Geographic Information Systems in Evaluation and Visualization of Construction Schedule

TL;DR

This paper presents a GIS-based methodology that integrates 3D spatial models with construction schedules to enhance visualization and understanding of construction progress.

Contribution

It introduces a novel system combining AutoCAD, Excel, and ArcGIS to visualize spatial and schedule data together, addressing limitations of existing scheduling tools.

Findings

Enhanced visualization of construction progress

Improved understanding of spatial-temporal relationships

Potential for better project management

Abstract

Commercially available scheduling tools such as Primavera and Microsoft Project fail to provide information pertaining to the spatial aspects of construction project. A methodology using geographical information systems (GIS) is developed to represent spatial aspects of the construction progress graphically by synchronizing it with construction schedule. The spatial aspects are depicted by 3D model developed in AutoCAD and construction schedule is generated using Microsoft Excel. Spatial and scheduling information are linked together into the GIS environment (ArcGIS). The GIS-based system developed in this study may help in better understanding the schedule along with its spatial aspects.