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Geotech Question.... "Plates"?? 1

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JoelTXCive

Civil/Environmental
Jul 24, 2016
923
I have a lighter geotech question...

I usually see at least one geotech report a day from various different geotech companies. The report formats and setups are usually similar across all the various companies.

My question is: How come the items located in the Appendix of the reports are referred to as "Plates"

I'm assuming that term is older jargon or maybe a technical term?

Asking for a friend....... Thanks!
 
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Before the widespread use of cad software, notes used to be placed on a drawing via "sticky back" paper that was typed by a type writer. I have heard those "sticky backs" referred to as plates......sort of the first true cut and paste method. Perhaps the geotech'ers are a little late to the party and still call them "plates"? (Side note.....I don't envy your position of receiving at least one geotech report a day from different companies, some of those can make less than enjoyable reading)
 
Yep, it is old terminology. What do others call them? Figures? Aren't these in the main text anyway? Illustrations?
 
Yes, the main report bodies include terms such as 'see figure xxx' or 'table yyy'. The 'plate' term shows up in the back of the reports where they usually have the boring logs, a site plan showing boring locations, and geology detail.

My tip for reading these reports is to go straight to the recommendations and skip the 20+ pages of 'legalese' that accompanies all the reports. Sometimes all the values you need are right in the recommendation section.

 
think printing press.
a "plate" is something that cant be created using traditional printing characters (fonts or glyphs). Photos and drawings needed an engraved plate. with the advent of the xerox machine and then scanner and digital printing, true "plates" are no longer used.
 
Back in the ancient days of printing, pre-1970, it was typically difficult to incorporate figures and images in printed material, and they often had to be separately printed, possibly on different paper: It used to be that books would have all their color images segregated into a separate section, and they were called "plates," because that was the printing mechanism.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list
 
"Plates" evolved to be synonymous with illustration or drawing.....from the original designation as cvg noted.
 
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