Good Day,
The question: If diamond drilling provides by far the best sample of the subsurface why, when the quality of core data is so critical to informed decision-making, are the loggers on almost all projects newly-graduated geologists and geotechnical engineers? Why are experienced core loggers so hard to find? Could it be due to:

• The drudgery of measuring endless lengths of core, filling in endless logging sheets and enduring endless data capture routines to digitize and validate the logs?
• Inadequate QA/QC, which, combined with little feedback from users of the data, quickly leads to low job satisfaction? 

The solution: Following extensive software development and rigorous trialling via major companies and consultants, Ground Modelling Technologies Ltd now delivers the market-leading photogrammetry-based product for comprehensive imaging, total validation of depth-registration, and structural analysis of drill core. It is also a powerful tool for rapid and accurate re-assessment of archived core.

StereoCore PhotoLog enables the loggers to simply examine the core and concentrate purely on what they are professionally trained for – accurately characterizing the rock both lithologically and structurally. The photogrammetry takes care of all the measurements and:

• Guarantees the accuracy and efficiency of all core recovery and angle measurements.
• Assures Data quality as the annotated image files can be regularly and remotely monitored (regularly transmitted from site), for full visual QC.
• Provides QA auditors with a compete visual record enabling rapid random spot-checks along the core to confidently confirm (or implement corrections to) the exact descriptors logged for each individual feature.

How is this done? It only takes six easy steps:

1. Photos of the core trays (taken with any hand held camera or Windows 10 tablet) are processed to produce orthographic images on which
2. The logger simply tags and describes features using colour-coded data markers (for which full user definition and flexibility is an integral part of the software).
3. A line is then drawn to scale along the segments to depth register the core.
4. The data markers are then ‘snapped’ onto the segment lines to depth reference each feature, following which
5. Ellipses are drawn to match each joint, fracture or vein to auto-measure their alpha/beta angles - and finally
6. The log tables are exported, in Excel or CSV files, to deliver the data for analysis and to model the ground in the shortest time frame possible.

Thus StereoCore PhotoLog rapidly delivers quality controlled data sets that can be confidently analysed and interpreted to establish that all objectives of the drilling program have been attained – even before the drill rig moves offsite – ensuring also a real sense of value and achievement for the loggers. The fully auditable data can be modelled with confidence by geoscientists and engineers responsible ultimately for the development of quality geological models and defendable investment recommendations.
 
​For enquiries, or to request further information and a demonstration please email support@stereocore.net

Yours in logging,
John Orpen

Good Day,

Ever wondered if modern civilization could exist without our being able to examine drill core samples of the deep subsurface?

How many institutions offer courses that would enable their undergraduate geologists and engineers to tackle this question – even though the massive mines and colossal civil structures we see today rely heavily on the accuracy and quality of data logged from drill core?

Clearly we owe much to the invention of the diamond drill in 1863. Yet, despite the fact that drilling technology, together with the analysis and computer modelling of drill core data, has made significant advances – on many projects drill core logging is still a ‘pen and clipboard’ exercise, generating reams of paper files to be ‘captured’ in a database.

Hence the question – is there a digital logging system that can, as a minimum:

• Be deployed rig-side initially to ensure that critical rock mass features, which rapidly deteriorate, such as weak rock zones and soft joint fills, are properly recorded?
• Enable loggers to examine the core in detail and concentrate solely on accurate description of the lithological intervals and structures intersected – without worrying about measuring up the core?
• Allow the accurate depth and angle measurement of each interval and structure respectively to be undertaken offsite by trained technicians, so as to complete the logs?
• Export the logs directly to a database?

 
The answer is “Yes” – using proprietary StereoCore™ technology.
 
The latest version of StereoCore Photolog can be installed on a Windows 10 Tablet so that core tray photos can be processed and the images marked up rig-side, using data markers to pinpoint features and log their descriptors. Copies of the files can then be distributed for detailed logging in the core shed, followed by depth registration and structure angle measurements, after which the files are merged to generate the logs and export the data in Excel or CSV files.
 
Every effort has been put into ensuring a smooth and painless transition to StereoCore Photolog, by enabling customers to digitally re-create their existing tried and tested log tables using their own lookups, etc. and, if needed, in their own language using our purpose designed LogFormatEdit.
 
We invite you to see for yourself how streamlined and intuitive this process is, and how flexible and powerful your data capture, analysis, and presentation with StereoCore Photolog can be.
 
Please contact us at support@stereocore.net in order to:

• book a live 10 minute interactive SKYPE demo of the software, with plenty of time for discussion afterwards,
• arrange free activations of the software for your working trials in order to test the program with your current logging, or archived core photographs – universities can arrange for special dispensations,
• ask any questions or obtain additional information.

 
Yours in logging,
John Orpen
 
P.S. Version 4.6.7 is now available https://www.stereocore.net/downloads.html
Please make sure your installation is up-to-date. To check: open the program and go to Help>About.

Hello

Today we are releasing a new version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog optimised for a touch screen. The impetus for this comes from a number of requests for a tablet version of the program, as this would improve the data collection capabilities of our product since tablets are easy to manage and carry in the field or in the core shed.

The latest version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog has been modified so that it can be used with a Windows Tablet (or indeed any Windows PC with touch screen capabilities). We have tested the program on a Windows 10 tablet, but it should work for Windows 7 and up. It's still the same program, which has some significant advantages from our point of view - mainly, it means that the file format of all versions of StereoCore™ PhotoLog is the same, which means there are guaranteed to be zero compatibility issues in transferring StereoCore™ project files from tablets to desktop PCs. Also our users won't have to relearn any of the user interface. Finally, while in development we have found that the touch screen interface rapidly becomes intuitive even when using a desktop PC.

For full details of touch screen operation please consult the help manual.

We envision people using a tablet for data collection either at the drill rig or in the core shed, and transferring the project files to their PC for final processing. This should allow a number of geologists to work in parallel on the same core, using tablets for data entry, and a final master copy of containing all the data collected can be archived once data collection is complete. The data can be exported to CSV or Excel format, which will allow seamless transfer to the database of the mine or organization’s choice, while maintaining a visual record of the entire data capture process should there be a need for audit.

Happy Logging,

John Orpen, Managing Director.

Good Day,

In the past few months we have made significant upgrades to StereoCore™ PhotoLog, StereoCore™ LogFormatEdit and our back-end website, which we are pleased to launch today. You can download StereoCore™ software for free from www.stereocore.net.

The first order of business is to introduce our new partnership with B&S Geological, a South African company that has been appointed as an official distributor of StereoCore™ software. B&S Geological (www.bnsgeo.co.za) has extensive experience in providing software support services and training to geologists and other mine employees. This partnership allows Ground Modelling Technologies to concentrate more on software development, whilst continuing to support our customers.

Secondly, the changes made to the website have revamped the sales process. One of the strengths of StereoCore™ PhotoLog has always been that the software is freely available at zero cost. Anyone with an interest in drill core can download and install: whether to log core; or import and overlay previously logged data for QA/QC audits; or to validate televiewer data by comparing the picks with structures visible in the core; or simply to have the annotated orthographic images readily to hand whilst modelling the data.

Hence the number of users is unrestricted, without requiring dongles, free trial or multi-user licences etc., which has the added advantage that everyone always has access to the latest version of the software. The only charge is for image processing – purchasing ‘activations’ that permanently convert ordinary core tray photos into scaled, orthographic images that are compiled into project files which can be freely copied, edited, used for further specialist logging and distributed as required.

All of these advantages are still embedded and have been greatly enhanced; we have just simplified the ordering system. Previously activations were downloaded directly by each user, but now a project manager, for example, can order activations on one account and allow download access to specific users tasked with logging the core – simplifying order-tracking and billing for all concerned.

Finally, we've fixed a few minor bugs in the StereoCore™ PhotoLog program itself - as always, it is a continuously improving product.

Happy Logging,

John Orpen
Managing Director.

Hello :)
It's been a while since our last update to StereoCore™ PhotoLog. The major changes in the latest version are:

• We have made a new program, StereoCore™ LogFormatEdit, for editing StereoCore™ PhotoLog  log formats, the digital logging sheets used to define what data you need to capture. This program is available free to all customers as an adjunct to StereoCore™ PhotoLog. StereoCore™ PhotoLog itself no longer includes log format editing capabilities. This has allowed us to make StereoCore™ PhotoLog more focused. As an added benefit it allows customers more control over who can edit the log format used by a logging project.
• We have simplified the import and use of path surveys within StereoCore™ PhotoLog. Importing a path survey into StereoCore™ PhotoLog allows customers to convert (α, β) angle data relative to the core axis into dips and dip directions of structures in their in-situ positions.
• We've now carried out an intensive cross-check of all of the mathematics used in the back-end of StereoCore™ PhotoLog. Our proprietary mathematics library of angle conversion, path survey interpolation and other routines is confirmed to be rock-solid and we have expanded our automated testing to assure us that the mathematics code always returns expected results.

We have also put together a new promotional video showing the benefits of using StereoCore™ PhotoLog for core logging and auditing. Please have a look and tell us what you think! The link is: https://youtu.be/wsTQiFsNcfM

Happy Logging :)

David Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer

We are pleased to announce the release of the latest version of our core logging software. We have made a few changes, but it's mostly bug fixes.
Changes:

• There's a new screenshot button in the data input tab, allowing you to create high quality screenshots for including in your reports.
• We fixed a bug relating to the new screenshot button.
• We used not to report (α,β) values if a structure was drawn on a matrix/rubble segment, and we used not to report β values if the structure was drawn on a segment of unoriented core, but now we do. Values reported for these segments are marked in red both in the Excel export and in the Logs shown on screen. We just felt that since the data was there, we might as well report it, rather than not doing so.
• We fixed a bug relating to deleting continuous interval end-points.
  
• We fixed a bug relating to importing the borehole depth log.
  

Happy Logging :)

Dave Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer

We have just released a new version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog. The new version contains no new features per se, but we have spent a lot of time tuning up the program so that it runs faster and more reliably. We noticed that for larger project files where lots of data was collected in deep (> 1000m) holes the program would slow down noticeably when logging, and obviously this was bad, so we did something about it.

You can dowload the update here: http://www.stereocore.net/downloads.html

We've also added a new section of write-up about our pricing policy to the website, which you can look at here: http://www.stereocore.net/pricing.html

Briefly, StereoCore™ PhotoLog is free to download and use as a program - you can install it on as many machines as you like, and you can always get updates and bug-fixes for free.  You only pay for "image activations" which allow you to use the digital core tray images for logging.

Happy Logging :)

David Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer

A new version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog is available. Updates included in this version are as follows:

• Many fixes for minor bugs.
• The help manual has been updated to be in line with the latest version.
• The borehole path survey user interface (available on the Borehole Path tab) has been extensively revamped. Several bugs have been fixed and the 1000m separation table has been reworked. This is reflected in the help manual.

David Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer

A new version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog is available. Updates included in this version are as follows:

• Many fixes for minor bugs.
• The help manual has been updated to be in line with the latest version.
• We have done extensive work on the log format editor to make it easier to use and more intuitive.
• Two new template column types, one for reporting the natural fracture count and one for the mechanical fracture count are now available for interval based templates. This will be useful for interval fracture frequency calculations.
• We have included a new feature (under the Project->Place Intervals menu) to assist with placing continuous interval markers in the case where the user wants to separate them by a specified true vertical depth or a specified borehole depth. An example is when the logger wants to match the intervals to the bench heights in an open cast mine. Using the borehole survey, the correct depths of the interval end point markers can be calculated.

Happy Logging :)
David Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer

Today we are happy to announce the release of a new version of StereoCore™ PhotoLog. The major change introduced in the new version is the use of SQLite as a backend database engine for the file saving and loading process. This makes data saved to a StereoCore™ PhotoLog project much more difficult to corrupt, even though previously it was already pretty robust. The major benefit has been the ability to introduce an autosave feature, which saves your data in the background while you are working and means that even if something unexpected like a power failure occurs, your data is safe. Also as a side benefit, in the extremely unlikely event that something does go wrong and the file does get corrupted recovering the data will be easier than it would have been previously. We haven't yet fully explored all the benefits that using SQLite as a backend will bring, suffice it to say that we're excited for the future.

Another interesting feature that we've just introduced is "Snap data to segments". This command snaps data markers to the nearest segment line. Recall that logging in StereoCore™ PhotoLog is a three step process, first one logs by placing data markers on the core tray image, then one draws segment lines on the image which represent the core, and finally one drags and drops the data markers onto the segment lines to depth reference the features logged. Basically "snap data to segments" automates the third step. There are still some caveats, namely that once a structure type data marker is snapped to the segment line you need to adjust the ellipse trace to ensure that the (α, β) angles have been correctly measured. We anticipate that this will be a good labour saving tool.

Happy Logging :)
David Orpen
StereoCore™ PhotoLog Lead Programmer