Management of Spatial Information for Construction Planning and Design Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Geographic information systems (GIS),a technology for spatial data analysis which is widely used in geology, appears to have significant potential in construction applications. GIS as well as computer-aided design (CAD) are two computerized systems widely used in engineering design and spatial management. Currently, CAD is the most popular tool in geometric model creating. However, due to the poor capability in analysis, CAD is limited to be a design and drafting tool. GIS, an evolutionary technology in spatial information management, seems to have potential in solving this problem. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the feasibility of applying GIS in potential construction applications. The applications of GIS can achieve the following objectives : 1. Integration and organization of ill-structured information, 2.Automate spatial analysis, 3.Improve efficiency of construction planning, 4.Improve project control, 5.Improve the quality of construction plan and design , and 6.Reduce paper work and improve the eases of accessibility and modification of information.