Inputting Boring Samples into pLOG Tablet and gINT Professional

To the Admin, boring samples – glass jars full of soil to be analyzed – will arrive randomly. Sometimes the Geology (GEO) department will remember to inform you they’re coming, but most times a drilling company’s representative will come in with square boxes stacked up. Your GEO department may ask you to help with intake on this data. Once you read through the following guide and have tried a few times to input the information, it’ll help your day go by faster, and be a relaxing day of number punching!

Be nice and help your sample delivery people through the door! They’re generally sweet, and they’re most likely from a company your GEO uses often, so take the moment and help them – they’ll appreciate it.

Once you receive the boxes, pull out the boring log paperwork (Fig. 1 below). Scan and send this from the copier to you, then forward it to GEO with the location in the Subject Line. This is supposed to let them know to come and get their soils. You may need to call and remind them, since the Office Manager likes to keep the up front area clean.

There are two programs most widely used in boring log entry. Bentley Systems produces gINT, a Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Data Management Software. gINT is a computer-based program that helps log information related to soils, including Proctor management and Boring Log entry and examination. pLOG Tablet, produced by Dataforensics, is a tablet-based software which integrates with gINT via their cloud services.

For this example, we’ll be discussing Boring Log Entry in both pLOG Tablet and gINT. See the guide on Proctors for more information on that front.

Either grab the Designated Tablet from GEO (if they’ve renewed the subscription for the program) and open up pLOG, or stay at your desk and open up gINT. Follow the steps below based on which program you end up using, though you are advised to read through both to gain a better understanding of the procedures. They both end up in the same place, but to be frank, inputting directly into gINT is a bit easier since you have full access to copy/paste and keyboard.

pLOG Entry
(for visuals, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEFXJW0mwII)

1. Open pLOG app on the tablet.
   1. Please note that, as this is a tablet-based app, screen shot availability is minimal. The YouTube link above will assist with visuals, though the direction the videographer takes is different than this one.
2. Select the “Projects” option
3. Select the + key to create a new project entry.
4. Look up the project number inside our server under the GEO Projects folder. A rule of thumb – if it’s after mid-January, there’s a 90% chance the project is in this year’s folder, so start there.
5. If you can match the name to a folder in GEO, choose that project number and write it down or remember it.
6. If you can’t match the papers to the project, ask the GEO department. They tend to keep the drillers in the dark as much as possible, as the clients paying to have the soils analyzed tend to want privacy until the project is completed.
7. Back to the pLOG app, you’ll want to enter the following:
   1. Project Number from the GEO folder
   1. Location: If address is written down on the logs, input. If not, you can either leave blank or hop into the client database to find it using the project number.
   1. Do enter the city and state based on the logs or project file – it should state in the server file.
   1. Which driller’s logo is on the logs? Enter this in the Client field.
8. The menus you’ll need to know:
   1. HOLES
      1. Hole Info
      1. Refusal Info
      1. Termination info
9. Select HOLES, then + to add a new bore. Each page on the logs will be a separate bore, based on how many different holes the drillers had to make to get the data GEO needs. These will be labeled in “Hole ID” as B-01, B-02, etc.
10. Start with B-1, but check the logs before you save. If there are more than 9 total, you’ll want to use B-01 instead.
11. Choose “Soil Sample.”
    1. For the “Sample Depth” section, you’ll look for large letters reading BTe 15’ or similar. This is your termination depth – the depth the driller (or our GEO) decided was deep enough for the project’s needs.
       1. If you notice AR, this is Auger Refusal, or the depth the drill (auger) stopped and could not continue drilling. If there is an AR on the log, it will read a depth, too. Select the Edit (pencil) icon in pLOG and enter either Termination depth and date or Refusal depth.
12. Let GEO fill in the “Hole info” – though you will need to specify date and Contractor (again).
13. Go back and select Location. This will always read “See BLP,” so go ahead and type it in.
14. Once you’re back on the main B-01 again, choose “Soil Sample.” This is where we will really need the log information, so have it handy.
    1. Click + and select SPT. This will be the new default, so just leave it alone from here on.
    1. Fill in the following
       1. Sample ID: SPT-1
       1. Depth: 0 (or where the driller started – this number will be in the “Depth” section of the paper logs, and usually varies between 0 and 1.5ft)
       1. Type: SS
       1. Enter blows as should show “Numbers”
    1. Here’s where things get fun. The “Blows” section will be where you type in the numbers in the columns from the logs pages. Each should be three separate numbers, which add up to 1.5 ft (or the difference between 0/1.5 on the log’s depth column).
       1. Type in each number in order and then click “Next” on the number pad. Each Penetration(ft) should then generate a 0.5 underneath it, and the N-Value should add up to the total number of blows in the second and third columns.
    1. If you haven’t already, on the main B-01 menu, you’ll need to edit Groundwater Info. On the bottom of the driller log, you’ll see a Water Level entry. If it reads “None,” skip this step.
       1. If, however, the water level reads a number, enter it, as well as the date at time of boring/drilling. If there is a second depth, enter this separately, and note the time in the program.
       1. NOTE: This will change for each bore – B-01, B-02, etc, but should not change for each line/SPT of Soil Samples. Please remember to update this for each new entry – or, if it’s easier to remember, enter these after you have the rest of the project entered!
15. For this first bore, you’ll be entering everything, so rinse and repeat step 18, with the below exceptions:
    1. SPT-2 may or may not populate immediately. If not, update this for each of the lines on B-01.
    1. For new Depth, check line no. 2 on the log – in this example, the driller used 3.5 as the next depth, so enter that.
    1. Enter new blows for this new line.
    1. If any of the blows show 50/0 or similar, enter 50 in the Blows line and change the 0.5 to BLANK. If you enter 0, the tablet may throw a fit. Be sure, too, this is the final blow on the list, and you clear out anything in either column beyond it.
16. Once you’ve entered each of the lines for B-01, click back. 
    1. In the Stratigraphy section here, you’ll enter any surface layer information listed in the remarks section of the logs, including bottom depth and type. You will need to change inches to feet, so grab your calculator before you enter anything.
    1. Make sure to add in the description of what kind of surface layer it is – topsoil, asphalt, concrete, or elsewise. You will need to do so in both the dropdown and the comments section. Also in comments, you’ll specify how deep in inches for each layer. The line type will always read “solid.”
17. Navigate back out to HOLE.
18. Choose the copy option (the layered two pages at the top right of your screen). Rename the copy to B-02.
19. Repeat the above steps for each borehole listed on the logs.
20. NOTE: When you start to update B-02, make sure you highlight it in the left hand column before you start editing. If you don’t, you’ll change B-01 instead.
    1. This is easily fixed, though! Once you realize, finish out the changes for B-02, then rename both to swap them. It may require you to rename one a temporary name so the program doesn’t overwrite the other.
21. Once you’ve finished entering all the logs, return to the main menu and click “Sync” at the bottom.
22. Inform the GEO department the logs have been entered. Whenever they have a moment, they’ll look them over, make any changes, and let you know what kind of improvements you can make to your process.

gINT

gINT can be a much simpler way to input logs, but it’s a good idea to at least read through the pLOG how-to, if not the app itself, first to get a feel for how all the information that can feel overwhelming fits together. If your company doesn’t have access to pLOG at the moment, that’s ok! You’ll still have the above information, as well as any YouTube videos you find, to help you with understanding the content. Below, you’ll find the alternate way to input boring logs in gINT, as opposed to pLOG.

Note that this method does contain shortcuts, and it’s advisable you use two screens and keyboard shortcuts. gINT is great with accepting keyboard navigation, too, so don’t hesitate to use TAB, ENTER, and your arrow keys to move more efficiently.

1. Open up your gINT program. To set it up if you haven’t already, you’ll select File and Change Library, then select the library file your GEO department has set up. This should contain their preferred templates for outputting graphs and data, as well as any calculations gINT produces.
   1. If you can’t find this library, or only have the one set up for your branch, please don’t fret. Your current library will do just fine, though it may spit out an error message or two. Do your best to work around this, or ignore it if gINT will let you.
2. Open a second gINT window. It will most likely tell you this is a “read only” version, which is completely acceptable. You will create a new project inside the editable window, and use the read-only as a reference.
3. Before you set up a new project file in the editable window, open a previous file your GEO department has already finished inside both windows.  You’ll do this by either selecting the folder with the red arrow pointing out, or by going to File > Open Project.
   1. Please do not make any changes to this file! It is for ease of access only.
4. The first page you’ll see includes all the main information for this project. In the editable window, go ahead and select File > New Project > Clone from Current, then name it according to your conventions.
   1. Our GEO department likes to select the project folder itself on the server and name the file “Project Name boring logs,” while our CMT group likes to save inside the gINT project folder as “Project Number Project Name.” Check with your GEO department before you create this.
5. You’ll see a bunch of different tab layers. Make sure you’re on INPUT > Main Group > Project.
   1. Refer to the project your GEO team has already created. Fill in the portions of the Project information relevant to them, which generally include Name, Client, Number, Location, City, and State. Your team may use Number Report to tie into the contract number given to each job, so find that out in your client management system and enter that, too. 

• Once you’ve filled out all this, you can choose to select save (floppy disk image, third from the left), or try moving on. Sometimes gINT will automatically save your project as you navigate around.
• Navigate to the Point tab on both Read-Only and New Project windows. As much of a pain as this can be, it makes this process infinitely easier. You’ll notice below, in the Read-Only Project, there are already boring points listed, along with much of the information you will need to enter in this process.
  • Using your mouse, click B-01 and drag to select as many of the boring entries as you need to. CTRL+C (Control, or Command on Mac) will copy the selected text.
  • On the New Project window, select the first yellow box (hint: where you saw B-01 on the Read-Only page). CTRL+V will paste the information you copied into the form.

• From here, you’ll want to make some changes.
  • NOTE: While some may suggest to do one log completely before moving on to the next, the more efficient method is to make changes as you go. 
  • Update HoleDepth for each log. Flip to each log page and enter the depth information found at the bottom.
  • Your company may have different Remarks and Type of Sampling to list, and those should have ported over with the copy/paste, so they may look different than this. If they were blank, check with your GEO department to see how they want you to list this.
  • Update the Date Started/Finished to those listed on the logs. Some drillers may drill on different days, so your start dates may be different depending on this – your finished date should be the same throughout, and reflect the final day the drillers listed as worked on the site.
  • Drilled by will read the name of the Drilling Company, and Location will either be “see the boring log pages” or the actual locations – again, this is a company-based decision, so verify with your GEO.
• Once you’ve updated this information, select B-01 then navigate to the Sample Tab.
  • In your Read-Only version, highlight the entered information and copy it. Select the first yellow box and paste.

• This is the page to enter all of your data from the paper boring logs, so keep those handy as you enter information and navigate through gINT.
  • Update your Depth column first. Enter depths as listed on your log page (Fig. 1), using the DOWN arrow on your keyboard after each one.
  • Next move on to Length. These should all be the same for each bore, if not for the whole packet. This number, generally 1.5 feet, indicates the gap between the drill depth start and finish (the ratio-type numbers in the Depth column of Fig. 1, the first number of which is entered into Depth, and the difference into Length).
  • In the Type Column, this information will, again, rely on your GEO department to confirm. The dropdown menu allows you to select what type of drilling was performed. This GEO department requires Split Spoon, or SS, for each drilling, so for this example, SS will be the go-to selection. You can either type in, select in the dropdown menu, or paste the information.
  • The Blows Columns are the numbers in each of the log columns next to depth, as illustrated in the direct correlation between Fig. 1 and the above example. Enter each of these, then either use your ARROW keys or ENTER/TAB.
  • Click the Save icon, or select CTRL+S on your keyboard to save.
  • The blue column will calculate automatically, and displays the N value (the same as in pLOG), or the two last blows added together.
    • NOTE: If your library is not set up to properly calculate this information, it may produce an error message. Click out of it and move on.
    • If your gINT automatically saves between screens, you are welcome to navigate directly to the next B-xx page via the dropdown selector and avoid this message.
• Once you’ve finished adding in each of the new blows to B-01, use the yellow dropdown menu above the tabs to move on to B-02, where you’ll repeat the steps in 9 ad nauseum.
• Next, select the Lithology tab.
  • In pLOG, you have the option to enter information found in the Soil Description/Remarks section of the boring logs.
  • In gINT, because of the required format, let your GEO department input this information, or teach you how to format it properly.

Congratulations! Whether you’ve used the app or the computer program, you’ve successfully entered the boring log data into the GEO department’s system. Entering these logs helps the department immensely, though it may feel like a drag to you – or too complex and out of your field of study. While it’s a bit of time out of your day, or a little work on your brain, you actually save them time to work on selling their next job or writing up their reports to send to clients. Even if they don’t say it, thank you for taking the time to help out and crunch some data!