GIS maps play a critical role in asset management in the infra sector—from land records to fixing faulty bridges. By combining layers of information about a geographical area—spatial data describing the topography and non-spatial data such as built environment and utilities—GIS maps provide a complete understanding about a place that would otherwise only be available by multiple reconnoiters involving considerable time and expense. But is the Indian infrastructure industry making the most of this technology? Charu Bahri connects the dots on the benefits and challenges of GIS deployment in infrastructure development and natural resource management to determine why the Indian construction industry is trailing behind the West in adopting this remarkable technology.
Potential destructive intentions aside—which led to worldwide suspicion and some banning of Google Earth maps—Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps are useful in the creation, protection and management of other infrastructure and natural resources, be it transportation networks, oil and gas pipeÂlines, electric transmission lines, real estate, and mining and inland waterway resources. GIS facilitates site selecÂtion, study of land use patterns, traffic alignments (in case of bridges), ground and slope studies, underÂstanding effect of climate changes, studying the impact on the ecosystem (for environment clearances), creating work plans and prioritisation, spatial asset management, projÂect progress monitoring, maintenance plans, and so on.
Troubled waters
A few years ago, a NASA study making use of the institution’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) to measure the exploitation of aquifers under the cities of Delhi and Jaipur in north India found that groundwater levels are being drained faster than they are being replenished. NASA warned of dire consequences, including a collapse of agricultural output and severe shortages of potable water, if remedial measures are not taken. Fortunately, the government decided to take the alarm bells seriously. Aquifer mapping is now set to be part of the 12th Five Year Plan, with the government planning to spend as much as $1 billion to map underground water reservoirs. Mapping is the first step towards measuring fossil water reserves and monitoring its use. Mapped aquifers would also help the country manage cropping patterns and ensure drinking water for its burgeoning population.
Fact is—it is pointless to plan to extend water supply pipeline infrastructure if there is no water to be supplied. GIS helps monitor the use of water resources and plan for its distribution shows its potential as a game changer. According to Rajesh C Mathur, Vice Chairman, NIIT GIS Limited (Esri India), “This makes GIS one of the most important components of the information systems deployed in an infrastructure project.â€
GIS for highway developers
Google Earth, possibly the simplest, most ubiquitous and user-friendly way to visualise GIS data, is being used by Indian infrastructure developers. Google Earth demands no advanced expertise to visualise geospatial information. Its newer version Google Earth Pro also allows GIS data to be imported and visualised.
GVK’s EPC division uses Google Earth for its highway projects. Pankaj Agarwal, President, EPC Division, GVK Group, lists a few uses of GIS for companies embarking on highway projects: Help locate the exact place of the highway section, visualise the terrain, stone and earth quarries, analyse and estimate the availability and quantity of materials of stone aggregates, embankment soil, fly ash, and other construction materials, analyse the condition of the pavement and existing bridges and culverts, view changes in river alignments and determine the location of new bridge: “Information related to transport infraÂstructure can be put together for its most efficient utiliÂsation in planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of the transport system.â€
Advanced GIS tools available in India are also facilitating the least cost routing of linear transportation network projects. The process of routing linear infraÂstructure is a compromise between the shortest distance, the straight line connecting the source and destination point of the infrastructure, and the actual conditions below and above ground. GIS surveys help identify the least cost route by bringing on one field all the inforÂmation that can impact the alignment of the linear infrastructure. For example, GIS surveys done by Balaji Geotrak Surveying Private Limited helped finalise the alignment of the proposed Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad Expressway. The survey involved the digiÂtisation of Khasra maps, a study of the flow of the river Yamuna in different weather conditions with the help of satellite imagery and the marking of the final alignment. The GIS field showed the geographical spatial data as well as the non-spatial data.
Least cost pipelines
Projects to expand water and gas pipeline networks, also linear infrastructure, are making use of GIS techÂnology as well. A GIS-based Mumbai city gas pipeline planning survey performed by Balaji Geotrak for British Gas involved digitising city maps (spatial data) and marking all the major intersections on it (non-spatial data), to align the best route. RP Dubey, Group Director, Planning & Projects Group, Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, says the return on investment of GIS mapping is enormous: “Apart from saving 5 to 15 per cent of route length, using GIS to identify pipeline routes allows cadastral overlays on the route for gadget notification, precise location data on installations and the organisation of operations and maintenance data. As the cost of implÂementing the GIS method of least cost routing is merely one-thousandth part of the project cost, cost benefit ratio of over 50 is expected in the worst case scenario.â€
GIS maps can also help reduce route-based project risks and detect deviations from the proposed route. Early identification of such errors eliminates the extra costs that would have been incurred in obtaining addiÂtional right-of-way and the materials wasted in conÂstÂructing the additional length. GIS-based solutions can also help manage construction activities. Material manaÂgement is specially facilitated by GIS technology as images help track the geospatial location of equipment and supplies.
Dubey estimates that material and laying components account for 70 to 90 per cent of pipeline project costs. Consequently, construction delays and maÂterial wastage can translate into major cost overruns. Web-based GIS solutions go a step further. As the project is implemented, stakeholders situated miles away can visualise status updates on an electronic dashboard and conduct spatial queries on the geospatial data.
Indian companies are using GIS solutions as a decision-making support system beyond simple database queries and analysis to help enhance project outcomes and complete projects in time and within budgets. Cairn India, Asia’s fastest growing and the world’s fourth fastest growing E&P company (Platt Ranking), has contracted Petro IT’s Pipetrak IT for pipetracking, Construction Information Management (CMS), certiÂfication (pre-commissioning and commissioning) and material tracking services for its (on behalf of JV partners) 24-inch, 670 km long Mangala Development Pipeline in Rajasthan and Gujarat. This is the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline, originating at the Mangala Processing Terminal (MPT) in Barmer and running to Bhogat (via Salaya) in Gujarat, covering eight districts and more than 250 villages. The Pipetrak IT tool is a web-based application with a powerÂful GIS powered visual front-end.
Whereas gas transmission alignment sheets used to be the repositories of the facility data and spatially reÂferred data, today, GIS fields are the repository of pipeline facility information and an aid to the manaÂgement of pipelines.
Urban planners’ delight
GIS’s spatial and non-spatial data brings in the geographic dimension to the decision-making process for real estate projects. “Urban planners can use GIS to analyse the suitability of a location for building amenities like schools, hospitals, recreational areas etc. GIS helps review different options under various scenarios. For instance, what would be the maximum distance from home to school for 90 per cent of the students? GIS also supports project teams in integrating geographic inforÂmation into the design process. The team can carry ‘what if’ analysis creating various scenarios and arrive at the most appropriate decision,†explains Mathur.
Utility and resource tracking
The role of GIS continues well into the tracking of constructed assets. An electrical utility company could use GIS to spatially visualise its assets and network, and perform queries on this data to zero in on the location of a fault or identify defaulters of utility bills. Indeed, power utility networks across the country are using ESRI technology for modernisation projects aiming at miniÂmising AT&C Distribution Losses (R-APDRP).
A combination of technologies, differential GPS/Electronic Total Station, remote sensing technique (interpretation of high resolution satellite image) in a GIS environment is facilitating the tracking of mining resources in Orissa. Mining lease boundaries are being verified by resurveying the lease area and comparing the same with the earlier approved lease map. GIS technology allows this to be done in a cost and time effective manner vis-Ã -vis conventional verification methods.
Charts and maps used as navigational tools by mariners and operators of facilities in national waterÂways, another invaluable national asset, are being creÂated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India using moÂdern surveying techniques, equipments and GIS technology.
Asset Management
Tools to protect critical infrastructure through GIS is available as well. According to MK Govind, Senior Divisional Director—Corporate Marketing, CommunicaÂtion & Business Development, Rolta India, “Our solÂuÂtion for homeland and coastal security integrates GIS with surveillance, communications and optroÂnics systems. This lends itself to be used to protect critical infrastructure assets also.â€
Other examples are the upcoming Safe City projects initiated by the Government of India. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is making use of Road Information System (RIS), a web-based geospaÂtially-enabled highway management system and deciÂsion-support tool. RIS includes a range of tools including asset management, traffic informaÂtion, bridge monitorÂing and accident inforÂmation. It even estimates the impÂact of available budgets on road condition, or the trade-off between maintenance and ‘roughness’.
Slow adoption
It would seem that GIS technology is being adopted across segments of the Indian infra industry. Still, a wider section of the industry believes that the deployment of GIS solutions is in its infancy. GIS is being made use of by leading players across the infra sector but the vast majority is yet to follow suit. Ashutosh Shukla, Director, Balaji Geotrak Surveying Private Limited, says, “A lack of understanding of the benefits of GIS is coming in the way of wider deployment. Infrastructure developÂment companies engaged with world-class projects or World Bank funded initiatives are the forerunners in using GIS tools to align projects, mostly because this is a part of project specifications as GIS can optimise routes and theÂreÂfore save costs. Other cost-cutting players are avoiÂding spending on GIS surveys, which is ironic as these could help them cut costs without compromising on quality.â€
Overcoming Barriers
So far, mostly survey companies providing GIS-based location services to the infra sector are forging ahead in adopting GIS technology. An emerging trend in GIS systems is the fusion of disparate information/databases, applications and processes of an enterprise into a seamÂless, cohesive solution. Rolta Geospatial Fusionâ„¢, for instance, is a proprietary world-class solution using rich Rolta IP and framework that extends the value of exisÂting investments in GIS data and legacy enÂterÂÂprise business applications by enabling cross-functional inteÂgration and creating spatial business and operational inteÂlligence to enhance decision-makÂing and perforÂmance.
The use of work-centric mobile GIS solutions is also on the rise. Handhelds facilitate the collection of data at field locations, thus allowing the real-time moniÂtoring of project progress and tracking of assets. Esri, the global GIS market leader, offers a compreheÂnsive suite of software solutions for a range of applications. “Our solutions are available on desktops, mobile devices and Web/Cloud to facilitate access,†add Mathur. Rolta’s OnPoint Mobile solution allows field personnel to apply specific work-related actions to automate their daily work assignments through its unique, user configurable, Action Framework.
Adds Jithesh P Joseph, Director, Maptell Geosystems Private Limited, whose Maptell Zorba Asset and Vehicle Tracking portal is a fleet management and vehicle tracking solution used by the logiÂstics industry: “GIS survey providers are also opting for free open source GIS solutions that can be customised and enhanced to suit each company’s specific needs.â€
Additionally, new tools include a desktop geospatial inforÂmation system designed to meet the needs of infraÂstructure professionals, include smart 3D object editing tools and 3D spatial analysis capability, to create and publish maps and conduct queries for information within a database within a certain geographical area.
Despite challenges of misuse, ample evidence valiÂdates the benefits of GIS solutions in infrastructure deveÂloÂpment. Developed nations are already moving to create 3D mini models of cities for the better evaluation of infrastructure needs and improved visualisation and collaboration. Joseph cites the use of 3D models in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for the development of the city centre. “While 3D models are more expensive than 2D GIS, this is the new benchmark and I expect India to increÂasingly adopt the latest technology as infrastructure development picks up,†adds Joseph.
Lack of complete understanding and a still evolving mindset have hampered the growth of this essential tool. While geospatial technology has matured over the years and developed countries have been able to take full advÂantage of the abundance of data collected over the years, domestic infrastructure industries—and policies—have been slow in adopting enable geospatial data. Mapping policies of the government have been liberaÂlised to a limited level, but initiatives to collect data from the field on a large scale are yet to be mobilised or are in their infancy (see box). This data will enable the kind of enterÂprise systems needed for infrastructure development progÂrammes. More importantly, different departments managing different aspects of land and assets must coopÂerate and share relevant data to allow the corroboration of information.
POLICIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Favourable government policies and economic development programmes of central and state governments are directly impacting the growth of the GIS market in India. These projects span various segments of infrastructure development and include:
- Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
- National Land Records Modernisation Programme
- Revised Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme
- National Aquifer Mapping Project
- Rajiv Awas Yojana
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project
- Water Resources Information System
- National Broadband Plan
- National Knowledge Network
- Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor
- Green India Mission
- City Gas Project
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