ASTM_D_6168_-_97_2010.pdf

Designation:D616897(Reapproved 2010)Standard Guide forSelection of Minimum Set of Data Elements Required toIdentify Locations Chosen for Field Collection ofInformation to Describe Soil,Rock,and Their ContainedFluids1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6168;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide2covers factors to consider for the selectionof the minimum set of data elements required for the accuratelocation and cataloging of information collected for geologicalscience(geoscience)investigations,which includes geoecol-ogy.1.1.1 Geoscience investigations include soil surveys,foun-dation investigations,geologic studies,hydrologic evaluations,environmental appraisals,contamination inquiries,archaeo-logical surveys,and other studies that involve the soil,rock,and contained fluids from the lands surface to any exploreddepth underground.1.2 A unique geoscience data location,on or below theearths surface,can be described by X,Y,and Z coordinatesand by that method establish the dimensional relationship todata of a similar nature.Additional location informationneeded depends upon the type of geoscience data collectionlocality.1.2.1 The basic type is a single position described by finiteX,Y,and Z coordinates.The X,Y,and Z coordinates uniquelyposition the location on or below the earths surface.NOTE1An example is the latitude and longitude in horizontalcoordinates and the altitude(or elevation)in vertical distance of agroundwater location or site.Data collected at the site,for example,waterlevels,are measured by the vertical interval as referenced to the altitude.1.2.2 Another type of location is described by finite X andY coordinates that has multiple vertically positioned Z coordi-nates.This is equivalent to the location type described in 1.2.1,except that multiple vertical dimensions are stated as Zcoordinates,rather than vertical intervals.NOTE2An example is latitude,longitude,and multiple altitudes of asoil sampling location or site.Each altitude represents a different samplingposition that has the same latitude and longitude coordinate.The upperand lower limit of a sampling interval can be expressed by altitudes.1.2.3 Another type is a location described by finite X and Ycoordinates with multiple Z coordinates that are not verticallyoriented from X and Y coordinates.NOTE3An example is a slanted borehole where the top is at adifferent latitude and longitude coordinate than the sampling positions inthe hole.Methods of describing these sampling points are:treat eachposition as a separate location with finite latitude,longitude,and altitudevalues;describe the horizontal deviation of the sampling point from thefinite latitude and longitude coordinates at the top of the borehole.1.2.4 Another type is a location with considerable horizon-tal dimension that cannot be described by a finite X and Ycoordinate,however,a single Z coordinate may be acceptable.NOTE4Examples are sinkholes,waste disposal pits,septic systems,underground injection facilities,mines,archaeological sites,and someponds or lakes.These locations can be described by including additionalinformation that gives the horizontal components of the location alongwith the latitude,longitude,and altitude coordinates or by multiple sets ofX and Y coordinates that encompass the location.1.3 Additional key data elements are needed to simplify theidentification and cataloging of the geoscience data.1.3.1 These elements describe political entities,datasources,and individual characteristics of the location.NOTE5The data assist in file organization by placing the informationinto logical categories and to further identify the geoscience location byuse of familiar terminology.A carefully designed minimum set of dataelements contributes to the recoverability and the future value of the entiredata file.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This guide cannot replace education orexperience and should be used in conjunction with professional1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater andVadose Zone Investigations.Current edition approved July 1,2010.Published September 2010.Originallyapproved in 1997.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D616897(2004).DOI:10.1520/D6168-97R10.2As defined by ASTMa guide is a series of opt