the United Kingdom. It has received strong support from all involved, from data producers to data receivers and users and software developers. Further possible advances in geotechnical data processing are also considered, such as national data bases and the use of knowledge-based system technologies.