August 2005
The AGS XML working party have released the first version of the proposed AGSML data format. The full report document can be downloaded from the download section of this site as can the example files and schemas.
This version is not intended to be used as a commercial data transfer format and should not be specified as a replacement for AGS3.1. This document and schemas have been published for consultation purposes.
The working party welcomes feedback to the ideas and methods detailed in this report. Feedback can either be done publically using the AGS discussion boards or can be privately made by email the comments to agsxml@ags.org.uk.
It should be noted that since the end of the working party first phase the group has been working with COSMOS, Federal Roads Authority and Florida University in the preparation of an international format. This group's work will build on the findings in this report and progress will be posted on the AGSML website and in the next report.
September 2004 - AGS Data Transfer to get XML option
The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists announce a project to take the AGS data transfer format into the future.
Much work has been done, both in UK and overseas, to research ways to bring the AGS interchange system more in line with Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) - the global standard for data transfer in web-based communications. However, the overriding responsibility of the Association is the protection of its members' interests, so any solution would need to preserve: (a) compatibility with established practices, (b) the ability to use data compiled in earlier editions, and (c) the independence of the format from particular software environments.
For this reason it has been decided not to create a new edition of the format, but rather to extend the scope of AGS3 so that output can be either conventional text-based data, in accordance with current rules and practices, or XML format, which uses the identical data dictionary (which many consider is the heart of the AGS format), but with a very different set of rules.
While existing users are unlikely to see any major differences in their workflow, this move will create significantly more flexibility in the way data is presented in the future, and give the format a much wider validity in modern communications technology.
A working group has been appointed from site investigation and software specialists, representing both industry and academia. The project has widespread support, including the British Geological Survey, and CIRIA (who supported the development of the format for monitoring data).
TNO and GeoDelft in the Netherlands are also discussing cooperation between the AGS format and the Dutch Standard (GEF)
|
