GETTING STARTED
1. Requesting an account
2. Downloading and logging in
3. The app layout
4. Settings
5. Creating a project
THE BOREHOLE
6. Starting a borehole
7. The recording screen
8. What to speak into the app
9. Recording example
10. Common mistakes
11. Checking the borehole
12. Adding a recording
13. Soil samples and photos
14. Manual entry
Need help?
STEP 01
Requesting an account
Through your organisation's administrator
Does your organisation already use GeoVoice? Ask your organisation's GeoVoice administrator for an account. They will create it for you.
Through GeoVoice
Send an email to
bram@geovoice.nl
with your name, your email address and the firm you work for. You will receive your login details by email.
STEP 02
Download the app and log in
Download the GeoVoice app on the phone you use in the field. Open the app and log in with the credentials from the email.
Download on the
App Store
Discover it on
Google Play
STEP 03
The app layout
After logging in, you will see three buttons at the bottom.
Projects
This is where all your projects and boreholes are. You can also create new projects here.
Record
This is where you voice-record a borehole. A recording always belongs to a project. If you haven't opened a project yet, the app will first ask you to choose one.
Settings
GPS, display, version, company, and logout.
Northern Soil Consultancy
1 project
Search by project name or code
+ New project
W
Weidezicht
PRJ-2026-001 · NEN 5104
● 3
Projects
Record
Settings
STEP 04
Settings
GPS
The app automatically uses your phone's GPS. If you work with an external GPS receiver, select it here.
Dark mode
Switch between light and dark display.
Version control
The app version you are using. Please provide this when contacting support.
Switch company
If you work for multiple companies, switch your environment here.
Log out
Logs you out of the app.
Settings
GPS
Phone ›
Dark mode
Version control
1.5.4 ›
Switch company
Northern Soil Consultancy ›
Log out
j.jansen@example.com
Projects
Record
Settings
STEP 06
Starting a borehole
Open the project and tap New Borehole. Then choose how you want to record the borehole.
Voice record
Describe the layers and GeoVoice creates the borehole. This is the workflow covered by this manual.
Manual entry
Enter the borehole and its layers yourself in the form. See
step 14
.
You can also go directly to Record. The recording will then become a new borehole in the project shown at the top.
STEP 07
The recording screen
From top to bottom, you will see:
1
Project.
The project that will contain the borehole. Tap switch to choose another project. Check this before starting.
2
Record.
Tap to start recording. The button turns yellow and shows Pause and the elapsed time. Tap again to pause, then again to continue the same recording.
3
Stop & Save.
Appears once recording starts. Ends the borehole and sends the recording for processing. Use only at the end of the borehole.
4
Open instructions.
The overview of what to say, available during recording too.
5
Location.
Your coordinates and their accuracy.
Recording also works without an internet connection.
Record
PROJECT
Weidezicht
switch
1
Pause
1:42
2
Stop & Save
3
Open instructions
4
52.10234, 5.11872 ±14m
5
Projects
Record
Settings
STEP 08
What to speak into the app
This is where mistakes often happen. Always start with the borehole details, then describe each layer in the same order.
Start of the borehole
1×
01
Borehole number
e.g. "B04". Always say this first.
02
Borehole type
e.g. hand drilling
03
Groundwater encountered
yes or no, and if yes, at what depth
04
Surface type
e.g. asphalt
Per layer
every layer
01
Depth
from … to … in cm, e.g. "0 to 50"
02
Drilling method
03
Main component and median grain size
e.g. "sand, median fine"
04
Admixtures with degree
e.g. "moderately silty"
05
Colour with shade
e.g. "dark brownish grey"
06
Special components
gravel, rubble, shells, wood. Include quantity (slight, moderate, abundant) and origin (anthropogenic or native).
07
Observations
such as any noticeable odour
More detail is better than less
Say everything you observe and think. Anything you leave out must be added manually later.
Keep abbreviations to a minimum
Say words in full and speak clearly. Say "slightly silty" rather than a code.
Indicating a new layer
Say "next layer, from … to … centimetres". Just "from … to …" also works.
Pause between layers
Tap Pause while you continue drilling. Do not press Stop & Save.
STEP 09
Recording example
One recording, from Record to Stop & Save.
Record
B04. Hand borehole. No groundwater encountered. Surface level grass.
Pause
You drill the first layer.
Continue
Layer from 0 to 30 centimeters. Edelman auger. Sand, median fine. Slightly silty, moderately humic. Dark brownish-grey. Plants, slight, indigenous. No odor.
Pause
You continue drilling.
Continue
Next layer, from 30 to 80 centimeters. Edelman auger. Clay. Moderately sandy, slightly humic. Light brownish-grey. Brick, slight, anthropogenic. No odor.
Stop & Save
The borehole is finished. The app processes the recording in 5 to 10 seconds.
STEP 10
Common mistakes
Making a recording for each layer
WRONG
Pressing Stop & Save after each layer. Each layer then becomes a separate borehole.
CORRECT
Tap Pause between layers. Use Stop & Save only at the end of the borehole.
Forgetting the borehole number
WRONG
Starting straight away with the first layer.
CORRECT
Start every recording with the borehole number.
STEP 11
Checking the borehole
After 5 to 10 seconds, the borehole appears at the top of the project with the label Processed. You can see how many layers GeoVoice created and their total depth.
View profile
The borehole log with all layers, drawn according to NEN 6693. Tap a layer to edit it.
Correct
Confirm that the borehole has been processed correctly.
Bin
Delete the processed borehole.
Check the log before moving on to the next borehole.
‹ B01
4 layers · 2,00 m -mv
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
GWL 1.20
0 – 30 cm
Sand, slightly silty, moderately humic
median fine · dark brownish grey
30 – 80 cm
Clay, moderately sandy, slightly humic
light brownish grey · brick, slight
80 – 140 cm
Peat, slightly clayey
dark brown
140 – 200 cm
Sand, slightly silty
median coarse · light grey
Legend
Tap a layer to edit · drawn according to NEN 6693
STEP 13
Soil samples and photos
Below the layers in the borehole, you will find soil samples, the monitoring well, the water sample, backfill and photos.
Scan batch
Create a batch and scan the barcodes of all jars in one go. The app matches them to the samples in order.
Scan soil sample
Scan one jar.
Manual
Tap a sample to enter its details manually.
Add a photo
Photos of the location or drilling material.
‹ Weidezicht
SOIL SAMPLES
B01-1
no barcode yet
0–30 cm
B01-2
no barcode yet
30–80 cm
6 of 6 samples without a barcode
Scan batch
Scan soil sample
Batch
MONITORING WELL
PB01
Filter: 100–200 cm · PVC
BACKFILL
Borehole backfill
3 backfill intervals
PHOTOS
Add a photo
STEP 14
Manual entry
Under New borehole, select Manual entry. Enter the borehole details first, then the layers.
Borehole.
Name, date, type, driller, groundwater encountered, GPS, reference level, surface type, ground level elevation and reason for stopping. Tap the tick to save.
Layer.
From and to depths in cm, drilling method and soil type. For soil type, select the main component, up to three admixtures with their degrees and the median grain size.
Shortcode keyboard.
If you know the shortcode, tap it in with the keyboard below the field. First tap the main soil type, for example Z (sand). Then choose an admixture and its degree (slight, moderate, strong or extreme), and continue with the next admixture. For Zs2h1 you tap Z, S, 2, H and 1. Keys that don't fit at that moment are greyed out.
Add a layer.
Below the layers in the borehole.
Edit a voice-recorded borehole in the same way: tap the layer.
MANUAL · MOBILE APP
One borehole, one recording
Start the recording at the beginning of the borehole and only press Stop & Save when the borehole is finished. Pause the recording between layers.
Record
PROJECT
Weidezicht
switch
This recording will become a new borehole in this project.
Stop & Save
Open instructions
Finished
52.10234, 5.11872 ±14m
‹ Projects
updated
Weidezicht
PRJ-2026-001 · NEN 5104
+ New borehole
4 boreholes
PROCESSING · B04
This takes 5 to 10 seconds
PROCESSED · B04
2 layers up to 0.80 m
This is what GeoVoice generated from your recording. Check the profile before drilling further.
View profile
Correct
B03
J. Jansen · 1 Oct, 11:58
‹ B04
2 layers · 0.80 m -gl
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
0 – 30 cm
Sand, slightly silty, moderately humic
median fine · dark brownish-grey · plants, slight, indigenous
30 – 80 cm
Clay, moderately sandy, slightly humic
light brownish-grey · brick, slight, anthropogenic
Tap a layer to edit · drawn according to NEN 6693
Projects
Record
Settings
STEP 05
Create project
Go to Projects and tap New Project. You will complete three steps. The settings apply to all boreholes in the project.
Name.
The project name.
Project code.
The app suggests a code based on your existing projects. You can adjust it or leave it empty.
Main project.
If this project belongs under another project, select it here.
Template.
With a template, fields are pre-filled so you don't have to re-select them for every borehole, layer, or monitoring well. Templates are created in the backoffice.
Coordinate system.
For example RD (Dutch National Grid).
Height system.
For example NAP (Amsterdam Ordnance Datum).
Standard borehole log.
The standard, for example NEN 5104. NEN 6693 will soon be mandatory.
Particle size distribution.
If you work with StiBoKa, tick
Allow percentages to be entered
on.
Project time zone.
Default Europe/Amsterdam.
Type of investigation.
For example, preliminary soil investigation.
Work instructions.
Procedures or agreements for this project. You can access this text during recording.
Tap
Create project
.
New project
✕
Back
STEP 12
Adding a recording: monitoring well, water sample, and completion
After saving the borehole, open it and tap Add Recording. Choose what the recording belongs to: layers, monitoring well, water sample, or completion.
Make a separate recording for each part. Voice-record what applies, using the same rules: clear, full, preferably too much than too little.
COMPLETION EXAMPLE
"From 200 to 90 cm filter gravel, from 90 to 50 cm bentonite, from 50 to 0 backfilled with excavated soil."
‹ Weidezicht
TRANSCRIPTION
Layer from 0 to 30 centimeters, Edelman auger, sand…
Adding a recording
add recording to
B01
✕
Layers
4 now
Monitoring well
1 now
Water sample
none yet
Completion
3 now
Filter positioning
Top of filter (cm)
Bottom of filter (cm)
Reference plane
Pipe
Material
Inner diameter (mm)
Outer diameter (mm)
Filter sleeve: yes or no
During installation
Emptied: yes or no
Flushed: yes or no
Flow: fast, moderate, slow, or none
pH
EC during installation (mS/cm)
EC process water (mS/cm)
Temperature (°C)
Process water (l)
Pumped out (l)
Remark
General
Sample code (required)
Date (required)
Time
Sampler
Matrix, e.g. groundwater
Remark
Groundwater
Groundwater level before pre-pumping (cm)
Groundwater level after pre-pumping (cm)
Groundwater level before sampling (cm)
Pre-pumped volume (l)
Volume to be pre-pumped (l)
Purge volume (l)
Pump type
Flow rate (l/min)
Aerated: yes or no
Yield
Groundwater level reference plane
Field measurement
EC (mS/cm)
pH
Temperature (°C)
Oxygen (mg/l)
Redox (mV)
Turbidity pre-pumping (NTU)
Turbidity sample (NTU)
Sensory
Color strength
Main color
Secondary color
Transparency
Special components
Floating layer
Floating layer: yes or no
Sinking layer: yes or no
Per backfill interval
From … to … cm
Material, e.g. filter gravel, bentonite, or excavated soil
GeoVoice, Bolstoen 13a, 1046 AS Amsterdam — info@geovoice.nl