**2. GIS and geological-geotechnical information: recent applications**

Currently, different studies seek to represent soil surfaces taking advantage of parameters obtained from SPT reports. Commonly, these researches occur in countries where seismic activities are present with severe consequences, such as India. Studies to define the dynamic properties of the soil, through the use of SPT data to obtain the shear-wave velocity (VS ), are essential in terms of engineering to predict soil responses under earthquake. Correlations between N-value and VS were applied and studied in 2006 in Yenişehir/Turkey [6], in 2008 in Bangalore/India [7]; in 2011 in Mumbai/India [8]; in 2012 in Hamedan/Iran [9]; in 2013 [10] and 2016 [11] in the city of Guwahati/India.

alphanumeric data are combined and processed simultaneously with agility and efficiency. The application of GIS tools in soil studies has been consolidated around the world, because of the advance of the data analysis for professionals, and since modeling results, expressed in

Digital maps have a great manipulation potential and high dynamism in the analyses, allowing to work with a large number of data and providing flexibility for updates and adjustments. [1] point out that the technological environment which the tool is inserted provides, in addition to the collection and treatment of spatial information, the development of new

Considering that the advent of numerical models for spatial inference of the variations of soil types or their properties allows the digital mapping of the soils [2], GIS is a powerful tool for performing innovative analyses inherent to the physical environment. Thus, the results obtained from geotechnical investigations present an interesting alternative to analysis, since

According to [3], records of geotechnical logs, stratigraphic profile, and water wells are extremely useful reference data for geologic, hydrologic, and geotechnical applications. Among the soil reconnaissance tests, the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the most popular, useful and economical test in practically all over the world [4]. In Brazil, SPTs have specific legislation and are regulated by [5]. Recently, different publications are looking for improvement in geological-geotechnical information management through association of spatial location with soil parameters obtained by means SPT reports. Therefore, this chapter presents how to structure SPT reports in a geological-geotechnical database to apply it as a tool to

In addition, in order to present geotechnical applications in GIS environment, digital maps are shown for two cases in Brazil: one in the head campus of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and other in the urban area of Blumenau city. Besides contributing to the establishment of guidelines for the region expansion planning by its managers, the results demonstrate that the prior knowledge of the geological and geotechnical parameters makes possible to supervise the next SPT services to be contracted. This because it has organized and spatialized pre-existing data of several SPT reports already executed, making possible the estimation of the information contained in these data for the entire

**2. GIS and geological-geotechnical information: recent applications**

Currently, different studies seek to represent soil surfaces taking advantage of parameters obtained from SPT reports. Commonly, these researches occur in countries where seismic activities are present with severe consequences, such as India. Studies to define the dynamic properties of the soil, through the use of SPT data to obtain the shear-wave velocity (VS

essential in terms of engineering to predict soil responses under earthquake. Correlations

), are

they provide valuable subsidies to geological-geotechnical understanding.

maps, provide a better interpretation for the decision makers.

systems and applications.

246 Management of Information Systems

assist planning and management actions.

study area.

Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, India, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Brazil, United States of America (USA), and Australia carry out researches using SPT data to create surfaces of soils with different goals. In 2013, [12] conducted a soil characterization study using 110 SPT reports in the city of Hilla/Iraq. As a result, soil resistance trend was presented as a function of the N-value, and an empirical equation was developed to represent the region. In southern Chennai/India, in 2014, [13] developed water level, N-value contour lines and bearing capacity maps at different depths. Foundation suitability map was developed by using weighted overlay analysis.

In 2001, in Bangkok/Thailand, using 200,000 STP boreholes, [14] performed a three-dimensional soil profile generation, proposing the composition of a database for that. N-value contour lines at Surfers Paradise/Australia, based on 35 SPT reports, were developed in 2014 [15]. In 2012, [16] developed a map of N-value contour lines to assist in the design of foundations projects in the city of Rajshahi/Bangladesh, with the purpose of assisting in the design of small and low-cost structures. In 2013, [10] proposed the mapping of N-value and groundwater depth in the city of Guwahati/India. This study was carried out from a database of 200 SPT boreholes, covering 262 km2 .

In João Pessoa/Brazil, in 2011, impenetrable layer, admissible stress, N-value, foundation suitability maps, as well as temporal analysis of the water table (reflecting the seasonality of rainy and dry periods) were developed [17]. In 2015, in Fortaleza/Brazil, N-value contour lines for three different depths and groundwater level map were generated [18].

In 2016, [19] identified and mapped the Blumenau/Brazil soil characteristics through 537 SPT reports. In this study, maps were developed portraying: SPT impenetrable layer depth, groundwater level, allowable stress for shallow foundation and N-value contour lines oriented for the deep foundation, from which the maximum length for common types of piles were calculated. The prediction of the foundation type (shallow and deep), admissible stress, type and the approximate length of piles, was performed using semi-empirical methods available in the literature. Complementary, geotechnical engineering mapping was associated with geomechanical information from SPT reports, resulting in stratigraphic reference profiles for the geotechnical soil units of the city.

In 2016, [20] collected 507 SPT boreholes from the head campus of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) to analyze the geological-geotechnical profile of the study area, through the development of soil maps for each depth layer and foundation suitability maps. Impenetrable layer surface, groundwater level (considering the seasonality), as well as N-value contour lines were developed. Furthermore, through empirical and semi-empirical approaches available in the literature, this study produced orientation maps regarding foundation type: shallow or deep, allowable stress of the soil and maximum length of the piles commonly performed in the region. In the end, the theoretical results were validated by means of the information contained in 20 foundation designs executed at UFSC.

The methods and results of these two studies will be detailed as cases in this chapter. While [19] is focused on a large-scale analysis, the [20] is applied to a smaller one.

Considering the above, it is verified that studies related to geotechnical investigation associated with geospatial analyses have been carried out worldwide and have been aroused interest in practical and academic scope. A fact that encourages the growth of the works is the existence of numerous investigation reports already carried out in urban areas, becoming a potential subsoil characteristic database [21]. So, in order to stimulate further studies in the field, this chapter intends to clarify some ways to take advantage of pre-existing geotechnical data (SPT reports) and the methods of mapping and data processing, exemplifying the results by means of two cases.
