A parameter logger in the age of artificial intelligence
PROLOG: an intelligent parameter logger for geotechnical drill rigs
PROLOG (an acronym for Parameters Recorder for Optimized Learning of Geological data) is a groundbreaking technology that bridges traditional geotechnics with artificial intelligence. It is a patented system for logging and semi-automatic control of geotechnical drill rigs.
In practical terms, PROLOG is an embedded device mounted on the drill rig that continuously collects drilling parameters—such as pressure, hydraulic flow rates, and speeds—and can act on the machine’s controls through proportional electrohydraulic components.
The true innovation of PROLOG lies in its integrated machine learning module, trained on years of accumulated drilling data and geotechnical practice.
In other words, the system has an “experiential memory” of the ground: it has learned, from thousands of meters of documented boreholes, how the machine should behave in various geological contexts to achieve the best possible result.
How PROLOG works and the contribution of machine learning
PROLOG performs two main functions: logging and control.
As a parameter logger, it captures all drilling data along with contextual information such as the GPS location of the borehole, time of operation, and more. These details—previously recorded manually by the driller, or sometimes not collected at all—are now centralized and automatically stored by PROLOG. This data continuously feeds the machine learning module: the more PROLOG is used in the field, the more it deepens its understanding of how the machine behaves in relation to the geological conditions encountered.
In semi-automatic control mode, PROLOG directly intervenes on the machine. Thanks to installed proportional electrohydraulic actuators (for example, an electronic control device on the main hydraulic valve), it can adjust drilling parameters in real time based on optimized instructions.
At SEMOFI, geotechnics is at the heart of what we do.
With 170 team members mobilized across France, we support our clients with precision, dedication, and passion. Because high-quality field data is essential, we made the decision three years ago to develop our own data logging tools in-house. In the face of growing interest in artificial intelligence, we’ve maintained a pragmatic approach: designing solutions that are useful, reliable, and tailored to real-world conditions.This is the spirit in which PROLOG was created.
Born from two years of work by a multidisciplinary R&D team, the project addresses a clear need: to automate certain repetitive tasks and ensure the reliability of measurements in increasingly complex ground conditions.Beyond its technical innovation, PROLOG is above all a human journey.
Our team has developed new skills in fields such as machine language, electrohydraulics, and data processing. This project reflects our core values: collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective ambition.Today, PROLOG is fully operational.
It represents a significant step forward—for our clients, our partners, and for the entire geotechnical sector.
The benefits brought by PROLOG
- More reliable data : Automatic and standardized data logging eliminates input errors and missed entries. Sensor-driven monitoring reduces human-related bias, ensuring higher-quality data collection.
- Optimized drilling campaigns: : Partial automation boosts speed while enabling richer data collection. Adjustments are more precise, tests can be adapted in real time, and overall timelines are reduced—improving both the cost-to-quality ratio of studies and their carbon footprint.
