Mobile GIS for construction quality managers and surveyors

Abstract

In any mega construction project, quality survey managers play a vital role in judging quality of work done by different contractors and sub-contractors. Usually a quality survey manager uses a hard copy form to records the survey information and for reporting to the client. Typically, this entire process takes a week’s time or even more, there is no workflow in place for recording information and analyzing trends in irregularity by the quality managers. The requirement to capture and report quality survey observations in real time evoked a need to research on mechanism for recording the observations using smart phone and existing GIS infrastructure without any development on smart phone and mobile devices. An integrated solution using an editable ArcGIS Server feature service and ArcGIS online web maps was developed in order to perform the quality survey. The paper describes the mobile GIS solution for construction projects. The solution allows recording observations in a real time environment through a user-friendly interface and workflow driven process. It also allows users to capture the picture and attach it to an editable feature service. The client can view this information in real time using ArcGIS online or in the enterprise geodatabase. The use of the Esri online ensures restrictions on accessibility of the content and takes advantage over other application because no programming or development is required. In addition, the information is stored in Oracle database and used for analysis in future, based on the changing reporting requirements. The developed solution saved on time, money and is easy to use and deploy