The Association for Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS), has committed itself to the standardisation of electronic data transfer through the AGS Data Transfer Format

In a nutshell, the AGS standard is a common language to describe the means of transferring geotechnical and geoenvironmental data between parties. The concept is simple, standardise the data items used to describe sample points included in a project and their associated test results, and then organisations involved in the project can communicate more effectively between themselves, reducing the potential for data transfer error through human involvement.

At its most basic, the data to be included in an AGS data file need only contain the key items of information, such as a unique identifier for an exploratory hole on a site and the appropriate pre-defined test code information to enable reliable and unambiguous reporting. The focus is on use of unique & concise data codes, not lengthy data descriptions, keeping the system as efficient as possible. Any interpreted or derived data need not be transmitted, in fact the AGS Data Management working group actively discourages this in an attempt to minimise file sizes and eliminate any potential conflicts between data codes and their full length descriptions. As the well known principle of “Keep It Simple, Stupid” or KISS for short advocates, design simplicity is the key here and any unnecessary complexity should be avoided.

The AGS data standard has been around since the early 1990s and has the obvious benefits that come from standardised data communications that are then compatible between all parties involved; Whether they be Consultants, Ground Investigation Specialists, Contractors or specialist Sub-Contracts, for example an analysing Laboratory. However, the adoption of the AGS format is not yet universal and those organisations that purport to offer it to their clients often fail to recognise the necessary up-front investment in set-up time, required to ensure subsquent data flows pass unrestricted between those organisations involved.

The National Laboratory Service (NLS) is one such organisation that has recently developed its AGS reporting capability. Their approach aims to offer clients an entirely electronic data transfer solution, in line with AGS principles. Mike Hodgkinson, NLS Technical Specialist describes the NLS approach; “To eliminate the problems of using paper records within an AGS data system, we have developed a simple-to-use, Microsoft Excel based utility that will allow our customers
to submit their sample information to the NLS directly via AGS files, even if they don’t already have this capability”.

The NLS sample registration process now incorporates the automatic import of sample information directly from AGS data files, supporting the most critical first step to enable an entirely electronic data transfer between client and laboratory, from registration to the output of results. Mike concludes that “the major benefit of taking this approach is that the sample reference data always ties up reliably within the AGS files for NLS results, as the customer’s own reference data is passed automatically through our laboratory information management system without the need for additional data entry steps or human verification”.

To learn more about the environmental testing and analysis offered by the NLS and their AGS capability, visit their website at www.natlabs.co.uk or contact them on 0113 231 177.