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D5911 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
📐 Scope and Site Definition
ASTM D5911/D5911M covers the minimum set of data elements required to uniquely identify any soil sampling or examination site. Developed specifically for waste disposal and environmental assessment projects, this practice ensures that an absolute and recoverable location is established for quality control. The standard defines a “soil sampling site” as a single point located by an X, Y, and Z coordinate position at land surface or a fixed datum. Because soil sampling is a disruptive procedure where removed material cannot be precisely recreated, the rigorous documentation defined in this practice is essential from the outset.
🗂️ Minimum Data Elements (DEFFSI)
The Data Elements for Sampling Site Identification (DEFFSI) were developed considering the needs of informational databases, such as geographic information systems (GIS). According to Section 1.6, the standard includes data elements that distinguish a site by its geographical location, its location by political regimes, its source identifiers, and its individual site characteristics.
| 🆔 Data Element Category | 📋 Key Requirements |
|---|---|
| Geographical Location | Absolute X, Y, Z coordinate position on a fixed datum (e.g., land surface). |
| Political Regimes | Hierarchical jurisdictional identifiers (state, county, district). |
| Source Identifiers | Project name, client codes, site names, and boring/well numbers. |
| Site Characteristics | Individual distinguishing physical details of the specific point. |
⚠️ Important Note: This minimum set is the foundation. An agency or company may require additional data elements for a specific project, but the DEFFSI represents the baseline for soil/geotechnical sampling in environmental studies.
⚙️ Units and Compliance
Per Section 1.5, the values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values in each system may not be exact equivalents. Therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems will result in non-conformance with the standard. When using inch-pound units, the gravitational system is utilized where the pound (lbf) represents force and slugs represent mass.
❌ Non-Conformance: You must strictly adhere to one unit system. For example, recording an X coordinate in meters and a Z coordinate in feet is a violation of this standard. All site location data must be fully SI or fully inch-pound.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What does DEFFSI stand for?
DEFFSI stands for “Data Elements for Sampling Site Identification.” It is the core set of information required by this practice to catalog a soil sampling site uniquely.
💡 Does this practice apply to sediment filtered from water?
No. Section 1.4 explicitly excludes samples of soil (sediment) filtered from the water of streams, rivers, or lakes from this practice.
⚡ Why is an absolute and recoverable location required?
Because soil sampling is a disruptive procedure. Since the material is extracted from its natural environment and transported away, the same soil profile cannot be collected later. A precise location validates the data against its unique point of origin.
📌 What types of sampling sites does D5911 cover?
The standard covers test wells,