Online Course

Tuesday, March 2 2021

Nick Machairas is developing a free 4-hour online asynchronous course on XML and DIGGS. The course will have no prerequisites and is aimed at beginners who are just getting started. The format will be short videos with examples, quizzes and practice questions. All lecture material will be combined and distributed in a digital book format. The course will be hosted on an online learning platform and a certificate will be offered upon successful completion. Based on interest and feedback, there might be a part 2 on more advanced topics, building conversion tools, etc.

See below for a brief outline. Please reach out to nick@groundwork.ai with ideas for topics that should be included or any other suggestions and comments.

Outline

1. Introduction to modern data management concepts + technology setup
2. XML basics - how unstructured information can be converted to structured data
3. GML basics - adding logic to a data structure
4. Introduction to DIGGS
   • nomenclature: elements, attributes, objects, properties, features, etc.
   • how XML and GML define the schema
   • what is the basic structure of the schema
   • ...
5. How to structure projects in DIGGS
   • best practices for different projects
   • sampling features: activities vs. samples
   • methods, specifications and features
   • ...
6. Extending the schema
   • DIGGS can handle new properties and methods not defined in the current release
7. Schema validation
8. Converting to/from other data formats
9. DIGGS and relational databases
   • DIGGS is not a database but it can be used as a template for designing your own database
   • how to import/export a DIGGS files to/from a relational database
10. DIGGS as a project submittal tool
    • streamlining project submittals: contractors submit a single file that DOTs can instantly validate