opengeospatial / geotech

Geotech

Welcome to the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Geotechnical Engineering standardization effort. Much of this effort is being performed in collaboration with buildingSMART International (bSI).

This GitHub repository is the workplace for collection of use cases and identification of existing work on the topic. The repository is public to allow the maximum number of stakeholders to participate in this collection effort.

If you are new to GitHub, instructions on its basic use are provided in this Using GitHub page.

Repository Contents

Geotech IE

The Geotech_IE folder contains resources associated with the OGC Geotech Interoperability Experiment (IE). More information on this IE can be found at the OGC Geotech IE initiative page.

For documentation, please refer to the wiki: https://github.com/opengeospatial/Geotech/wiki

IDBE Geotech

The IDBE_Geotech folder contains contains content from workshops and subsequent work performed as part of the joint OGC-bSI Integrated Digital Built Environment group. For more information on the IDBE, visit the OGC public information page.

geotech's Issues

Fold

Definition source : from IUGS and OGC GeoSciML, also candidate for IFC.

A fold is formed by one or more systematically curved layers, surfaces, or lines in a rock body. A fold denotes a structure formed by the deformation of a geologic structure, such as a contact which the original undeformed geometry is presumed, to form a structure that may be described by the translation of an abstract line (the fold axis) parallel to itself along some curvilinear path (the fold profile). Folds have a hinge zone (zone of maximum curvature along the surface) and limbs (parts of the deformed surface not in the hinge zone). Folds are described by an axial surface, hinge line, profile geometry, the solid angle between the limbs, and the relationships between adjacent folded surfaces if the folded structure is a Layering fabric.

Borehole

Definition source : from IUGS and OGC GeoSciML, also candidate for IFC.

A Borehole is the generalized term for any narrow shaft drilled in the ground, either vertically, horizontally, or inclined.

ObservableProperty

As defined in OMS :

A quality (property, characteristic) of the feature-of-interest that can be observed.

EXAMPLE 1 The height of a tree, the depth of a water body, or the temperature of a surface are examples of observable properties, while the value of a classic car is not (directly) observable but asserted.
EXAMPLE 2 Groundwater Level
On a groundwater well we:
a) Monitor Groundwater Level (1 observable property)
b) With an automated probe (that remains in the ground all year, constituting 1 procedure).
Then we have physical campaigns where we revisit the groundwater well and:
— Measure the Groundwater Level (still the same observable property as above)
but
— With a manual probe, this is a different procedure.
This allows for checking whether the probe needs recalibration.

Data Structures and Vocabulary: a Critique

We feel that the Geotech IE effort, as it stands, will lead to a specification that is more complex than will be acceptable to many engineers and geologists and therefore inhibit its adoption. A more pragmatic approach to the definition of terms and their application within a data flow may yield a better final outcome.

Paper outlining the issues, as seen by Martin Pike and Joe Kaelin
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N4AN3GsIJM8RWr3YLJnclI-LJi5mXAMOcY9VqNeLFPA/edit?usp=sharing

Log & Diagraphies : Observations or ObservationCollections ?

Certainly a question of required granularity...

Observations is defined by #19 and ObservationCollections is defined by #29

Case 1 : A log / Diagraphy is an ObservationCollection
Then each interval / depth would be an Observation and the value for this interval / depth will be the result

pros : you are able to cite a specific couple interval/depth - value and refer to it
cons : many very similar Observations.

Case 2 : A log / Diagraphy is an Observation
Then the result will contain the couples of Interval/depth - values

Opinions?

Result (from an Observation)

As defined in OMS

The result of the Observation as defined in #19

If a reference to a result is provided, the association Range with the role result SHALL be used.

NOTE 1 The result can be of Any type as it may represent the value of any feature property.
NOTE 2 If the observed property is a spatial operation or function, the type of the result may be a coverage.
NOTE 3 In some contexts, particularly in earth and environmental sciences, the term “observation” is used to refer to the result itself.

An Observation SHALL have exactly 1 result .

ObservedZone

A location that was subject to observations as defined by #19

The ObservedZone can be nested in another observation support such as a Borehole or a Trial Pit.

Geomodel

A candidate for a generic term that will encompass #4, #5, #6 and possibly more.

Proposed definition from the EPOS project "Model View" concept

A simplified view of a Model. A model is defined as the result of geoscience data processing or interpretation. Proposing either a spatial distribution of geoscientific objects with properties of interest (feature) or attempt of retranscribing natural/man-made behaviour through mathematical functions or algorithms (process).

TestedZone

A location on which some some tests have been performed.

The TestedZone can be nested in another observation support such as a Borehole or a Trial Pit.

WaterBody vs FluidBody

Water Body #14 and FluidBody #15

Do we need both?

GeophysicalUnit

From CGI vocabularies and reused by the INSPIRE Directive, a subtype of #7:

Geologic unit defined by its geophysical characteristics. Denotes that the properties used to define the unit are measured by intrumental techniques, not directly observable by humans, e.g. density, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical conductivity.

Use case 2 : The road to the hydrogeological model

This is to explicit the data the (hydro)geologist / geotechnical engineer will try to find and look at in order to build a comprehension of the hydrogeological context of the project.
The idea is to identify which APIs performing which queries on which data can help.

ObservingProcedure

As defined in OMS :

The description of steps performed in order to determine the value of an observableProperty by an Observer.

NOTES:

1. Depending on the complexity of the use case, the procedure will be more or less explicitly described. Especially pertaining to historical data, there may be very little or no information available - this information should also be provided;
2. The recipe that the observer (cook) follows to generate the observation;
3. The procedure is often referred to as the method;
4. Different observers can follow the same (reusable) procedure for the creation of different observations;
5. The procedure is a workflow, protocol, plan, algorithm, or computational method specifying how to make an observation;
6. The observing procedure cannot describe a sensor instance, but it can describe the sensor type.
   NOTE The term process that was used in ISO 19156:2011 has been purposely dropped in this version to avoid unnecessary confusion between the terms procedure and process.

EXAMPLE An instance of Procedure is a description of the process utilized by an observer, this could be a chemical analysis method, a protocol for measuring an object, but could also be a checklist utilized by a human observer during a biodiversity campaign. Procedure could further describe the algorithms behind simulators or models used to generate a result from other inputs.

An Observation SHALL have exactly 1 observingProcedure.

Void

This concept is proposed for the identification of cavities.

Source definition : OGC GroundWaterML2 HydrogeoVoid
Voids are the spaces inside a unit (e.g., aquifer) or its material (e.g., the sandstone material of an aquifer), and might contain fluid bodies. Voids are differentiated from porosity, in that porosity is a ratio of void volume to total volume of unit plus voids, while voids are the spaces themselves. It is important to conceptually differentiate voids from units and their containers, in order to represent, for example, the volume of fractures, caves, or pores in a particular unit or its portion.

FluidBodySurface

Source definition : OGC GroundWaterML2 also candidate for IFC

A surface on a fluid body within a local or regional area, e.g. piezometric, potentiometric, water table, salt wedge, etc.

Association btw Objects in Book A

What mechanism could be applied to associate, for example, an IfcBorehole with any of the specializations of Borehole Data Representation (e.g. GeophysicalInterval)?

Geological modeling tools data consumption capacities

This is to enumerate the CURRENT expected Book A data formats that geological modeling tools are currently able to consume.
Please enumerate per software.

EnvironmentalMonitoringFacility

Source definition : INSPIRE Data Model Annex 3 EMF

-- Definition --

A georeferenced object directly collecting or processing data about objects whose properties (e.g. physical, chemical, biological or other aspects of environmental conditions) are repeatedly observed or measured. An environmental monitoring facility can also host other environmental monitoring facilities.

-- Description --

NOTE 1: An EnvironmentalMonitoringFacility is not a facility in the common INSPIRE sense realised by the Generic Conceptual Model class ActivtiyComplex.

NOTE 2: Laboratories are not EnvironmentalMonitoringFacilities from an INSPIRE perspective as the exact location of the laboratory does not add further information to the measurement.

The methodology used in the laboratory should be provided with observational data.

SpatialSample

A physical object or feature on which some observations and/or measurements can be done

Geological model

Members:

• Geologic Unit #7
• ShearDisplacementStructure #20
• Contact #8
• Fold #9

GeotechnicalZoneOfInfluence

Geotechnical Zone of Influence (ZIG) is the “volume of land within which there is interaction between the structure or development of the land on the one hand and the environment on the other (…). » The ZIG is dependent on the project and the methods of execution, it is therefore necessarily attached to the C specification. It is generally represented by a volume object, or by its projection in plan (in the case of a representation in 2D).

RiskZone

Definition from INSPIRE Natural Risk Zone data model :
Discrete spatial objects representing the spatial extent of a combination of the consequences of an event (hazard) and the associated probability/likelihood of its occurrence.

MaterialSample

Source definition : ISO 19156 "Observations, Measurements and Samples"

A MaterialSample is a physical, tangible Sample.

FluidBody

Source definition : OGC GroundWaterML2

These are distinct bodies of fluid (liquid or gas) that fill the voids in hydrogeological units. Fluid bodies are made of biologic (e.g. organisms), chemical (e.g. solutes), or material constituents (e.g. sediment). While it is expected that the major constituent of a fluid body will be water, the conceptual model allows for other types of major constituents such as petroleum. Minor constituents are not necessarily fluids, but can be gases, liquids, or solids (including organisms), and are included in the fluid body in various forms of mixture, such as solution, suspension, emulsion, and precipitates. Fluid bodies can also have other fluid bodies as parts, such as plumes or gas bubbles. Surfaces can be identified on a fluid body, such as a water table, piezometric or potentiometric surface, and some such surfaces can contain divides, which are lines projected to the fluid surface denoting divergence in the direction of flow systems within the fluid.

GeologicUnit

Definition source : from IUGS and OGC GeoSciML, also candidate for IFC.

Conceptually, a GeologicUnit may represent a body of material in the Earth whose complete and precise extent is inferred to exist (e.g., North American Data Model GeologicUnit, Stratigraphic unit in the sense of NACSN, or International Stratigraphic Code ), or a classifier used to characterize parts of the Earth (e.g. lithologic map unit like 'granitic rock' or 'alluvial deposit', surficial units like 'till' or 'old alluvium'). It includes both formal units (i.e. formally adopted and named in an official lexicon) and informal units (i.e. named but not promoted to a lexicon) and unnamed units (i.e., recognizable, described and delineable in the field but not otherwise formalised). In simpler terms, a geologic unit is a package of earth material (generally rock).

Geotechnical model

Proposed members :

• Geotechnical Unit #22
• DiscreteDiscontinuity #23
• Void #24

Result typology

DiscreteDiscontinuity

Source definition : AFTES.GT1R1A1.

Any interuption of the continuity in the rock material with its attendant mechanical, hydraulic
and thermal properties.

Fault

Source definition : from IUGS and OGC GeoSciML

A shear displacement structure includes all brittle to ductile style structures along which displacement has occurred, from a simple, single 'planar' brittle or ductile surface to a fault system comprised of tens of strands of both brittle and ductile nature. This structure may have some significant thickness (a deformation zone) and have an associated body of deformed rock that may be considered a deformation unit (which geologicUnitType is ‘DeformationUnit’) which can be associated to the ShearDisplacementStructure using GeologicFeatureRelation from the GeoSciML Extension package

Observer

As a more generic term than EnvironmentalMonitoringFeature, it will encompass both human observers and observing devices.
#17 would then be proposed as a kind of Observer

As defined by OMS :
"An identifiable entity that can generate Observations pertaining to an observableProperty by implementing an ObservingProcedure."

NOTES:
a) Different Observers can follow the same (reusable) observing Procedure for the creation of different Observations;
b) The Observer is the entity instance, not the entity type. Pertaining to sensors, the Observer would reference the explicit sensor, while the Procedure would reference the methodology utilized by that sensor type;
c) An Observer is closely linked with an observableProperty that it generates results for;
d) An Observer can be hosted by one or more Host;
e) The Observer is an instance of a sensor, instrument, implementation of an algorithm, or a being such as a person.
An Observer responds to a stimulus, e.g., a change in the environment, or input data composed from the results of prior Observations, and generates a result.
EXAMPLE Accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, magnetometers, and so forth are Observers that are typically mounted on a modern smartphone (which acts as Host). Other examples of Sensors include the human eyes.

ObservationCollection

As defined in OMS :

A collection of similar Observations #19

Alignment

From the common OGC-bSI LandInfra data model:

An alignment is a PositioningElement which provides a Linear Referencing System for locating PhysicalElements. 

Use case 3 : The road to the geotechnical model

This is to explicit the data the geotechnical engineer will try to find and look at in order to build a comprehension of the geotechnical context of the project.
The idea is to identify which APIs performing which queries on which data can help.

Use case 4 : SPT vs Depth

A description of the concerns about this use case.

GeotechnicalUnit

Source definition : IFC Tunnel GeoSubgroup

A surface or a volume in which the mechanical behaviour and other design-relevant characteristics are
characterized using the same geotechnical parameters values. Several alternative classifications
(=GeotechModels) can be required in a project for different design tasks.

ShearDisplacementStructure vs DiscreteDiscontinuity

Do we need both? Is there a relationship between them?

ShearDisplacementStructure #20
DiscreteDiscontinuity #23

HydrogeoUnit

Source definition : OGC GroundWaterML2, also candidate for IFC

These are distinct volumes of earth material that serve as containers for subsurface fluids. The boundaries of a unit are typically discriminated from those of another unit using properties related to the potential or actual ability to contain or move water. The properties can be geological or hydraulic, and typically include influences from the surrounding hydrological environment. More specifically, the conceptual model delineates two types of hydrogeological units, with slightly different orientations: aquifer-related units have boundaries delimited by the hydrogeological properties of the rock body, while groundwater basins have boundaries delimited by distinct flow regimes. Aquifer-related units are subdivided into aquifer systems, which are collections of aquifers, confining beds, and other aquifer systems. Confining beds are units that impede water flow to surrounding units, and supersede notions such as aquitards, aquicludes, and aquifuges, which are not included herein, as it is difficult to differentiate these in practice.

Observation

Source definition: The "Observation" concept from ISO19156

An observation is an act associated with a discrete time instant or period through which a number, term or other symbol is assigned to a characteristic. This act involves application of a specified procedure, such as a sensor, instrument, algorithm or process chain. The procedure may be applied in-situ, remotely, or ex-situ with respect to the sampling location. The result of an observation is an estimate of the value of a property of some feature; an observation is a property-value-provider for a feature-of-interest. Use of a common model allows observation data using different procedures to be combined unambiguously.

In conventional measurement theory (e.g.[12], [15], [16], [17], [19], [24]) the term “measurement” is used. However, a distinction between measurement and category-observation has been adopted in more recent work[13], [18], [25] so the term “observation” is used here for the general concept. “Measurement” may be reserved for cases where the result is a numerical quantity.

The observation itself is also a feature, since it has properties and identity.
Observation details are important for data discovery and for data quality estimation.
The observation could be considered to carry “property-level” instance metadata, which complements the dataset-level and feature-level metadata commonly provided via catalogue services (e.g. ISO 19115 or other community agreed one).

TypicalDesignArea

The TypicalDesignArea is an object relating to a geotechnical structure or to a set of related geotechnical structures. This object represents a zone of space in which the geotechnical model is homogeneous and the dimensioning of the geotechnical structure, or geotechnical structures in question, is unique, and carried out through the same calculation model(s).

Sounding

Based on comment from @LucasoilCloud

Do we need this concept as a kind of SpatialSample #12 ?

Supporters are invented to propose a definition.

GeotechSynthesisModel

A model that aims at providing a synthesis of the ground conditions, hazards.

Possible components:

• GeotechnicalUnit #22,

• HazardArea #43,

• TypicalDesignArea #46 ,

• Alignment #44,

• ZoneOfGeotechnicalInfluence #47,

• FluidBodySurface #16,

• Fault #20,

• HydroGeoUnit #

• Borehole #10

• ExistingConstructions

A classical representation of such model includes a 2D longitudinal cross section along the alignment containing the previously mentionned objects and a summary of attributes or properties attached of those objects.

Test pits and/or trenches as distinct Observation supports from Boreholes?

Following

Include options for different sample methods, but don’t lump them all together. Boreholes are different than test pits or trenches and should be captured differently to understand their full meaning.

Need for a specific test pit and/or a trench concept for #12 ?

Originally posted by @AC107 in #10 (comment)

Hydrogeological model

Proposed members:

• Hydrogeologic Unit #13
• Water Body #14
• Fluid Body #15
• Fluid Body Surface #16
• Void #24

Borehole core

Should we consider it as a sample ?

GeophysicalModel

This model would be composed of several GeophysicalUnits as defined in #30

Contact

Definition source : from IUGS and OGC GeoSciML, also candidate for IFC.

A contact is a general concept representing any kind of surface separating two geologic units, including primary boundaries such as depositional contacts, all kinds of unconformities, intrusive contacts, and gradational contacts, as well as faults that separate geologic units.

HazardArea

From INSPIRE Natural Risk Zones Data Model:

Discrete spatial objects representing a natural hazard.

Use case 1 : The road to the geological model

This is to explicit the data the geologist / geotechnical engineer will try to find and look at in order to build a comprehension of the geological context of the project.
The idea is to identify which APIs performing which queries on which data can help.
Also please detail (eg. not saying only borehole logs, but stratigraphy, lithology, etc...)

Process Description

This issue is dedicated to the provision of a (more) structured way to describe a process.

Not to be confused with ObservingProcedure #34 which is about listing and naming the procedures, tests, measurements that can be performed.

WaterBody

Definition source : WMO also used in OGC WaterML Part 3 HY_Features

Mass of water distinct from other masses of water