OpenSounding

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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:

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:

Here is a sample generic format datafile containing a cptu (cone penetration test) sounding, inclusing a dissipation test.

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

Features

OpenSounding can generate a few calculated charts derived from the parameters actually measured. 

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.

Sample CPTu chart with interpretation
Example of generated charts from CPTu sounding data

Sample chart from a rotary drilling
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

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.

Support This Project

Document made with Nvu