THE AGS 4 FILE FORMAT - SIMPLICITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

The AGS Data Management Working Party continually monitors the use of the AGS Format for the electronic transfer of data in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental industries and has prepared a new version to be known as "AGS4" which contains an updated Data Dictionary and revised rules for AGS Format files.

Whilst the AGS Format is used throughout the world, this document is specifically written for use in accordance with UK practice. Guidance notes for its use with other codes and standards will be available.

The Data Dictionary within AGS4 contains the list of data items which can now be transferred. This has been extended from AGS3 to include items required by Eurocodes and associated amendments of British Standards, together with the information necessary for accreditation of test results by external bodies and typical Quality Assurance schemes.

The organisation of the laboratory test results have been restructured to provide separate groups for each test, using paired groups where appropriate.

A new group, GCHM, has been introduced for the results of geotechnical chemical testing relating to the aggressivity of the ground to concrete in accordance with BRE Special Digest 1.

Rock testing has been divided into aggregate and geotechnical tests.

A new group, ERES, has been added for the test results of environmental samples replacing CNMT / ICCT. This group extends the level of detail that can be transferred for each chemical test result.

Within the Data Dictionary an additional key field has been added to the sample group to be known as SAMP_ID, (unique identifier) which will enable the use of a single identifier for samples to be used where this is appropriate. This is particularly relevant for geoenvironmental studies when taking monitoring or control samples and also facilitates the use of bar-coded samples.

Groups for Chain of Custody and Scheduling of Laboratory Testing have been added which extend the format from use as a report deliverable to a mechanism to support the process of ground investigation and testing.

The rules for the writing of the transfer file have been revised with the removal of the 240 character line restriction erasing the need for the line; a feature of previous AGS Formats. The addition of line headers (Data Descriptors) clarifies the format even further. The CSV format has been retained rather than move to XML, as this is being investigated by others and there seems to be no commercial advantage to changing to XML at this time for the UK geotechnical industry.

Guidance notes on the application of each data group are provided within the Data Dictionary.

Steve Wathall
Working Party Chairman