The Benefits of Using GIS in Construction Management

One of the most critical aspects of construction management is the ability to accurately track and manage project data, in order to communicate with other project stakeholders and phases – that’s where an integration with a GIS platform can help.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is a powerful tool that can help infrastructure construction professionals optimize their workflows and overcome common project management challenges by leveraging location data. In this article, we will explore the benefits and the main uses of GIS in construction management and how it can help you streamline your projects, reduce costs, and improve overall project efficiency.

Improved Project Planning and Design with GIS in Construction

GIS technology can assist in site selection and analysis by mapping construction site plans and identifying potential issues before they occur, whether you’re building in urban areas or rural sites. GIS enables construction managers to create detailed maps of project sites to determine their suitability for construction. These maps provide information on the topography, soil type, drainage patterns, and other environmental factors that may impact construction.

The data visualizations created by GIS platforms can be used to enhance communication between project stakeholders, including contractors, engineers, architects, and local authorities. By identifying potential issues early in the planning process, you can avoid costly delays, reduce the likelihood of costly rework, and ensure clients feel their costs are properly managed.

Tasks like site selection, land suitability analysis, land use and transport modeling, the identification of planning action areas, and impact assessments are all improved by GIS data. When this information is captured digitally, it can be used to inform the construction management process, from detailing the locations of environmentally sensitive areas to assisting with informed daily decision-making.

Cost Reduction in GIS-based Construction Management

GIS technology can streamline workflows, reducing manual labor and improving resource allocation and management. With the ability to efficiently manage materials procurement and transportation, construction companies can save resources and reduce costs. This can be especially important in larger projects, where managing multiple teams and suppliers can become overwhelming. Additionally, the ability to visualize the job site ahead of time, sometimes in a 3D environment, can help teams feel more prepared for construction. Here are some more specific ways that GIS in construction management helps reduce costs:

Here are some ways in which GIS can be used to manage costs in construction projects:

1. Site selection: GIS can be used to analyze different potential construction sites and determine which one will have the lowest costs. Factors such as transportation costs, material costs, and labor costs can all be analyzed to determine which location will have the lowest overall cost.
2. Resource allocation: GIS can be used to determine the most efficient allocation of resources, such as labor and materials. By analyzing the spatial data, construction managers can determine the most efficient route for delivery trucks, the most effective placement of equipment, and the most cost-effective procurement of materials.
3. Risk mitigation: GIS can be used to identify and mitigate potential risks that could impact project costs. For example, GIS can be used to identify areas prone to natural disasters and help construction managers develop strategies to mitigate the potential costs of these events. One of the most costly aspects of construction management is when change orders or rework has to occur. The more comprehensive a team’s understanding of a project is, the less likely that these unnecessary expenditures will occur.
4. Real-time monitoring: GIS can be used to track the progress of construction projects in real-time, allowing construction managers to identify and address issues that could impact project costs before they become significant problems.

By implementing GIS in a construction management process, teams unlock a wide array of possibilities for reducing operational costs, from optimizing equipment deployment to assessing risk.

Increased Efficiency in Project Execution with GIS

Real-time monitoring of construction progress, improved safety and risk management, and enhanced quality control and assurance are just a few of the benefits of using GIS technology in construction management. With the ability to track assets and resources, manage schedules, and analyze data, construction managers can optimize their workflows to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

In addition, GIS technology can also assist in project communication and collaboration among team members, contractors, and stakeholders. With the ability to share information and data through interactive maps and visualizations, everyone involved in the project can stay up-to-date and informed about project progress and any changes that may occur.

For example, the City of Muscatine, Iowa, currently leverages Esri GIS dashboards throughout their construction management process. The dashboards enable the team at Muscatine to increase project transparency and collaboration with external stakeholders. Rather than spending time to dig through files to answer questions, construction project managers can refer to a visual dashboard that captures the geographic area, expected completion date, remaining working days, and the total budgeted amount.

“Most of the time people ask about the budget and the schedule. How far are we into it? Are we under budget? All of that information is readily available in the system,” said Mark Yerington, the GIS/CAD Manager for Muscatine Power and Water.

The Value of GIS in Construction Management

Overall, the adoption of GIS technology in construction management can lead to significant improvements in project planning, execution, and cost management. By leveraging location data and visualization tools, construction professionals can better understand their projects and make more informed decisions, leading to successful and efficient project completion. As engineering firms look to move to a world dominated by BIM (Building Information Modeling) processes that rely on vast quantities of data, GIS is a crucial component in ensuring data is valuable and actionable.

Are you interested in learning more about using GIS in construction management practices? Infotech has partnered with Esri, the global leader in ArcGIS technology, to offer a comprehensive solution for geo-enabling your construction project data. By capturing and visualizing construction data for project and asset management, organizations are empowered to make insight-driven decisions, supported by real location intelligence. Learn more about our Construction Data Visualization Extension here.