A Web-accessible relational database for intact rock properties and an XML data format for intact rock properties with schema

Rock engineering is well-known for dealing with limited information. Geotechnical investigations are expensive. During preliminary design stages, it is common to estimate design parameters based on data from other investigations around the same area or on data from testing similar rock types. Finding such data can be challenging.; This thesis attempts to provide a solution to the existing situation. The author has developed an extensible relational database for intact rock properties. The database can be accessed through the Internet via a web-based interface. The database and the interface together form “RockProp”, a web-based application. The application provides a widely-accessible point of reference for intact rock engineering data.; The thesis also presents the development of a flexible XML format for intact rock properties together with XML schema. XML is a promising and rapidly growing electronic data exchange format. The schema was developed to control its use: its description and enforcement.