GGSD Newsletter - May 1999
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Welcome to the second GGSD Newsletter, bringing you news of newly released geo-software and of updates to the Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Software Directory (GGSD) at www.ggsd.com.
In this Newsletter:
- GGSD updates
- New and updated program entries
- My pick of the new programs
- Information for anoraks
In the last few months, as well as the usual updating of the Directory, I have been scouring the Internet for programs on Geosynthetics (geotextiles, geogrids, geomembranes etc), Geographic information systems (GIS) and Geophysics. As a result, there is now a new category in the Directory for 'Geosynthetics', and the existing category of 'Reinforced slopes' has been expanded and renamed 'Reinforced slopes and walls'. A new category has been added for 'Geographic information systems', and contains the main commercial and non-commercial programs on the market, concentrating on those at the 'lower end', and those that would have particular application to 'geo' studies. The existing 'Geophysics' category has been expanded and split into two, namely, 'Geophysics (borehole)' and 'Geophysics (surface)'. Although, I am more interested in shallow geophysical techniques that have applications in geotechnics, some oil industry software has also crept in.
Regards
Tim Spink
21 May 1999
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GGSD updates
There was a major update of the GGSD on 3 May 1999, with minor updates on 31 January and 20 May 1999. The GGSD now lists 1,100 programs, 687 suppliers and publishers and 30 useful WWW links. All the new and updated entries are listed in the What's New page at www.ggsd.com, and the 143 new and updated program entries are given below.
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New and updated program entries
Geotechnical programs
Cathodic protection
- CP ActiveX SDK - New
- Data Link Pro - New
- ProActive - New
Dynamics (behaviour and earthquake)
- BlastWare Computer Analysis - New
- BlastWare Quick Report - New
- SHAKE21 - New
- Winsimul 1.0 - New - See my pick of the programs below
Geosynthetics
- Dimension Solution - New - See my pick of the programs below
- EC-DESIGN - New - See my pick of the programs below
- ECMDS - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Erosion Works - New - See my pick of the programs below
- GeoCoPS - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Geospec 2 - New - See my pick of the programs below
- SpectraPav - New
Insitu testing
- CPT-pro - New - See my pick of the programs below
- CQC-Field Density - New
Instrumentation
- DigiPro for Windows - Updated
Laboratory testing (soil)
- Atterberg Limits - New
- California Bearing Ratio - New
- Florida Limerock Bearing Ratio - New
- Geosystem Data Manager - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Grain Size Distribution - New
- Moisture Density Test - New
- Permeability Test - New
- Resistance R-Value - New
- Shear Test - New
- Soil Classification - New
- Swell Consolidation - New
Numerical analysis (soil)
- FLAC - Updated
- FLAC 3D - Updated
- RHEO-STAUB - Updated
Pavements
- APSDS - Updated
Piles (single)
- IMPRO 2 - New
- Rocket97 - Updated
Reinforced slopes and walls
- MASRET - New
- MesaPro - New - See my pick of the programs below
- MSEW - New - See my pick of the programs below
- ReSlope - Updated
- SRWall - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Strataslope - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Stratawall - New - See my pick of the programs below
- TNXSlope - New
Retaining wall design
- Geoflex - New
- Groundforce CAD - New
Settlement analysis
- CADA - Updated
- Mebra - New
Slope stability (rock)
- EzSlide - New - See my pick of the programs below
Slope stability (soil)
- Penta - New
- SB-SLOPE - Updated
Geoenvironmental programs
Aquifer test analysis
- Espora - New
Contaminant modelling
- ModelMaker - New
- SEQUENCE - Updated
Contaminant transport (2D analytical)
- NITRO - New
Contaminant transport (3D)
- Mt3d586 for Windows - New
- SOLUTRANS - New - See my pick of the programs below
Geochemistry
- MINEQL+ - New
Geoenvironmental database systems
- EQuIS Explorer - New
- GIS-Key - Updated
- GW-Base - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Monitor-LT - New
- Monitor-Pro - New
Groundwater flow (2D)
- Cazenove - New
- TWODAN - Updated
Groundwater flow (3D)
- FEFLOW - Updated
Groundwater flow (MODFLOW)
- Graphic Groundwater - Updated
- ModelCad for Windows - Updated
- Modflow586 for Windows - New
- Modpath586 for Windows - New
Groundwater modelling
- Wintaff 98 - New - See my pick of the programs below
Hydraulic properties
- FLOFIT - New
Impact assessment
- EMDS - New - See my pick of the programs below
General programs
Bibliographic index
- ECODISC - New
- GEOBASE (Elsevier) - New
- GeoRef - New
Borehole log production
- Coreview - New
- GTGS - Updated
- GTLog - Updated
- LOGDRAFT III - Updated
- WinLoG - Updated
- WinLog Pro - New
Data validation
- Lab Data Quick View - Updated
Database systems (general)
- Daily Test Report for Concrete - New
- DBGeo - New
- SWIPS - Updated
Database systems (with log production)
- TECHBASE - Updated
Educational
- Applications of Geophysics - New - See my pick of the programs below
- CATIGE for Windows - New - See my pick of the programs below
- Geophysical Teaching Suite - New
Geographical information systems
- AGIS - New - See my pick of the programs below
- ARC/INFO - New
- ArcCAD - New
- ArcExplorer - New
- ArcView - New
- Atlas GIS - New
- CartaLinx - New - See my pick of the programs below
- GeoMedia - New
- GeoMedia Pro - New
- GRASS - New - See my pick of the programs below
- IDRISI for Windows - New
- IDRISI32 - New - See my pick of the programs below
- ILWIS for Windows - New
- IMAGINE VirtualGIS - New
- Manifold System - New
- Map Maker Pro - New
- MapInfo Professional - New
- MFworks - New
- PC ARC/INFO - New
- S+ArcView - New
- SPANS - New
- SPANS Observer - New
- WinGIS - New
Geological modelling
- Interdex - New
Geophysics (borehole)
- Bubbles - New
Geophysics (surface)
- ARKaims - New
- ARKFIELD - New
- ARKimp - New
- EasyMod - New
- Grav2dc - New
- Mag2dc - New
- RES2DINV - New
- RES2DMOD - New
- RES3DINV - New
- RES3DMOD - New
Geostatistics
- Geostokos Toolkit - Updated
- GS+ - Updated
- S+SpatialStats - Updated
Image analysis
- ER Mapper - New
- SigmaScan Pro - New - See my pick of the programs below
- xqImage - New
Mapping
- IMAGINE Essentials - New
- JMapper Standard - New
- MapInfo ProViewer - New
Numerical analysis utilities
- PARM - New
- TMRWizard - New
Parameter estimation
- UCODE - New
Plotting (2D x-y)
- Prism - Updated
Plotting (3D visualisation)
- NoeSYS - Updated
Plotting (special)
- StereoNett - New - See my pick of the programs below
Plotting and statistics
- Concrete Performance Report - New
- InStat - Updated
- Simca - Updated
Risk analysis
- VAPEX - New
Technical information
- EPI Spec Disk - Updated
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My pick of the new programs
As always, this section has to be preceded by a disclaimer. The programs listed below are ones that caught my eye as being useful/interesting/different from the many submissions I receive. I have not tried any of these programs, and I am not making a recommendation. It is up to you to make your own choice. Some of these may not be "New" programs, but their entry in GGSD is new. That said, here is my pick. All the programs run under Windows.
Geotechnical programs
Dynamics (behaviour and earthquake) - Winsimul
Winsimul applies stochastic methods to estimate the magnitude of seismic strong motion ground movements. It includes a database for use in seismic zoning projects where a large number of sites and different seismic scenarios have to be considered. The output consists of a plot of the response spectra with statistical variation, and a table with peak ground acceleration, velocity and displacement, RMS values of the signal, the duration of the strong ground motion and corresponding magnitude values.
Geosynthetics - Dimension Solution
Dimension Solution estimates the bearing capacity and settlement of mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) composite raft foundations using geogrid reinforcement. It is based upon empirical data from extensive field and laboratory research conducted on Tensar geogrids.
Geosynthetics - EC-DESIGN, ECMDS and Erosion Works
Three programs for the design of erosion control measures on slopes and river channels. Each program is available from a geosynthetics materials manufacturer, and the first two are free. The programs all provide various design procedures, and recommend design solutions based on the particular manufacturers products. Example specifications and design drawings are provided.
Geosynthetics - GeoCoPS
GeoCoPS is not a program you will need everyday, but if you need to design a geosynthetics slurry filled 'sausage' that can be used for groins, rapid construction of dikes in a wetland environment, for flood control or for storage of contaminated materials, then this is the only program available.
Geosynthetics - Geospec 2
Geospec 2 is a free program to calculate Wick Drain spacings. The program includes generic specifications and installation instructions.
Insitu testing - CPT-pro
CPT-pro is a modular program for the analysis, interpretation and presentation of CPT soundings. But it goes beyond the functionality of most other similar programs by also offering a Cross Section module for the preparation of geotechnical sections combining both CPT soundings and boreholes. Each investigation location can be presented as a geological profile with appropriate symbols and/or with the graph of any sounding parameter or interpreted parameter.
Laboratory testing (soil) - Geosystem Data Manager
The Geosystem Data Manager is the core of a suite of laboratory testing modules. It provides communication and data sharing between the modules and also generates project data summaries which can include results from multiple projects and/or multiple tests. The test modules currently available are: Atterberg Limits; Soil Classification; Grain Size Distribution; Swelling and Consolidation Tests; Field Compaction Control and Laboratory Compaction.
Reinforced slopes and walls - MesaPro, MSEW, SRWall and Stratawall
Four programs for the design of reinforced segmental retaining walls; two are low cost, available from wall component manufacturers. Each program can analyse various wall geometries, and calculates the reinforcement requirements. The manufacturer's programs provide relevant technical data on their various products for use in the design.
Reinforced slopes and walls - Strataslope
Strataslope analyses various slope geometries and reinforcement spacings for geosynthetic reinforced slope designs. There is a technical manual containing test data for the manufacturer's various products including creep, pull-out, biological and chemical durability and site damage durability test results.
Slope stability (rock) - EzSlide
EzSlide is a free program for the probabilistic analysis of rock sliding wedge failure. It determines the probability distribution of the safety factor by a Monte Carlo simulation, given an input of existing discontinuity data.
Geoenvironmental programs
Contaminant transport (3D) - SOLUTRANS
SOLUTRANS simulates solute transport using analytic solutions which offer a quick and simple alternative to complex, time-consuming 3D numerical flow and transport models. It models 1D flow and 3D dispersion, with equilibrium and non-equilibrium adsorption.
Geoenvironmental database systems - GW-Base
GW-Base is a GIS application and database for the evaluation of groundwater information. Investigation or measurement programs can be defined and routine measurements falling due are displayed. Output includes spreadsheets, contour line maps, timeline charts and diagrams. Background maps can be imported into contour map presentations.
Groundwater modelling - Wintaff 98
A groundwater 2D and 3D finite element model using standard galerkin and mixed hybrid finite elements to simulate flow and transport in porous and fractured media. Handles transient and steady state flow in a saturated aquifer. GIS geocoded data can be imported and used as primitives for the mesh generator.
Impact assessment - EMDS
The Ecosystem Management Decision Support system integrates knowledge-based reasoning into ArcView GIS. It uses object-based logic networks that allow reasoning with incomplete information, and evaluation of the influence of missing data on completeness of an assessment.
General programs
Educational - Applications of Geophysics
Applications of Geophysics is an interactive CD-ROM to support self-directed learning for junior and intermediate level university students. It provides key information about the application of geophysical techniques to environmental investigations and is illustrated with many case studies.
Educational - CATIGE for Windows
CATIGE is a suite of 14 programs specifically written for undergraduate students to assist in the teaching and learning of fundamental geotechnical engineering principles. It covers laboratory testing and design procedures.
Geographical information systems - AGIS
AGIS is a low cost shareware mapping program and simple GIS. It mainly provides tools for viewing maps in various projections. The tools for handling data are limited.
Geographical information systems - CartaLinx
CartaLinx is intended as a companion to a variety of popular GIS and Desktop Mapping software products such as IDRISI, Arc/Info, ArcView, MapInfo etc. It is used for the preparation of spatial data and includes a dedicated digitiser, database development tools and facilities for topological editing.
Geographical information systems - GRASS
GRASS is a free GIS used for data management, image processing, graphics production, spatial modelling, and visualisation of many types of data. Originally written by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories for use in land planning, its capabilities have been expanded and used in the fields of engineering, hydrology, geology, physics, statistics and remote sensing. A new version has just been released that has new visualisation interfaces to realistically render multiple surfaces in 3D space, drape vector files over surfaces, and display site files either on surfaces or as 3D points.
Geographical information systems - IDRISI32
A new version for Windows 95 and NT of the well established GIS adds improved viewing of images, integration of real-time Global Positioning System data and support for geostatistical analysis with variogram modelling, kriging, co-kriging and conditional simulation.
Image analysis - SigmaScan Pro
SigmaScan Pro is an image-analysis package for studying the structure and size of visual information. A library of analytic transformations measures images and collects results in a spreadsheet format. Image-enhancement tools improve image quality and remove unwanted features, optimising the image to the user's specifications. There is a macro recorder for repetitive analysis.
Plotting (special) - StereoNett
A stereographic projection program that is available free to educational establishments. It handles different projections, great circles, small circles, density contouring, rose diagrams etc, but is oriented more to geological, rather than geotechnical, applications.
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Information for anoraks**
The GGSD runs on a HiWays Technologies server somewhere in the USA. The Directory HTML pages are generated automatically from a FoxPro relational database. If you printed out the whole Directory there would be about 700 A4 size pages. There are over 25,000 hypertext links. The Directory has received over 70,000 visitors, with over 715,000 page hits, since it was established in 1996. It is currently receiving 3,500 visitors with 70,000 page hits, per month. Over the last few months visitors have come from 94 different countries, split evenly between North America, Western Europe and the Rest of the World.
**Anorak: English slang for a rather sad person who's life is fanatically devoted to gathering information about their pet subject. The nearest American equivalent would be "geek". The term may have originated in the 1960s when there were a number of pirate radio stations broadcasting from rusting boats off the English coast in the North Sea. Fanatical fans would make perilous journeys in small boats, swathed against the elements in large anoraks, just to see their favourite stations. The station DJ's called these devoted fans "anoraks". (I was one of those anoraks!).
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