The accuracy of our engineers’ reports is understandably important; they’re the basis upon which spades go into the ground and entire buildings are constructed.
One way we can ensure the most efficient and reliable information for our clients is through the use of data management software such as HoleBASE SI, which our geotechnical department uses to create their borehole and trial pit logs. Once upon a time, these documents were handwritten and therefore were not only susceptible to degradation over time, but were also harder to interpret, store and recall. Such problems made a persuasive case for upgrading, without mention of the difficulties caused by illegible handwriting…
Those days are light years away from the sophisticated program we use now, which introduces our engineers to a whole host of new functionalities. Sites can now be viewed on virtual maps, both to scale and in relation to one another, and it is possible to create simultaneous transect views of trial pits, clearly displaying the varying layers of stratigraphy. Data can be edited from within the program, and a ‘Reports’ section enables the isolation of desired data, making it much more user-friendly. In this way, the program acts as a project management system, allowing instant access to all data at once. Our clients benefit from a system which allows us to tailor our reports to their precise specifications, and which controls all data from a centralised location that can be altered or separated as required.
Geotechnical engineer Victoria Dobbs says of the software: ‘HoleBASE SI allows me to spend more time creating content for reports, knowing that it will be presented in such a way that I can give clients a fuller picture of the ground I’m working with. It reduces margins for error and makes for a faster turnaround, both of which make it an incredibly valuable tool.’
If you have a project that would benefit from the expertise of our geotechnical department, please contact Associate Director Julian Bradbury on 0870 726 00 00 or julian.bradbury@rolton.com.