The WallTracker™ and CutterVision™ systems, which are both owned and trademarked to BAUER Foundation Corp., were specifically designed for deep wall applications and provide our Quality Control team with a vital database tool using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Application based on a Visual Basic™, Microsoft® Access™ and ESRI® ArcGIS™ platform.

WallTracker™ allows many disparate data streams to be quickly and automatically compiled in a single relational database and visualized in a common view.  These data streams include: Pre-installation lithology, Survey data and wall panel/predrill dimensions, various metrics during wall panel installation, Verification boring logs, inclinometer logs, photo logs, and sample test data, and unconfined compressive strength, permeability, and moisture content test data from geotechnical samples.

Data is added (immediately as available) to a secure master Walltracker™ database, and users can click an “update” button to download any new data prior to using the system off-line.

Data can be viewed in plan and cross-sectional views. Users can navigate around these views using standard GIS tools, select data to be visualized, and access data at a given location through mouse clicks. Reports and other documents associated with specific features can be accessed by users selecting a spatial hyperlink tool and clicking on a given feature.

The “back-end” relational database that stores the data contains several built-in data validation and verification rules to maximize data quality control by correcting errors or notifying users when data needs further review.

Project managers can use the “data approval” interface to review data, annotate or approve it for use, and immediately see the results of their edits in the map view. Finally, approved data are outputted automatically to As-Built drawings.

In addition to the spectrum of data provided above, WallTracker™ is also coupled with CutterVision™ to increase both safety and knowledge of the geological conditions in the area while drilling.

The CutterVision™ system detects and accurately locates Karst zones, detects hydro geological conditions such as water seams and open cavities ahead of the advancement of the cutter wheels.  By having this geological information while drilling, it has helped to reduce risk and hazardous conditions for both the rig and its operator. 

Both WallTracker™ and CutterVision™ have been used on several federal projects, most notably, Clearwater Dam in Missouri and the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation Project in Florida at Lake Okeechobee.

In late 2009, following completion of the first phase of deep wall installation around Lake Okeechobee, the USACE sent a letter of commendation to Bauer Foundation Corp. describing WallTracker™ and CutterVision™ as a “state-of-the-art” applications for deep wall construction and monitoring.

The combined systems have created a streamlined workflow that allows data to be compiled in an efficient and quality-controlled fashion and viewed in an intuitive interface; our project managers are able to track the details and progress of any construction project.