OpenSounding - Web page
What is OpenSounding?
OpenSounding is an open source software with the primary function to read, decode, and
display Geotechnical
sounding data from insitu tests. In turn, the usual purpose of doing
such soundings, is
to try and find out what the ground beneath your feet actually consists
of, and to do so in a cost efficient manner. This knowledge can have a
profound impact on how and where to contsruct , or not construct as the
case may be, buildings, bridges, and whatnot, as well as help predict
and prevent hazards such as landslides or environmental problems.
While OpenSounding doesn't really care which particular sounding method
was used, some commonly used methods include:
- CPTu - Cone Penetration Test (read more on Wikipedia,Bengt H. Fellenius)
- SPT - Standard Penetration Test, and variations thereof (Wikipedia,University of British Colombia)
- Rotary drilling
- Hydraulic hammer drilling
- Diamond core drilling
- Vane shear test
Input data
New as of version 2.0! OpenSounding now has the ability to
read data in a more Generic text format, in addition to data stored in
SGF format, sometimes referred to as STD format. This is the de
facto standard used in Sweden and most of Northern Europe. It's official
definition is being maintained by The Swedish Geotechnical Society,
but unfortunately only a Swedish version of the document is
online at the moment.
There are some company specific extentions, but on the whole the
standard remains relatively universal.
Equipment manufactured by all major manufacturers throughout Northern Europe should be able to output logged data in this format. If you have a sounding logged, and the origin or the equipment is, for instance, Envi or Geotech, chances are that OpenSounding can read it.
The supported Generic format has the following requirement:
- Each dataset/sounding shall begin with a single # followed by newline
- The first line of each sounding must contain Labels for each column of data, the first column being the domain axis (usually Depth)
- A label has a fairly broad definition, but must start with a letter
- Each column must be separated by a tab
- Data must be numerical. Integer, or a floating point number
- It is up to the user to make sure the labels are correct, and there are limitations regarding the interpreted/created charts when using the generic dataformat
Installation
OpenSounding is a Java application, which means that to run
OpenSounding you must have a Java Run Time Environment (JRE) installed.
You can download the latest version for free from Java.com.Obviously
you also need to download a copy of OpenSounding,
which you can do from Sourceforge.net.
There are three packages available, a Windows executable installer, a
platform independent version (jar archive and support files), and a
complete source code package.
It is important that the directory structure remains intact,
so make sure your zip utility creates the sub folders when it unzips
the
file.
To run the jar file directly, open a command prompt, move to the bin
directory of the OpenSounding installation, then run:
"java -jar OpenSounding.jar"
Installation quirks
- Java - While neat, Java can seem a bit complicated to get running. Make sure you have a working Java installation. You can test it by opening a command prompt and run: java -version. At the time of writing OpenSounding requires version 1.5.0
- Directory structure - When you get OpenSounding to open up it's main window, it should contain a picture of a drillrig (wallpaper.jpg). If it doesn't, the directory structure and/or starting directory isn't as it should be. Try setting the "Start in" setting for the shortcut (Windows) to the installation directory
Features
OpenSounding can generate a few calculated charts derived from the parameters actually measured.
- friction ratio - valid for Cone Penetration Tests, fs / qc
- soil classification interpretation using the Robertson-Campanella et al. (1986) chart (fr ratio / qt chart only) - valid for CPT only
- soil classification interpretation using the Eslami-Fellenius (1997) chart - valid for CPT only
- specific energy calculation for rotary drilling
You can read more about "Soil profile interpreted from CPTu data", at Fellenius.net, and a little about the specific energy formula at Envi's site. Note that OpenSounding will generate these charts (if so configured) regardless of what sounding method was used, as long as it can find the required parameters. However if a different method was used the results may not be valid.
Sample output
The text on the mini versions of the charts is a bit messy, this is due to the small window sized used.
Example of
generated charts from CPTu sounding data
Example of
generated charts from a sounding using rotary drilling
Acknowledgments
This Open source project is built on JFreeChart
and using a JFlex
generated scanner, it
would probably not have existed without them!
Launch4j
and Witem
was also helpful tools in making the Windows installer.
On the horizon
Potential improvements if time and motivation permits
- Improved generic text format support
- Export data as generic text - for easier import of data to spreadsheet programs or other software
Latest news
For the latest news, check the project page on Sourceforge.net.
Suggestions, bug reports, other feedback
Use the project page at Sourceforge to report bugs, make suggestions etc
License
OpenSounding is free software, released under GNU General Public License.
Donations
OpenSounding is completely free, whether for personal or
professional use, created in the hope that it will be useful.
The
project is not backed by any company but thanks goes to Envi and
Geotech for providing test data. There seemed to be a shortage of
inexpensive, "entry point" software for this kind of work out there, so
in an unexpected surge of inspiration on the part of the author,
OpenSounding was created.
Note that you are under no obligation whatsoever to do so, but if you
find it useful professionally and wish to make a donation, you can do
so using Sourceforge's donation service.
