AGS 4.1.1 AU1.2 National Roadshow

Data transfer format for site investigation and laboratory data

Tim Swavley

In 2019 The Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS), formed a working group tasked with developing an Australian localisation of the UK developed AGS 4.1 data transfer format (Association of Geotechnical & Geo-environmental Specialists (AGS-UK)). 

The presentation will cover the origins of the format and the industry’s need for a ‘software and organisation agnostic’ file format for site investigation and laboratory data, which more diversely appropriates the first Australian localisation by TfNSW (AGS 3.1 RTA .1.1). With the evolution of the UK format to include the definition of ‘data types’ and better support for laboratory testing in versions 4 and 4.1 and the fact that UK version of AGS 3.1 had support discontinued there was a clear need to update the format for Australia. 

With the introduction of AGS 4.1.1 AU1.2 the speakers will explain why such a localisation was required. The working group was tasked with preparing something that could be used nationally, had at least partial backwards compatibility (or at least comparable fields with the previous RTA version), support for component soil and rock descriptions as prescribed in AS 1726 which was not readily supported in the UK GEOL group and add headings and groups to cover laboratory tests used in Australia, such as AS1141, AS1289, AS 4133, AS 5101, ASTM, etc. There will be significant focus on the extended Aus GEOL and how it should be used.

Tim Swavley Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Macquaire Geotechnical

Tim has nearly 15 years’ of geotechnical consulting experience including managing and performing geotechnical site investigation works for projects of varying sizes throughout Australia and internationally.  In his current role with Macquarie Geotechnical Tim governs the company’s geotechnical data generation practices including design, training, and supervision of data recording practices to suit client specific, AS 1726, and AGS4AU requirements, as well as collaborating with end users to identify and implement new digital engineering opportunities enabled by the data we produce.

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