A

Term Paper
On

Importance and Application of GIS to civil

engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

School of Engineering and Technology
Sharda University, Greater Noida

Submitted by: Under supervision:

Mohammad Hossain Adeli Ms. Shikha

Roll # 130107111

System ID # 2013016237
Copyright by Mohammad Hossain Adeli

ABSTRACT

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Geographic information system (GIS) technology is attracting interest from a broad range of civil
engineering disciplines because of its potential to provide a new environment for problem solving
which could lower costs, improve quality, and support multidiscipline analysis for complex
projects. This paper reviews the primary components and capabilities of GIS technology and shows
how it is used in many civil engineering applications including infrastructure management,
transportation, land use planning, water resources engineering, and environmental engineering.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all I am thankful to Almighty God who gave me knowledge and power to make me able to
complete this term paper report. I am thankful to the Administration of Sharda University who
provided me this opportunity to have a research about this term paper topic and groom myself for
the future professional responsibilities.
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I am also thankful to my respectable teacher Ms. Shikha who is always there for valuable advice
and guidance. Her guidance helped me a lot in grasping the concepts underlying things. I am also
thankful to all of my teachers at Sharda University, who directly or indirectly ever helped me in
completing this term paper, they helped me learn a lot of things.

Mohammad Hossain Adeli

CONTENTS
Abstract........................................................................................................................................ (2)

Acknowledgement........................................................................................................................ (3)

Introduction, / What is GIS, / Why GIS... (5)

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Author, Serve, Use, / Spatial Analysis / Visualization and Cartography / Spatial
Data Management / Infrastructure Life
Cycle.. (6)

Planning / Data Collection / Environmental Analysis / Design / Construction...

(7)

Data Collection As Built Surveying / Operation, Maintenance / GIS data

Models.. (8)

Major GIS Functions / Data Integration, Visualization, and Management...

............... (9)

Infrastructure Management / Use GIS for more efficient / Site

Analysis.. (10)

Critical Infrastructure Protection / Emergency Managers Use the Enterprise GIS

database to /

Transportation.. .............
(11)

Land fill Site Selection / Town Planning and Urban development / Watershed
Management...
(12)

Conclusion / References.
(13)

INTRODUCTION
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A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for the input, storage,
management, retrieval and output of information. The information in a GIS relates to the
characteristics of geographic locations or areas. In other words, a GIS answers questions about
where things are or about what is located at a given location. The term GIS has different
meanings in different contexts. It can relate to the overall system of hardware and software that is
used to work with spatial information. It might refer to a particular software package that is
designed to handle information about geographic features. It may relate to an application, for
example a comprehensive geographic database of a country or region. Data capturing from Aerial
Photography and / or Remote sensing systems were made with the help of Global Positioning
Systems, Digitizing and Scanning. Civil engineering is about developing and sustaining
infrastructure. The profession covers many areas of interest and a broad range of expertise. As a
result, civil engineers work with a voluminous amount of data from a variety of sources.
Geographic information system (GIS) technology provides the tools for creating, managing,
analyzing, and visualizing the data associated with developing and managing infrastructure. GIS
allows civil engineers to manage and share data and turn it into easily understood reports and
visualizations that can be analyzed and communicated to others. This data can be related to both a
project and its broader geographic context. It also helps organizations and governments work
together to develop strategies for sustainable development. Thus, GIS is playing an increasingly
important role in civil engineering companies, supporting all phases of the infrastructure life cycle.

What is GIS?
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system intended to capture, store, manipulate, analyze,
manage, and present all types of geographical data. In the merging of cartography, statistical
analysis, and database technology.

Why GIS?
GIS software is interoperable, supporting the many data formats used in the infrastructure life cycle
and allowing civil engineers to provide data to various agencies in the required format while
maintaining the datas core integrity. GIS technology provides a central location to conduct spatial
analysis, overlay data, and integrate other solutions and systems. Built on a database rather than
individual project files, GIS enables civil engineers to easily manage, reuse, share, and analyze data,
saving time and resources.

Author, Serve, Use

GIS lets you easily author data, maps, globes, and models on the desktop; serve them to a GIS
server; and use them through Web, desktop, and mobile clients.

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Spatial Analysis
GIS provides tools for modeling information to support more intelligent, faster decisions; discover
and characterize geographic patterns; optimize network and resource allocation; and automate
workflows through a visual modeling environment.

Visualization and Cartography

Through the use of 2D and 3D clients, you can experience a more interactive way of seeing data,
visualizing change over time and space to identify patterns and trends, and disseminate knowledge
to engineers, managers, clients, regulators, and field-based personnel.

Spatial Data Management

GIS organizes and manages geographic information to support fast and efficient visualization and
analytic applications, regardless of the amount of data held within an organization. Agencies
securely store and manage vast amounts of spatial information and propagate data changes between
multiple data sources

INFRASTRUCTURE LIFE CYCLE

A centralized information system based on ESRI GIS software provides civil engineers with the
IT framework for maintaining and deploying critical data and applications across every aspect of
the infrastructure project life cycle including planning and design, data collection and management,
spatial analysis, construction, and operations management and maintenance. This architecture
provides the tools to assemble intelligent GIS applications and improve a project process by giving
engineers, construction contractors, surveyors, and analysts a single data source from which to
work. Centrally hosting applications and data makes it easy to manage, organize, and integrate
geographic data, including CAD data, from existing databases to visualize, analyze, and make
decisions. The system helps combat data communication errors, eliminating the need for multiple,
flat files in disparate systems.

Planning
It contains high-level planning functions for site location including environmental impact
mitigation, economic analysis, regulatory permitting, alternative siting analysis, routing utilities,
what-if scenarios, visualization of concept options, data overlay, modeling, and benefit/cost
alternatives analysis

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Data Collection
It has specific functions to collect precise site data used for predesign analysis; design; and
calculations including field survey, topography, soils, subsurface geology, traffic, lidar, photo
grammar, imaging, sensitive environmental areas, wetlands, hydrology, and other site specific
design-grade data.

Environmental Analysis
It provides analysis to support design including hydrology analysis, volume calculations, soil load
analysis, traffic capacity, environmental impact, slope stability, materials consumption, runoff,
erosion control, and air emissions. During environmental analysis, view project maps, site photos,
CAD files, survey measurements, and 3D renderings. Analysis of the environment with a GIS
allows you to view patterns, trends, and relationships that were not clearly evident without the
visualization of data

Design
It allows creation of new infrastructure data for new civil works including grading, contouring,
specifications, cross sections, design calculations, mass haul plans, environmental mitigation plans,
and equipment staging. This includes integration with traditional design tools such as CAD and
databases for new design capabilities

Construction
It provides the mechanics and management for building new infrastructure including takeoffs;
machine control; earth movement; intermediate construction, volume and material, and payment
calculations; materials tracking; logistics; schedules; and traffic management.

Data Collection As - Built Surveying

GIS provides the tools to collect precise site data and document existing conditions. With as-built
surveying infrastructure data, operators use defined, operational, industry-standard data models. As-
built surveying with GIS technology permits the surveyor to deliver data into operational GIS,
eliminating costly data conversion and reducing errors

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Operations/Maintenance
It models utility and infrastructure networks and integrates other related types of data such as raster
images and CAD drawings. Spatial selection and display tools allow you to visualize scheduled
work, ongoing activities, recurring maintenance problems, and historical information. The
topological characteristics of a GIS database can support network tracing and can be used to
analyze specific properties or services that may be impacted by such events as stoppages, main
breaks, and drainage defects. An engineering information system based on enterprise GIS
technology streamlines activities from field data collection to project management. With this single
relational database, you are connected to all your clients; construction sites; and inventory, network,
and maintenance data. A server-based data management environment leveraging GIS capabilities
promotes efficient workflows in data and project management. It allows you to streamline your
work processes in data capture, editing, analysis, visualization, and design. With an ability to
communicate changes to an entire team rapidly, GIS gives your entire team access to the most
current information supporting better decision making. GIS enhances workflows in

Project management
Analysis and design
Logistics

GIS provides
Data accuracy
Data sharing
Analysis capability
Modeling

GIS data Models

Despite the heterogeneity of the information that can be stored in a GIS, there are only a few
common methods of representing spatial information in a GIS database. In developing a GIS
application, real world features need to be translated into simplified representations that can be
stored and manipulated in a computer. Two data models are internal representations of geographic
information and currently dominate commercial GIS software: The vector data model, is used to
symbolize discrete features such as houses, roads or districts. Raster data model is most often used
to represent continuously varying phenomena such as elevation or climate, but is also used to store
pictures or image data from satellites and plane based cameras. For census applications, the vector
data model is usually more useful, although many auxiliary data sets are more appropriately stored
using the raster

Major GIS functions

There are two major functions of GIS:

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 Data capture

Graphic data: digitized, converted from existing data Attribute data: keyed-in, loaded from
existing data files

Data storage and manipulation

File management
Editing

Data analysis

Database query
Spatial analysis
Modeling

Data display

Maps
Reports

Data Integration, Visualization, and Management

You can use GIS to combine and interpret data from many different formats. GIS allows you to
integrate satellite images, CAD drawings, and parcel maps to create a visual overview of a project
and turn it into easily understood reports. It accepts CAD data without conversion and includes it as
a layer in a geodatabase A GIS geodatabase gives you the ability to handle rich data types and apply
sophisticated rules and relationships. In addition to managing large volumes of geographic data, it
also implements sophisticated business logic that, for example, builds relationships between data
types such as topologies and geometric networks, validates data, and controls access. Data
management tools scale to meet your needs, from the individual to workgroups and large, multiuser
enterprises.

Infrastructure Management
Visualizing assets and the surrounding environment when you build, upgrade, and repair
infrastructure helps you decide how to prioritize your work, convince others of its importance, and
make good decisions about how to move forward with your plans. Having an accurate, clear picture
of the project helps you better understand needs, reduce problems, and mitigate costs and
environmental impacts. These processes are improved when GIS is the core system for data
management and visualization. With all the demands on your time, using tools that streamline your
business processes and provide you with the best mapping and visualization makes sense. GIS can
help you present information in a straightforward way to partners in your projects, government
officials, and the public. With ArcGIS Server technology, you can take maps that you have created

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with ArcGIS Desktop software and publish them over the Web so you, your partners, and your staff
in the field can see how a project is progressing

Use GIS for more efficient

Environmental analysis
Infrastructure design
Transportation
Watershed management
Land fill site selection
Town planning and urban development

SITE ANALYSIS
GIS quickly incorporates and analyzes many types of information and images for site analysis.
Highly accurate results displayed geographically provide insight into connections and relationships,
and customers relate easily to a recognizable map. The baseman can include parcel maps, zoning
and city designations, environmental protection areas, aerial photos, and topographic and soil maps.
Overlays of relevant data on population growth, commercial activity, and traffic flow combine to
rapidly paint a meaningful picture of a sites opportunities and constraints. Civil engineers use GIS
to keep track of multiple urban and regional indicators, forecast future community needs, and plan
accordingly to guarantee quality of life in livable communities for everyone. Federal, regional,
state, and local planning agencies have realized the power of GIS to identify problems, respond to
them efficiently, and share the results with each other. A GIS solution provides tools to help them
reach their agency missions while doing more and spending less

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Engineers responsible for the safety and security of buildings, bridges, utilities, and other critical
infrastructure need a comprehensive decision-making tool for emergency assessment, preparation
response, and recovery activities. GIS technology provides a situational awareness tool for fusing
information, from flood elevation and evacuation routes to a bridges structural specifications and
inspection results. With critical infrastructure information stored in a geo database, you can display
that information in real time on a Web-based map. Use GIS tools to combine and analyze specific
data needed to meet a required task. Add current traffic and weather data, draw buffer protection
zones, and share new changes in real time.

Emergency managers use the enterprise GIS database to

Identify critical infrastructure and hazards within affected areas.

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 Identify medical resources and route patients to nearest facilities.
Prepare evacuation routes for at-risk populations.
Provide accurate damage estimates.
Identify priorities for short-term recovery needs.
Assess long-term recovery needs.

TRANSPORTATION
Geographic information systems for transportation (GIS-T) are Inter connected hardware, software,
data, people, organizations and institutional arrangements for collecting, storing, analyzing and
communicating particular types of information about the earth. The particular types of information
are transportation systems and geographic regions that affect or are affected by these systems. GIS-
T have "arrived" and represent one of the most important applications of GIS. The GIS-T
community has its own, widely recognized moniker (namely, "GIS-T"). There are dedicated
conferences and well-attended session tracks at mainstream conferences. Papers and articles about
GIS-T can be found in a wide range of general and specialized GIS journals and trade publications.
GIS-T consultants abound. There are career opportunities the public and private sectors. Indeed,
some have recognized the recent emergence of a "second GIS-T renaissance" as GIS data and
services continue to improve in leaps and bounds.

LAND FILL SITE SELECTION

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is a useful tool that can be utilized in the search for suitable
new landfill sites. GIS is a powerful technology which permits accurate processing of spatial data
covering a large number of themes, from a variety of sources, specifically cartographic/numeric
data, enabling processing, overlay and derivation of thematic maps, enabling tailored solutions for a
whole series of applications to be furnished. Advent of highly sophisticated computerized GIS
systems, digitized map data, and Landsat satellites and other remote sensing sensors that help to
define infrastructural and land use patterns, have dramatically increased the potential of GIS to aid
in the development of a more systematic approach to landfill site selection. Such an approach
should ideally combine computerized GIS and geotechnical site investigation methodologies (Allen
et al, 1997). There is also a need for greater transparency in the site selection procedure, in order to
promote public confidence in the nonbiased scientific basis of the process as a counter to the
widely-encountered NIMBY syndrome.

TOWN PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

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 The unprecedented growth of urbanization in India has given rise to problems of housing,
sanitation, power, water supply, disposal of effluents and environmental pollution. Systematic
mapping and periodic monitoring of urban land use is therefore necessary for proper planning
management and policy making. For sustainable development of urban agglomeration, optimal
urban land use plans and resources development models need to be generated by integrating the
information on natural resources, demographic and socio economic data in a GIS domain with the
currently available satellite data.

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
GIS improves calculations for watershed characteristics, flow statics, debris flow probability, and
facilitates the watershed delineation by using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). It provides a
consistent method for watershed analysis using DEMs and standardized datasets such as land cover,
soil properties, gauging station locations, and climate variables.

ArcGIS with Arc Hydro gives you the flexibility to combine watershed datasets from one map
source with stream and river networks.

Use ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for hydrologic analysis such as calculating flow a cross an
elevation surfaces, which provides the basis for creating stream networks and watersheds;
calculating flow path length; and assigning stream orders.

CONCLUSION
There are ample evidences of applying the recent advances in satellite based remote sensing and
GIS technology in various fields of civil engineering. Indias space programmer ensuring
continuous availability of RS data and launching of future satellites carrying high spatial and
spectral resolution sensors can go a long way in providing useful information required for civil
engineering application.

References

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www.esri.com

www.wikiepedia.com

www.cesnitsblog.com

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