For example, tracking environmental data or population changes can help in monitoring corrosion control or maintenance requirements such as repaving. The work doesn’t end when the project is complete. When maintenance and upgrades become necessary in the post-project phase, location technology helps the organization communicate inter- nally and monitor status of the issue. Everyone has the same current information, which goes a long way in reducing unnecessary rework or communication breakdowns. Reducing rework protects profit margins, and time and money wasted on unnecessary rework is a common challenge for transportation en- gineering teams. Here’s an example of how location technology can help: Engineers can tag a section of a freeway for review and then note if there is a need to send a technician to handle a maintenance issue. The status on that particular freeway section can be uploaded and man- aged on the platform to ensure every team and department has current information. Everyone will know when the issue is open and can get an update on exactly how and where it’s being resolved. As assets are continually monitored in the post-project phase using lo- cation technology, they can provide critical insights for future projects. Transportation engineers can compare various data points to determine how well earlier projects are performing against the initial objectives.
For example, teams can layer data to view environmental conditions together with infrastructure deterioration and determine if there is a correlation that should be considered for future projects. Optimize project life cycles Transportation projects are characterized by asset-intensive holdings, with millions of dollars invested annually in procurement and manage- ment. Planning and maintaining transportation is complex, and engi- neers face many challenges associated with pre-construction, design, construction, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure systems. Location data has always been available to transportation engineers, but how it’s used has changed. The critical spatial component to trans- portation asset management becomes easier and more efficient when using location technology to gather, track, analyze, and manage spatial data. Engineers now have the ability to leverage the power of location and support asset management more effectively through the duration of a project’s life cycle and beyond. TARA BLEAKLEY is data and analytics director for Digital Map Products (www.digmap.com), a pioneer in geospatial mapping technology and location intelligence. Bleakley has 20 years of experience in the building and real estate industry, including GIS analysis, land evaluation, property owner map analysis, and business development. She can be reached at tbleakley@digmap.com.
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