Show Us the Data!

The best outcome of a geotechnical drilling program is a cogent package of qualitative and quantitative information describing what's under our feet. Getting this result requires a team effort between the drill crew, the geologist, and the end user of the data. While the driller operates the rig to optimize sample recovery and drilling efficiency, the geologist details the lithology, geologic environment, and other diagnostic features of the material, and the end-user provides context for the data needs with an outcome-based approach to inform an analysis or design. An experienced team will not only sufficiently characterize material using traditional methods, but also observe the subtleties in the drill rig response to changing conditions in the subsurface and note how those may affect later design considerations.