Training Manuals

The Drilling Log is a client-ready log of the drilling at one location. It's a landscape, depth-scaled sheet at 1:50, with 7 m of depth per sheet like the Quick Log, but it shows only drilling information. GneissFox builds it automatically from your drill runs, cable percussion runs, casing, flush, samples, SPTs, water strikes and backfill, and you can share it as a PDF. Core recovery (TCR, SCR and RQD) and geology descriptions are left off on purpose. Those belong on the eng

Photos let you keep a visual record of each location alongside your logging: core boxes, pit faces, samples, installations, reinstatement and anything on site worth noting. Each photo carries a short description, optional depths and a unique file name, so it can be matched to the daily record and the files you send at the end of the day. Photos are not part of the AGS data file. Instead, the daily record notes each photo that was taken, by file name, and you can choose to sen

The Quick Log turns the data you've recorded at a location into a landscape, 1:50 borehole or trial pit log, right on your device. It's ideal for showing a client or engineer what's been found so far while you're still on site. Opening the Quick Log Open a location, tap Location options near the top of the screen, then tap Quick Log. Tap ← Back to return to your data. What's on the Log The log is laid out like a standard A4 landscape borehole log, with 7 m of depth per sheet.

GneissFox stores all project data locally on your device. If your phone or tablet is lost, broken, or replaced, the data goes with it — unless you have a backup. The Backup & Restore feature lets you export your entire project as a compressed file and save it to Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, or any other storage you have installed. Backing Up a Project You can access backups from the project settings or from the End Shift Wizard, which offers a backup as the final ste

The End Shift Wizard walks you through a structured close-out process at the end of each day. It covers end-of-day checks, location completion, a full review of the day's work, signature capture, and export — all in one guided flow. Starting the Wizard When you are ready to finish for the day, tap the End Shift option from the main project screen. The wizard opens as a full-screen overlay and takes you through each step in order. Finishing One Location Mid-Shift If you've

The Daily Record is a real-time summary of everything recorded during your shift. It is not a form you fill in — it is generated automatically from the data you enter throughout the day. Think of it as a live field diary that writes itself as you work. What Gets Included The Daily Record pulls together every piece of data created on the current date across all locations in the project. This includes: Item Description Drill Runs Type, depth range, and time Cable Percussion

The Monitoring form records post-construction visits to monitoring wells and gas standpipes. It follows a multi-level workflow — you create a visit, then navigate into separate sections for gas readings, gas flow, groundwater, and temperatures. Each visit ties back to an installation (MONG_REF) you previously recorded in the Backfill & Installations form. Opening the Monitoring Form Tap Monitoring from the location's data menu. You will see a list of all visits recorded at

At the end of a borehole or trial pit, you need to record what went back in. This article covers two forms: Backfill (what material was used to fill the hole) and Monitoring Installations (standpipes, piezometers, and other instruments left in place). Backfill (BKFL) The Backfill form records each layer of material placed in the borehole or pit as it's filled in. You build the record from the bottom up — each layer sits on top of the last. The Backfill Form Depth Base (B

Variable head permeability tests measure how quickly water flows through the ground around a borehole or standpipe. The result — the permeability coefficient (k) — tells engineers how easily water moves through the soil, which is critical for drainage design, dewatering, and contamination assessment. How the Test Works Water is either added to (falling head) or removed from (rising head) a standpipe installed in the borehole. Timed readings of the water level are taken as

Soakaway testing measures how quickly water drains through the ground. The results determine whether a site can use soakaway drainage systems and, if so, how large they need to be. GneissFox follows the BRE Digest 365 method, which is the standard approach in the UK. How the Test Works A trial pit is excavated and filled with water. As the water drains into the ground, you take timed readings of the depth to water. The rate at which the water level drops is used to calcula

A Photo-Ionisation Detector (PID) is a handheld instrument that detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil and groundwater. PID readings are essential on contaminated land investigations — they give an immediate indication of whether the ground contains harmful vapours. When to Use PID readings are typically taken from disturbed samples, split-spoon samples, or directly in trial pits. They are required on most brownfield sites and any investigation where contaminati

The Hand Vane Test (also called the Insitu Vane Test) measures the undrained shear strength of cohesive soils directly in the borehole or trial pit. It is quick, repeatable, and gives the engineer immediate information about soil strength at specific depths. How It Works A vane blade is pushed into the soil and rotated until the soil fails in shear. The torque at failure is converted to a shear strength value in kPa. Two types of reading are taken: Item Description Peak s

Water strikes are one of the most important observations in ground investigation. Recording exactly when and where groundwater is first encountered — and how it behaves afterwards — gives engineers critical information for foundation design, excavation planning, and environmental assessment. What is a Water Strike? A water strike is the point during drilling or excavation where groundwater is first encountered. The depth, time, and subsequent water level behaviour are all

Dynamic Probe Tests (DPT) measure soil resistance by counting hammer blows per fixed depth increment. Unlike the DCP which uses ruler readings, a DPT records blows for each standard increment (typically 100 mm) as the probe is driven into the ground. When to Use Dynamic probes are used to assess ground strength at depth, often alongside boreholes or trial pits. Different probe types suit different ground conditions and investigation depths. The form writes to two AGS grou

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is a lightweight in-situ test used to measure soil resistance in shallow ground. It is commonly used for pavement subgrade assessment and shallow site investigation. How the DCP Works A standard DCP uses a cone attached to a series of rods. A hammer is dropped repeatedly, and the penetration after each set of blows is measured using a ruler attached to the rod string. Each set of blows (1–10) and the subsequent ruler reading are recorded

The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the most widely used in-situ test in UK ground investigation. It measures soil resistance by counting the blows needed to drive a sampler into the ground, producing an N value that engineers use to assess bearing capacity and relative density. How the Test Works An SPT uses a standard 63.5 kg hammer dropped from 760 mm to drive a split-spoon sampler (or cone) into the soil. The test is performed in two phases: Item Description Seatin

Chiselling is used in cable percussion drilling to break through hard ground, obstructions, or stiff clays. This form records what tool was used, how long it was applied, and over what depth. When to Record Chiselling Record a chiselling entry any time the drilling crew uses a shell, chisel, auger, or other tool to break through material that can't be advanced with normal boring. This is common in stiff clay, gravel layers, and made ground with obstructions. The Chiselli

Cable Percussion (CP) is one of the most common drilling methods in UK ground investigation. GneissFox records each CP run as a combined depth observation and bulk sample. What is a CP Run? Each CP run records the advance of the borehole over a depth interval using cable percussion tools (shell, chisel, or auger). A bulk disturbed (B) sample is automatically created for each run, since the material brought to the surface represents the ground at that depth. Each run recor

The Drill Run form is a unified entry point for recording all types of drilling activity in GneissFox. A single form adapts to four run types, showing only the fields each one needs. Choosing a Run Type The first thing you do is select your run type. This determines which fields appear: Item Description Core Run Rotary coring. Records the run, the core sample, flush returns and, optionally, casing. Dynamic Sampling Window sampling / dynamic probing for liner samples. Reco

Samples are a fundamental part of any ground investigation. GneissFox supports two sample entry forms — the general Sample form for disturbed and bulk samples, and the UT Sample form for undisturbed thin-wall tube samples. The Sample Form (SAMP) Use this form for all standard sample types — disturbed bags, bulk samples, environmental samples, and more. Sample Type Select the type of sample being taken from the AGS standard list. Common types include B (Bulk/Bag), D (Dist