This document discusses systems theory and the classification of data, information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom according to Russell Ackoff. It then applies this model to geotechnical engineering, providing examples of how data, information, reports, and designs fit within the model. It also summarizes the history and purpose of the AGS Data Transfer Format and the new BS8574 standard for management of geotechnical data. Finally, it outlines future developments for AGS4.1 Beta including additional groups for transferring geotechnical investigation report data and using cross sections.

1. Jackie Bland, Geotechnics Ltd/Furgo
Steve Walthall, Bechtel
AGS Data Management Committee 2015

3. SYSTEMS THEORY
D. I. K. U. W.

4. According to Russell Ackoff, a systems theorist and professor of organizational change,
the content of the human mind can be classified into five categories:
Data: symbols
Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who",
"what", "where", and "when" questions
Knowledge: application of data and information; answers "how" questions
Understanding: appreciation of "why"
Wisdom: evaluated understanding.
Ackoff indicates that the first four categories relate to the past; they deal with what has
been or what is known. Only the fifth category, wisdom, deals with the future because it
incorporates vision and design. With wisdom, people can create the future rather than
just grasp the present and past. But achieving wisdom isn't easy; people must move
successively through the other categories.

5. • Data: SPT N value, Moisture content, depth
to water
• Information: Borehole Log, PSD graph
• Knowledge: GI report
• Understanding: Design Report
• Wisdom: Design
Application of Ackoff’s model to geotechnical engineering

6. Data,
the collection, coordination, transfer use and management
Information,
the conversion of data to information
Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom,
the publication and use of reports and designs

8. DATA, SOME BASICS
Data is both singular and plural
BS 8574 2.5 Geotechnical Data
Facts or figures obtained from all phases of a geotechnical project,
including derivations from other data , (Facts and figures might include
text, numbers and formulae).
BS 8574 2.6 logical data
data connected by location and/or time and not the representation or the
evaluation of that data
Meta Data
Additional information which describes the data, such as the borehole
number and depth for an SPT N value.

9. THE DATA JOURNEY (1990’S)

10. THE DATA JOURNEY (2014)
(Chandler 2014)

11. (After Romain Arnould 2014)

12. Data storage
Data ImportData Entry
validationvalidation
validation
Data AnalysisInformation
Production
Data
Visualisation
(Information)
Data Export
AGS AGS AGS
AGS
AGS
AGS

14. Why not use spreadsheets?
They are not data bases
They are INFORMATION not DATA
They are difficult to interrogate
They contain format information which is not transferable
They are not software independent
They often contain errors which are not easily found,
i.e. they are difficult to validate and verify
BS8574 A.2.4 NOTE Use of spreadsheet files for data transfer is discouraged
because they contain formatting information as well as data. Interoperability
problems between spreadsheet software might be experienced

15. THE AGS DATA TRANSFER FORMAT

16. 1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2020
AGS
03/92
AGS
07/94
AGS
3
AGS
3.1
AGS
4
AGS
5?
AGS DATA TRANSFER TIMELINE
TimeBerlin
wall falls
Atlantis Space
Shuttle docks with
Mir space station
for first time
Millennium
Bug?
Facebook
launched
Matt Smith
becomes
11th Dr Who
EGGS
Conference
2015
Government
mandates
BIM
Do
BIM
Level 2
now
AGS
4.1 Beta

18. DATA MANAGEMENT
A new British Standard has been created by the AGS Data
Management committee to formalise your data
management -
BS8574:2014
Code of practice for the
management of geotechnical
data for ground engineering
projects

19. WHAT IS BS8574?
Gives recommendations on the management of geotechnical
data throughout the life-cycle of civil engineering and building
projects at both an organizational and project level.
Defines data as a concept and provides recommendations on
the collection, verification, manipulation, distribution,
presentation and storage of data.

20. WHY USE BS 8574?
For each PROJECT
• Collections of data from different sources and formats
• Number of organisations processing and transferring data
• Data Management and delivery needs defining and
maintaining throughout as documented in the specification
Improves communication between the parties involved
Standard has been designed for use in a BIM project in accordance
with PAS 1192

21. DATA MANAGEMENT
To summarise Data Management is a combination of:-
BS8574, which determines what is to be done
and AGS Data, which is a tool for doing it

22. INFORMATION

23. INFORMATION
The use of information in the development of a project
Availability and transfer of information during the life cycle of the project
Access to and archiving of information.

24. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Typical Information contained in the GIR ----- Parameters

25. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Typical Information contained in the GIR ----- Sections

26. INFORMATION
A project with the working title AGSi is developing the AGS4 “Groups” and
“Headings” necessary to transfer the information contained in the GIR as data.
It will do this using the concept of “Layers”
These layers may be
Stratigraphic
Lithological
Weathering
Engineering
Environmental
Water
Or any combination

27. AGS4.1 BETA
The document will be issued as “AGS4.1 Beta (Draft for public consultation)”
It will contain the additional groups needed to transfer the data behind the
information contained in the GIR (Geotechnical Investigation Report)
The Parameters are derived values (not characteristic values which are in the Design
Reports)
The geometry of the layers will be transferred by one of three methods:
1. The use of a simple x,y,z file
2. The use of a project specific file format as defined in the BS8574 project plan,
using the existing AGS external file mechanism defined in the FILE group
(FILE_FSET)
3. The use of cross sections using the structure established by British Geological
Survey (BGS)

28. The new Groups
LAYA Layer definitions
PARA Layer parameters
LAYX Layer geometry (x,y,z co-ordinates)
LAYB Layer boundaries
LABX Layer boundary co-ordinates (x,y co-ordinates)
CSLG Cross-section lines
CSLA Cross-section line alignments (x,y coordinates)
CSLW Cross-section line layer geometry (w,z data)
additional groups to transfer ground surface topology
GRNG Ground surfaces
GRNX Ground surface topography (x,y,z co-ordinates)
AGS4.1 BETA

29. AGS4.1 BETA
The transfer file format will have the following options:
Comma Separated Value file format (CSV) as per AGS format files to date
and, for the first time, an XML version
The use of cross sections has also neatly provided a solution to the conundrum
which has existed since AGS as first started:
Trial Pit sketches

30. AGS4.1 BETA
Demo of cross sections - a joint project between AGS and BGS

31. KNOWLEDGE
UNDERSTANDING
WISDOM

32. KNOWLEDGE GI report
UNDERSTANDING Design Report
WISDOM Design
These are for the future as the transfer file format develops
Perhaps the committee should be renamed
THE AGS WISDOM COMMITTEE
but that may be a step too far
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS FOR DATA TRANSFER

33. AGS4.1 BETA
Implications for the industry to be addressed
Data management in accordance with BS8574
Information Management for the next phase(s) of BIM
Ownership of the Data