gis application in civil engineering

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I here by express my sincere gratitiude to the civil engineering
department of SRE RAMA GOVT. POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE VALAPAD.
for the invaluable guidence in preparing this seminar. I also express
my sincere thanks to the head of department of civil engineering.
THOMAS JOHN V. Sir. Teacher gave me general idea regarding this
seminar also thanks to our tutor JAYALAKSHMI teacher and students
of the class for the support and encouragement.

2. ABSTRACT
Geographic information system (GIS) technlogy is attracting interest
from a broad range of civil engineering diciplines because of its
potential to provide a new enivironment 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

3. CONTENT
Introduction
What is GIS
Why is GIS
Author, Serve, Use
Infrastructure life cycle
Major GIS functions
Data Integration, Visualization, and Management
Infrastructure Management
Use GIS for more efficient
Conclusion
References

4. INTRODUCTION
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.

5. 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 G I S ?
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 data’s 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

6. 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

7. 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
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 grammetry, 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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:
• 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

11. 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
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

12. .
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 basemap 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
site’s 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,

13. preparation response, and recovery activities. GIS technology
provides a situational awareness tool for fusing information, from
flood elevation and evacuation routes to a bridge’s 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.
• 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 widerange 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

14. 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 computerised GIS systems, digitised map data, and
Landsat satellites and other remote sensing sensors that help to
define infrastuctural 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 computerised 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
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

15. 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 across an elevation surfaces, which provides the
basis for creating stream networks and watersheds; calculating flow
path length; and assigning stream orders.

16. CONCLUSION
There are ample evidences of applying the recent advances in
satellite based remote sensing and GIS technology in various fields of
civil engineering. India’s space programme 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.

17. References
www.esri.com
www.wikiepedia.com
www.cesnitsblog.com