1. GIS-Based Subsurface Exploration System
Allison Hardt
Deputy Director
Office of Policy and Research
Maryland Department of Transportation
State Highway Administration

2. Project snapshot Before project began in 2012:
Geotechnical data was managed on paper. Subsurface exploration (boring) data back to the 1950s and earlier.
As-builts plans were maintained as PDFs
The result of multiple formats was inefficiencies including transcription errors and missing data that cost the agency time and money.
What was done?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

3. Program made the following possible:
Project snapshot
E-GIS application was developed (additional enhancements have since been added).
Project ended in 2014
Electronic data requests
Remote data capture
Improved project tracking
Retrieval of historic boring data
Program made the following possible:
Nearly $1M a year
Cost Savings
What was done?

4. The Product
A GIS-Based Subsurface Exploration Database Tool that records, tracks, analyzes, and shares geotechnical subsurface data.
The boring request feature electronically consolidates and tracks correspondence, right-of-way, and roadway assets.
Identifies geologic features - karst, estimated depth to rock, wetlands, and flood plains.
What was done?

5. The Product continued
Automatically provides boring history and lab data to avoid duplicate drilling.
Makes real-time boring information available to project engineers
What was done?

6. Four components Component #1: Electronic Data Requests
The boring request tool validates that a new request is not on a private property or wetlands.
It identifies all previous borings near the requested locations to avoid redundant drilling.
The request is then reviewed and validated by an engineer before a work order is added to the drilling queue.
What was done?

7. Four components Electronic Data Request Benefits:
Reduces time spent preparing hand written forms.
Catches errors early on (out of state coordinates, private property, missing data, etc.).
Consolidates and tracks review correspondence.
Spatially presents the boring locations with reference to utilities, right-of-way, and other roadway asset locations.
What was done?

8. Four components Component #2: Remote Field Data Capturing
Data is electronically collected in the field on a mobile device.
Data is captured and provided real-time to project engineers.
What was done?

9. Four components Component #3: Automated Project Tracking
From the time a request is made until the boring is completed, data is automatically tracked, providing users with a real-time look at the project queue.
Users can look at the status of every project or the program as a whole.
Automated tracking eliminates the time burden for preparing progress reports and status updates.
What was done?

10. Automated Tracking Example: Monthly Drilling Requests
What was done?

11. Four components Component #4: Historic Boring Data
All boring data is saved and provided spatially.
Historic data is automatically provided to users to avoid duplication.
Users can generate gINT files to save boring data.
What was done?

12. Quantified Cost Savings
System Component
Average Time taken
-before-
-after-
Cost Savings per project ($70/hr)
Average # of projects
Cost Savings per year
Electronic Data Requests
8 hours to prepare;
8 hours to enter lab data
4 hours to prepare;
0 hours to enter lab data
$840
200
$168,000
Remote Field Data Capturing
16 hours to convert paper data to digital
0 hours to convert paper data to digital
$1,120
$224,000
Automated Project Tracking
24 hours a week updating and tracking projects
0 hours
$1,680 per week (by 52 weeks)
$87,360
Historic Boring Data
Conservative estimate: eliminate 2 borings on each project with easily-retrievable historic data. Assume a cost of $1,200 per boring, the component saves $2,400 per project.
$480,000
TOTAL
$959,360
What was done?

13. Thank You
Contact me: Allison Hardt