GIS APPLICATIONS IN CIVIL

ENGINEERING
[REPORT SUBTITLE]

Praveen Kalubowila | ENG/17/046 | November 3, 2018

Introduction
Almost everything happens somewhere and in most case, knowing where some things happen is
critically important.

Examples:

1. Position of country boundaries

2. Location of hospitals
3. Routing delivery vehicles
4. Management of forest stands
5. Allocation of funds of sea defenses

Geographical Information Systems are a different class of information systems that keep path
not only of actions, activities, and things, but also of where these events, activities, and things
occur.

Geographic location is an important quality of actions, rules, approaches and plans.

Geographic problems include a characteristic of location, also in the information used to solve
them.

What is GIS?
GIS means “Geographic information system”. A geographic information system is a system that
using to capture, store, operate, study, manage, and present geographic data. It works in these
steps,

Data Data Data Data

Data output
capture integration structures modeling

A Geographical Information System has the ability to store, retrieve, manipulate and analyses a
range of spatially related data. With a GIS the user may ask questions of data related to the map,
search for patterns and distribution an investigate the underlying relationships between different
sets of data.GIS handles data many hours to complete manually.

GIS benefits organizations of all sizes and in almost every engineering. There is a rising
consciousness of the economic and considered value of GIS. The profits of GIS usually fall into five
simple types. They are,

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 1. Cost savings and increased efficiency
2. Better decision making
3. Improved communication
4. Better record keeping
5. Managing geographically

GIS applications in civil engineering

A progressive information system like GIS acting a big part and serves as a complete platform in
every stage of infrastructure life cycle. Development and accessibility of technology has set new
marks for the authorities in the infrastructure development areas. Now more and more authorities
are looking for help of these technologically smart and better information systems like GIS for
infrastructure development. Each and every point of infrastructure life-cycle is significantly affected
and improved by the enrollment of GIS.

There are so many GIS applications in civil engineering. such as,

 Transportation  Critical infrastructure protection

 Watershed analysis  Data Integration, Visualization, and
 Environmental Impact Assessment Management
 Urban Development  Pollution monitoring
 Target Site selection  Natural hazard assessment
 Landfill site selection  Resource management
 Infrastructure management  Planning
 Mineral mapping  Constructions
 Site analysis

We can discus about GIS applications in civil engineering by following main topics,

DATA HANDLING:

GIS software is unique in its capability to capture, store, and manage spatially referenced data such
as points, lines, and polygons (vector data model), or as constant fields (raster data model). Simply
used as a spatial database, GIS supports in modeling applications over control a special form of data
that would else be compromised or difficult to store.in a spatial database. This is possibly the most
exciting reason or using GIS and is the most commonly mentioned advantage. Before having the
ability to handle large volumes of spatial data, engineers were resigned to model on a site-specific
basis or otherwise employ unrefined concepts. Relational database features of many commercial GIS
help to protect data reliability and maintain data consistency. Query languages and user interfaces
cause quick modification of parameter values Suitable and quick updating of model parameters is a
significant advantage for models that depend on in situ determined parameters.
GIS does not only serve as a database for parameter data. Qualitative and measureable data can be
integrated through spatial relationships rather than through relationships between attributes that
may not exist (Frost et al. 1997). This is most. usually done using the overlay function of a GIS where
several maps are either visually or topologically joined. Visualization of data using the graphic

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features of GIS can help the engineer in confirming data and information relating to the model and
its application. Advancement data are worth singling out, as they are corporate to many applications
of engineering models. Robust GIS is a small set of software that have abilities for constructing and
importing digital elevation models (DEMs) and triangulated irregular networks (TINs). Information
for example slope and aspect can be consequently derived from DEMs and TINs using software
specific functions. That kind of a information is the basis on which several models, with slope stability
and surface runoff models, are based.

(Miles, JULY 1999)

INFRASTRUCTURE LIFE CYCLE:

A compacted information system based on ESRI, GIS software offers civil engineers with the IT
framework for maintaining and organizing critical data and applications through every phase of the
infrastructure project life cycle with planning and design, data collection and management, spatial
analysis, construction, and operations management and maintenance. This architecture offers the
tools to collect smart GIS applications and develop a project process by giving engineers,
construction, contractors, surveyors, and analysts a distinct data source from which to work.
Central hosting applications and data makes it easy to manage, organize, and integrate geographic
data, including CAD data, from current databases to visualize, analyze, and to get decisions. The
system helps combat data communication errors, removing the need for several, flat files in distinct
systems.

PLANNING:
In planning its main involvement is to give us with an organized set of data which can help us to
resolve difficult situations relating to the selection of site, managing traffic congestion, study of
ecosystem, managing risk concerning the use of natural resources, environmental impact,
sustainability issues, directing of roads and pipes etc.

It has high-level planning functions for site location with environmental impact mitigation,
economic analysis, modeling, marginal siting analysis, routing services, what-if scenarios,
visualization of concept options, regulatory permitting, data overlay and advantage/cost
alternatives analysis.

DATA COLLECTION:
It consumes exact functions to collect defined site data used for predesign analysis; design and
calculations with field topography, survey, soils, subsurface geology, LIDAR, photo
geometry, traffic, imaging, sensitive environmental zones, wetlands, hydrology, and other site-
exact design-grade data. Environmental Analysis It delivers analysis to support design including
hydrology analysis, volume calculations, runoff, soil load analysis, materials consumption, traffic

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capacity, environmental influence, slope stability, erosion control, and air emissions. Throughout
environmental analysis, site photos, view project maps, CAD files, survey measurements, and 3D
executions. Analysis of the environment with a GIS lets us to sight trends, patterns, and
relationships that were not obviously marked without the visualization of data.

DESIGN:
It lets making of new infrastructure data for innovative civil works including grading, conditions,
contouring, environmental mitigation plans, cross sections, design calculations, mass haul plans,
and equipment performance. This includes combination with traditional design tools such as CAD
and databases for new design experiences.

CONSTRUCTION:
It delivers the mechanics and management for building new infrastructure including takeoffs,
machine control, earth movement, transitional construction, capacity and material, payment
Calculations, schedules, materials tracking, logistics, and traffic management.
It is the period when all layout plans and paper work design come into reality in the real world. The
GIS helps the professionals to recognize the site conditions that affect the schedule baseline and
cost baseline. To keep the construction within economical and schedule GIS guides us about how
to use our resources on site efficiency by:

 Timely usage of construction equipment.

 Working Hours
 Effects of seasonal fluctuations.
 Optimizing routes for dumpers and concrete trucks
 Earth filling and cutting
 Calculation of volumes and areas of constructed phase thereby helping in Estimation and
Valuation.

DATA COLLECTION AS-BUILT SURVEYING:

GIS gives the tools to collect exact site data and document current conditions. With as built
surveying infrastructure data, workers use defined, operational, industry-standard data models. As
built surveying with GIS tools authorizations the surveyor to send data into working GIS, removing
costly data conversion and decreasing errors. Operations/Maintenance It models service and
infrastructure networks and integrates other associated types of data such as raster images and
CAD drawings. Spatial selection and display tools let you to visualize planned work, uncompleted
activities, recurring maintenance problems, and his typical information. The topological features of
a GIS database can support network tracing and can be used to analyze exact properties or services
that may be impacted by such actions as main breaks and drainage defects.

INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT:
Visualizing possessions and the surrounding environment when we build, upgrade, and repair
infrastructure helps us decide how to order our work, prove others of its importance, and make
decent decisions about how to go ahead with our plans. Having a precise, clear picture of the
project assistances us better understand requirements, decrease problems, and soften costs and
environmental impacts. These processes are enhanced when GIS is the essential system for data
management and visualization. With all the stresses on our time, using tools that simplify our
business processes and gives us with the best mapping and visualization. GIS helps us present

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information in an upfront way to partners in our projects, government officials, and the public.
With ArcGIS Server technology, we can take maps that we have created with ArcGIS Desktop
software and publish them over the Web so us, our partners, and our staff in the field can see how a
project is progressing.

We can use GIS for more effective

• Construction management
• Planning and site location
• Operations and maintenance
• Environmental analysis
• Infrastructure design
• Data collection and as-built surveying

SITE ANALYSIS:
GIS rapidly incorporates and analyzes many kinds of information and images for site analysis.
Extremely accurate results displayed geographically provide insight into connections and
relationships, and customers share easily to a familiar map. The baseman can include parcel maps,
zoning and city descriptions, environmental protection areas, inflight photos, and topographic and
soil maps. Overlaps of relevant data on population growth, commercial action, and traffic flow
association to quickly draw a meaningful picture of a site’s prospects and constraints. Site Analysis
Civil engineers use GIS to keep track of numerous municipal and local indicators, predict future
community requirements, and plan consequently to guarantee quality of life in civilized
communities for everyone. Federal, regional, state, and local planning agencies have understood
the influence of GIS to identify problems, reply to them efficiently, and share the results with each
other. A GIS solution delivers tools to help them reach their agency missions while doing more and
spending less.

INTERSECTION OF DESIGN AND SURVEY REPRESENTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT:

 Cost effective, equitably dynamic calculation of resource

influences.

 With survey grade data, analysis can be both accurate and

precise.

 Environmental analysis and mitigation discussions continue

during design, when adjustments can be made at a cheep
cost.

GIS FOR LOCATING TRANSMISSION TOWERS:

 Using GIS, we analyzed LiDAR and field survey data for HDR
Engineering and Bonneville Power Administration to check
transmission crossing elevations and proposed tower location
studies.
 100% of the tower study location points matched the LiDAR

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  100% of the tower study location points matched the LiDAR
based DTM within 1 foot vertically, with 94% matching with 0.5ft,
and 75% matching with 0.25ft.
•We were able to identify areas where the LiDAR DTM would fail
the confidence check as embankments at the edges of roads and
cultivated fields, as well as locations with steep cross slopes and
heavy vegetation
(Evans, n.d.)

GIS IN TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING:

Specifically, traffic engineering is improved with the help of GIS. When the database is
made (It might take lot of time and necessary constant up gradation too) and network analysis is
performed, it becomes hugely useful to forecast the traffic conditions, finalize the finest route,
locate nearest police stations, hospitals, find alternate routes, you name it, all can be done using
GIS.
− For some examples:

 METRO projects.
 Airlines or road transport detailed information, Bus no, route, timings etc.
 Disaster responses advance warning.
 Planning and locating, railway corridors.

Location-Allocation Inputs & output

 Customer or demand locations.

 Potential site locations and/or existing facilities.
 Street network or Euclidean distance.

WATERSHED ANALYSIS:
 GIS map water resources and link them to a database
 Planners/Engineers associate their modeling system to the GIS tie to attribute data.
 Data -land use & land cover, geology, soils, hydrography & topography.

FLOOD MODELING:
 Estimate the magnitude of high-flow events, the probability of low-flow events.
 Determine flood regions.
 Recognize high-potential erosion areas.
 Derive physical characteristics area, perimeter, soil data etc.

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SOIL AND FOUNDATION:
GIS benefits in producing soil maps and geology maps of the area that wants to be investigated.
This will significantly help in finalising the type and depth of foundation, load bearing capacity of
the soils and etc. Though the complete finalisation is not possible without in-situ lab tests of the
soil, GIS is definitely a help in this respect.

Conclusion
With increasingly complex projects. GIS provides the civil engineers with tools for creating,
manning, analyzing and visualizing all types of geographic information’s. GIS education is expected
to prepare individuals in the civil engineering profession for the implementation of engineering
projects/tasks with time-and money-saving approaches. Some of the open ended limitations the
high overhead cost GPS/GIS soft wears and hardware’s. Geographic information is at the heart of all
engineering projects.

References
Evans, D., n.d. GIS Applications in a, Bellevue: s.n.

Gupta, V., n.d. applications of gps and gis in civil engineering. [Online]
Available at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/51151348/applications-of-gps-and-gis-in-civil-engineering
[Accessed 03 10 2018].

Merry, C. J., n.d. Application of GIS in Civil Engineering. [Online]

Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/42817130/Application-of-GIS-in-Civil-Engineering-
Carolyn-J-Merry
[Accessed 03 10 2018].

Miles, S. B., 1999. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. [Online]

Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245281987_Applications_and_Issues_of_GIS_as_Tool_fo
r_Civil_Engineering_Modeling

Miles, S. B., JULY 1999. JOURNAL OF COMPUTING IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. pp. 13(3): 144-152.

Moughamer, K., n.d. [Online]

Available at: http://courses.washington.edu/cee424/speakers/kirk.pdf
[Accessed 03 10 2018].

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