BENEFITS OF GIS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The benefits of GIS are very tangible in the construction industry especially for project managers, site engineers and also clients. For the project managers, it helps in evaluating the project and ensuring that the desired standards are met. It is used as a tool to review performance of the project and its execution. So, the manager can quantify the progress depending on the priorities like the amount of money spent versus the work done and achievement. Through GIS software a manager can not only monitor the cost of project and the work done but it also helps in comparing and evaluating various projects of the company and making sure that the company’s business objectives are not compromised. Integrating the system of GIS, comparing the actual work done, the cost incurred etc. can be easily identified in order to check whether the project is on-time or behind schedule and either it is over the budget or not and can prevent unnecessary cost and control the budget. The data gathered also helps in understanding the status of work and on the basis of which a site engineer takes the decisions and monitors work. Another advantage of using GIS in construction industry is that through tracking whole work process of the site if they or the client want any changes, it could be possible in a short period of time before things get out of hand.

Using GIS saves a lot of resources as the software handles the process of construction, checks, monitors it and makes an attempt to complete the project on or before time; this saves time and money. Through the software one can build a 3D model and the tools can offer pre-defined objects to understand the progress and development and routing. The tools have potential to significantly improve the design co-ordination and execution. It can also help to resolve complex designs and challenges faced during construction. In order to know the exact status of the project, a manager can rely on the 3D technologies as it provides significant advantages in coordinating development with constructible designs and sequences. Such technology helps in improving and quality of the project and save resources as much as possible.

Planning, managing and executing the infrastructural projects in the construction industry that too in a new era of globalization and economic liberalization demands for new skills, approach and technology. GIS has the capacity to collect enough data from a spatial interface. This data helps in organizing the relevant information for tracking project. The project managers are responsible and held accountable for effective and efficient project delivery. It becomes cumbersome for them to manage at times if the projects are too complex or requires careful planning, monitoring and management. In such situations, GIS works as a savior and it uses location as the foundation of managing data for organizing project information. It works as an advantage to use 3D modelling in GRAM++ GIS software as the clients can see data, visualize change over time and observes patterns and trends, disseminate knowledge to the field personnel like engineers, managers in a more interactive manner. Thus, in today’s time it is necessary to integrate GIS in a construction project for better management.