The Power of Construction GIS: From Data to Decisions

Project documentation is often stored in disparate locations, far from the actual site. As-builts of a road project might be kept in a government building, photos of construction progress are often stored on someone’s personal smartphone, and quality standard operating procedures might be sitting in a binder on a shelf. When information isn’t easy to access, share or visualize, a project’s efficiency, budget and safety can all be impacted.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a digital tool that uses maps to capture, store, analyze and visually share data and information related to specific locations. GIS can be used at every point in the construction process and help to improve overall project management, optimize site logistics, reduce risk, support relationships with the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and, after construction, aid asset management.

This article explores the value, common uses and the future of construction GIS.

What is GIS?

When applied to the information-rich world of construction, GIS provides convenience, clarity and collaboration that enables project teams to be more efficient when capturing and analyzing project data.

The digital system uses a map of a specific location with a series of layers to display data of various types. Common types of data include: 

• As-builts, Redlines & Site plans

  Show precise information about a completed or planned project. During the build, these types of documents can be used to help manage a construction site, and include information about access, storage or element specifications. For asset management, these documents can be used to access dimensions, system locations, and metadata that shows when and who installed certain elements, any warrant and maintenance documents and information about site inspections. 

• Topographic & Environmental Information

  Display information gathered by satellite, surveying instruments or government agencies such as FEMA to assess site suitability, plan earthwork or identify important environmental landmarks, such as wetlands, nature reserves or floodplains.

• Project Management

  Track progress by location, connect specific objects to estimated work time, pin construction progress to respective locations, and support overall site logistics including deliveries and equipment schedules.

• Infrastructure

  Access updated information about roads, bridges, energy, water and other utilities.

• Punch list or Inspection Items

  Document issues by location to compile a list of tasks that need to be completed for closeout or to close a permit.

• Safety Issues

  Log unsafe conditions to identify safety hazards, trends or hot spots.

• Commissioning

  During the quality assurance process of commissioning, share information about how systems performed when installed. 

• Photos

  Organize photos by location to show documentation to complete rough-ins, inspections or equipment training.

• Material Information

  Display material specifications, installation information, warranty information and operations and maintenance (O&M) manual information.

GIS has historically required a high amount of expertise, powerful computers and a lot of money to operate.

However, that has changed rapidly in the last few years, as GIS has become more user-friendly, easier to use on mobile devices and has been integrated into other common software applications. GIS is increasingly common in construction and its capabilities are evolving quickly.

The Value of GIS

GIS has a vast range of applications, with more coming out all the time. However, the principle is almost always the same: create more data that’s easy to organize, locate and understand, which helps improve communication, collaboration and decision-making.

This can be valuable for many different stakeholders. Design teams can use the technology to help design a project, project managers can leverage GIS to visualize work status across areas of a project, and project engineers can report accurate work status with location data accessible to the entire team. Additionally, superintendents can understand where roadblocks are happening or overdue work is occuring, and owners can visually track construction progress or leverage the technology for asset management.  

Some of the value GIS can offer includes:

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  Progress Tracking

  Document what’s completed, approved or delayed and share with necessary stakeholders. Issues can be reported and sent to the correct stakeholder to help the project keep moving and avoid delays.

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  Risk Management

  Track observations, delays or safety incidents in specific areas to detect trends before they become major issues.

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  Site Selection and Analysis

  Use spatial and geographic data to help assess site suitability and predict potential obstacles. Integrate city, environmental and utility data to build realistic plans, manage permits and coordinate with the AHJ.

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  Design and Planning

  Integrate GIS with design programs to create more precise and efficient building plans and drawings. Attach important material information, such as lead times, expected delivery dates and specifications. 

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  Site Management

  Coordinate logistics of materials, equipment and workforce. Share information about site access, security and communication. 

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  Collaboration

  Make sharing information easier by tagging documents — such as RFIs, inspections or change orders — to their exact locations. 

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  Assessing Environmental Impact

  Access information about ecosystems, floodplains and other environmental factors to improve site analysis, planning and environmental analysis.

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  Infrastructure Management

  Share information about infrastructure, such as roads or bridges, with various stakeholders, including general contractors or utility companies. 

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  Asset Management 

  Access and share as-builts, material information, commissioning reports and installation information. This can be used to inform decisions about renovations and repairs or to settle legal or insurance disputes.

In addition to accessing information, stakeholders can share data and have it immediately reflected in GIS and accessible by other team members. This increases collaboration, improves communication and minimizes rework.

Integrating GIS With Other Tech

GIS can be integrated with other technologies to enhance what engineers, contractors and asset managers are able to do. This integration could include:

• Construction Management Software

  Linking GIS to construction management software can help project teams visualize the spatial context of important documents. This can streamline workflows, improve document management and facilitate real-time communication between different stakeholders. 

• Building Information Modeling (BIM)

  Integrating GIS with BIM combines spatial data with detailed building information. This can lead to more accurate site analysis, create more detailed schedules and material estimations and provide the ability to compare initial designs with the final product. 

• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

  Engineers and designers can overlay CAD drawings onto GIS maps to ensure alignment and improve planning.

• Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

  High-resolution imagery and real-time data can be integrated into GIS to provide up-to-date visualizations and inspections of the site. 

Construction GIS Best Practices

There are several ways for construction professionals to maximize the power of GIS, to maximize efficiency on their projects. 

Integrate early.

Start using GIS during the bidding or design phase, if possible. This helps create a deeper pool of information that can be pulled from to compile all the information that will need to be handed over at closeout.

Ensure data accuracy.

Information in GIS can be shared quickly and widely, so it’s important information is correct. Use multiple data points and known survey points whenever possible. High-accuracy GPS devices can help improve data accuracy. 

Update regularly.

Information, including photos and site plans, should be updated regularly so everyone can rely on the system for the latest details.

Provide training.

Train team members on GIS and any new workflows that come from its use. This will also help address any hesitancy towards adopting GIS that workers might feel.

The Future of GIS

GIS technology is moving quickly. Using GIS on mobile devices is increasingly seamless, especially with the integration of construction management software, enabling project teams to use it directly in the field. Its integration with other tools provides everyone involved on the project a centralized location to find and log critical project data. 

This technology already plays an important role in smart cities and environmental preservation, but is only just beginning to unlock the future it promises, which is one of organized, accessible information and improved decision making.

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