Managing laboratory test data can be time consuming and expensive, especially if inefficient systems are resulting in double or triple entry of data. The introduction and requirement to produce AGS data on the majority of construction projects in the UK, coupled with tough economic conditions have forced UK laboratories to increase their efficiency dramatically. This paper and accompanying presentation will discuss the merits of AGS data, introduce the two golden rules for data entry and illustrate how AGS data and the golden rules can help laboratories increase their efficiency if implemented correctly. Finally, the benefits will be demonstrated using KeyLAB, the UK's leading geotechnical laboratory management package. Powerpoint presentation given at conference

1. AGTA Conference
Brisbane - October 2012
Roger Chandler
Keynetix Limited, UK

2. 1. Paper
2. Links to external publications and
websites
3. This presentation
4. Links to free software
www.keynetix.com/agta2011

3.  My Background
 Geotechnical Engineering background
 Active member of the AGS Data Management
Committee since 1997
 Member of the British Standard team on
geotechnical data management
 UK Representative on the DIGGSml Project
 Working on a daily basis assisting laboratories and
site investigation companies around the world
improve their data management

4.  Keynetix - Co Founder and Managing Director
 Supplies range of solutions for Geotechnical Data
Management
 Onsite PDA and Tablet PC logging
 Borehole Logs and Data Management
 Geotechnical Laboratory Management
 2D/3D Visualisation and CAD
 National and Local Web Based Archives
 Over 400 customers in over 23 countries
 Majority of UK geotechnical laboratories use
KeyLAB or KeyAGS.

5.  Current Markets
 UK vs. Australia
 Client Deliverables
 Data vs. Information
 AGS
 Background and use in Australia
 Best way for Labs to capitalise on its introduction
 Demonstration

6. Client
Consultant
Geotechnical
Site Laboratory
Investigation
Company
Chemical
Laboratory

7. Client
Consultant
Geotechnical
Site Laboratory
Investigation
Company
Chemical
Laboratory

8. Client
Consultant
Geotechnical
Site Laboratory
Investigation
Company
Chemical
Laboratory

9.  UK …
 Large SI companies have their own labs
 Many small independent labs
 No consultants have labs
 Construction market in recession
 Labs fighting to survive
 Data Deliverables vital for any Civil Engineer
job

10.  Australia….
 Limited research conducted in July 2011
 Data Deliverables not often produced
 “Keep saying no and eventually they stop asking”
 Market stronger than UK – labs appear very busy
 Lots of recognised inefficiencies in handling data

11.  Data  Information
 Text file CSV  PDF file
 AGS file  Word file
 Data logger TXT  Excel Spreadsheet
 Excel Spreadsheet

12.  Rule 1 - “Only enter data once”
 How many times did you type the sample reference?
 Rule 2 - “Get someone else to do it”
 How many times did site staff type the sample reference?
Log data as close to source as possible
and then transfer in an open format such
as AGS

13. Client Laboratory
Software A Software C
AGS
Consultant Field Staff
Software B Software D

14. **Group Name
* Header Names
Units
Data (“Variables”)

16. Client
= AGS File Transfer
Consultant
Geotechnical
Site Laboratory
Investigation
Company
Chemical
Laboratory

17.  History
 1989 – UK Committee formed
 1992 – Version 1
 1994 – Version 2
 1994 – HK AGS (Hong Kong)
 1999 – Version 3
 2007 – RTA AGS (Australia)
 2007 – NZ AGS (New Zealand)
 2010 – Version 4
 2011 – Australian Geomechanics Society committee
formed for national AGS format
 2011 - NZGS formed national committee

18.  Common Adoption 1
 Often seen a painful output process
 Avoid producing as long as possible
 Complain how expensive it will be to produce for
the client
 Deliver it late to the client

19.  Common Adoption 2
 Use format internally to reduce data entry in lab
 Sample references
 Electronic scheduling
 Able to produce it easily when required

20.  KeyLAB
 Most used geotechnical LIMS in UK
 New version released this year for international
market
 Works in Microsoft Excel and SQL Server
 Easy to extend to additional tests
 Easy to customise input templates
 Easy to customise reports and certificates
 AGS 3.1, AGS 4 compliant
 From today it is RTA AGS compliant

21. Free Scheduler
1. Importing of sample data
2. Scheduling
3. Export of AGS data to send to lab
KeyLAB
1. Importing of client’s AGS data
2. Printing Laboratory Sheets
3. Entering test data
4. Importing data from loggers
5. Exporting AGS data for client

23. Roger.Chandler@keynetix.com
1. Paper
2. Links to external publications and websites
3. This presentation
4. Links to free software
www.keynetix.com/agta2011
Agents wanted