Presentation by:

Robert Bachus, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE – Geosyntec ConsultantsJerry DiMaggio , P.E., D.GE – Applied Research Associates

16 August 2017

Geohazards as Assets that Must Be Managed

2

Geohazards as Assets that Must Be Managed

Alternate Presentation Title:

What if…. you could capture your geohazard data, take photos, prepare a report, and post the location on a map?

Come on guys….. I can do that already with my GIS group!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl48byXrUR4

3

What If…. ??

For the rockfall problem that you have been studying, what if you could superimpose… …all of your rockfall information on a single map …all of your firm’s rockfall information on a single map, w/o cut/paste …all of the information available to the State DOT on a single map …all of the information available from other DOTs on a single map …all of the information available to FHWA on a single map

…compile information on a range of geohazards in single source …analyze critical data for all sites from one source

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-sullivan-walden/dreaming_b_3017053.html

Are We Dreaming??

4

Premise of Presentation: We do not think that these notions are “pie in the sky,” but rather very realistic capabilities if approached correctly

Why Can’t We? What are current obstacles? How Can We? What tools will allow to achieve? What Can We Do? What role do you play?

Geohazards as Assets that Must Be Managed

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140603174340-6221-ignore-that-pie-in-the-sky-understanding-your-real-market-potential

https://pixabay.com/en/no-symbol-prohibition-sign-39767/

5

Geohazards and Asset Management ??

The concept of asset management is somewhat foreign to many practicing geotechnical specialists – Foreign Concepts

As participants at this Technical Forum recognize, every owner (public and private) has a somewhat unique set of geologic-based geohazards that challenge their organization – Unique Settings

While there are often common attributes to the geohazards across a region or in contiguous States, various owners and organizations have developed specific protocols for tracking and remediating these geohazards – Unique Thinking

At a Federal level, there are no systematic guidelines provided regarding the management of region- or State-specific geotechnical (including geohazard) data – Paucity of Guidance

There is need and opportunity to change the way we think of geohazards

6

www.clap.com

Big data is a broad term for data sets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. Challenges include analysis, capture, data curation, search, storage, transfer, visualization, and information privacy. (after www.wikipedia.com )

Geohazards and Asset Management ??

As asset management programs are developed by the States and other major private and public owners (e.g., USACE, MTA in NYC, and others), these challenges have the potential to result in significant amounts of data that need to be recognized and managed

7

Why Can’t We?

Let me count the ways… (with apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1845)

We tend to “manage” geotechnical, geologic, testing, and project results using a series of spreadsheets that are not related and that rely on cut-and-paste “technology” to develop tables and graphs. This means that we are managing “Information” and not “Data.”

Managing Information is relatively easy and represents a great way to bill hours….but it is pretty inefficient and is not appropriate (or even possible) in a geotechnical world that is evolving to Big Data status.

Managing Data is not that difficult….but it represents a different mindset and (importantly) a change in our current practice and modus operandi.

We recognize that change is difficult and we are not here to berate you (or to suggest that we are preachers who claim to not be sinners).

Ultimately, the change will be facilitated when data management concepts are introduced, taught, and encouraged/required in the geotechnical curriculum.

8

Example of InformationMountain Valley Pipeline Alignment

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd518474.pdf

9 http://preservethenrv.com/docs/MVP_Route.kmz

Example of DataMountain Valley Pipeline Alignment

10

Mobile App for Data Collection

What is Possible ??

11

Natural

Geohazard

Geohazards and Natural Hazards

Universal Application

12

Tablet Applicatio

nSharePoint Web

Map

Field Data Collection Work Flow

ESRI ArcGIS Server

Data Transfer

How Can We ??

13

Very Important

• DIGGS is NOT a database.

• DIGGS is how you get data into and out

of a database.

Imagine a world where you do not have to cut and

paste seven different times to get your “data” ingested

Data Transfer = DIGGSIntroduced to Geohazards in 2007 and 2010

14

What is DIGGS?

www.barnesandnoble.com

DIGGS is to Geotechnical Data what HTML is to the Internet

Two Important questions:

• As long as your browser works and you can navigate through the internet, do you really care what HTML is all

about?

• Do you need to understand what HTML is to use the

internet?

15

Firefox Chrome Internet Explorer Safari

Data Transfer is Part of Our Life

(after Keynetix, 2014)

16

Data Transfer Standard(HTML)

Firefox Chrome Internet Explorer Safari

Data Transfer is Part of Our Life (>1995)

(after Keynetix, 2014)

17

Physical Assets Along a Specific Corridor (FHWA)

Requirements for Data Management are Coming

Scott and Eric will talk this afternoon about Geotechnical Asset Management (GAM)Silas will soon identify the short- and long-term goals of FHWA, so be forewarned!

How Does DIGGS Work ?

User-defineSpreadsheet

Format

MacroTranslator

"Standard"Spreadsheet

Format

"Standard"DatabaseFormat

"Standard"Spreadsheet

Format

"Standard"DatabaseFormat

DIGGS"Black Box"

(Data Transfer Protocol)

User-defineSpreadsheet

Format

HoleBASE

KeyLAB

gINT

AutoCAD

And the list goes on

DIGGS utilizes an XML and GML format…… recall analogy to HTML

YourStandardData File

OutputDIGGS Committee

Data Dictionary and Schema

Convert to a “standard”

spreadsheet-like template

Somebody has to be looking under the hood

Software Vendors

ØBut It is NOT You

19

User FriendlyExample Standard Boring Log Input

• Provide tool to get your boring log to look like this…automatically• If it looks like this, it will generate a DIGGS file… automatically

Fast forward: This is all we want you to develop for geohazard data

20

Data (and Boring Log) can be instantly transferred across the web

Example Standard Boring Log : COSMOS

21www.scientificsoftwaregroup.com

www.bentley.com

Boring Logs Lab Test Report Fence Diagrams

Completion Details GIS Interface 3-D Graphics

Software Tools to Follow…. We Believe That This is Key to Success

22

DIGGS, FHWA, Geo-Institute, and Geohazards

Peter Drucker (2012)

www.Quotesgram.com

Innovative Collaboration

• We recognized the problem posed by geotechnical and geohazard data

• We recognized the opportunity that we as a profession have

• We believe a solution to a host of geotechnical-related data management issues can be found in DIGGSwww.diggsml.org

23

We Have Models the Help Guide Our Efforts

In 1991, the AGS set up a method for transferring data between industry organizations. This is known to many simply as ‘AGS Format’ or ‘AGS Data Format’ and provides a standard way to transfer

ground investigation, laboratory testing and monitoring data between the contributing parties of a project which involves geotechnical or geoenvironmental elements.

Put simply:

“The AGS Data Format allows for seamless sharing of data between different software used within the geotechnical/geoenvironmental industry”.

http://ags.org.uk/data-format

The New Zealand Geotechnical Database (NZGD) is an online database that provides a searchable repository for new and existing geotechnical information. It builds on the success of the Canterbury

Geotechnical Database (CGD), which was developed for the Christchurch rebuild following the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. It also incorporates data previously held on the

Auckland Geotechnical Database, which was initially set up by Watercare

https://www.nzgd.org.nz

24

We Have Models to Help Guide our Efforts

Geotechnical Virtual Data Center

Standard Format and Business Model

25

Other Important Contributions

Caltrans Materials testing data all managed in XML (self-developed) GeoDOG - Geotechnical document and data archive (Loren Turner) Rockslide inventory in Google Earth framework (Cliff Roblee)

Minnesota, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio DOTs Compile geotechnical information in database Adoption of DIGGS by some is scheduled

USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center (Colorado School of Mines) Earthquake Hazards Program Landslide Hazards Program

United Kingdom Highway Agency Geotechnical Data Management System (HAGDMS) Geohazards in the UK

26

Opportunities for the Geohazards Community

The authors believe that geohazards are geotechnical assets that must be managed, because poor performance of the geohazard significantly impact performance of other “traditional” assets (i.e., bridges, pavements, retaining walls, etc.).

The ripple effects of geohazard performance influence public safety, movements of goods and services, and the overall US economy.

It is critical that geohazards be recognized and managed like other transportation assets. For State DOTs, this need is supported by legislation, (i.e., Federal MAP-21 and FAST Acts), asset management regulations, and rule making by FHWA.

While relatively simple in concept, the management of geotechnical (and geohazard) assets pose significant opportunities (and challenges) to the geotechnical community.

In the geohazards arena, we hope that the thinking process has not “matured” to a sufficient level that it is “my way or the highway.”

27

What Can We Do ??Change is Inevitable… so let’s lead and not just follow

Geo-Institute Develop tools to facilitate implementation of DIGGS Host website to allow others to share work and collaborate Develop training sessions to assist participants in their development Encourage participants to join DIGGS committees of interest

You Embrace the concept of standardized data and DIGGS Adopt and implement DIGGS in your organization Encourage internal geohazards “working groups” to develop

“standard” data templates for the host of geohazards that you face Actively collaborate with your colleagues to establish and maintain

momentum

28

What (Specifically) Can You Do ??…and what will we do in kind

You: Convene a “brain trust” of participants who share interests in specific geohazards (e.g., landslides, karst, rockfalls, abandoned mines, earth fissures, liquefaction, etc.)

You: Develop an Excel spreadsheet “template” of minimum dataneeds for each geohazard, recognizing that it can grow and be made more specific (e.g., location, project, geologic formation, precipitation, stratigraphy, test results, etc.)

You: Decide what supporting information you would like to hyperlink to the data (e.g., photos, boring logs, geophysics results, LIDAR results, UAV images, etc.)

We: Provide a conversion tool to generate a DIGGS file from the Excel template

We: Will post a “dot on the map” and map the DIGGS file to a relational database that you can use/save

We: Host the tools and database (temporarily)

29

In Conclusion…Please Help the Cause

www. blog.sina.com.cn

www.SayWhyDoI.com

We believe that DIGGS will prove successful to the geohazards community, if you support it

We are ready for you.Are you ready for us?

the DIGGS Team

We

Most Important

And Keep Our Dream of Standardized Geotechnical Data Alive

http://www.lovethispic.com/image/45727/keep-dreaming