Infrastructure faces growing financial, regulatory and operational risks. According to a survey by KPMG, 41% of industry decision-makers identify financial risk as their main concern, while challenges involving financing, permits and economic conditions continue to affect project predictability.
In this context, reducing planning and implementation errors has ceased to be only an operational issue and has become a strategic need. An error in location, unidentified interference or incomplete territorial information may result in significant delays, rework and additional costs.
It is in this scenario that the GIS (Geographical Information System) stands out. By integrating geographic, operational and engineering data, technology helps organizations reduce risks, improve planning and make more assertive decisions in infrastructure projects.
What is GIS and why is it important for infrastructure projects?
GIS (Geographic Information System, or Sistema de Informação Geográfica in Portuguese) is a technology used to create, manage, analyze and map data related to a specific location. More than a mapping system, it is a platform that integrates different information sources and turns them into intelligence for decision-making.
In practice, most infrastructure projects have a geographical dimension:
- A road crosses different terrains and environmental areas.
- A sanitation network depends on the relief, population density and existing assets.
- A transmission line must consider environmental restrictions, private properties and operational risks.
- An urban enterprise requires mobility analysis, social impact and availability of services.
When this information is analyzed in isolation, the chances of failures are increased. The GIS reduces this risk by connecting all these data in a common space context.
Why do errors often occur in infrastructure projects?
Although each project has its own particularities, some challenges often repeat and directly impact the planning and execution of the works.
Often, information is dispersed between spreadsheets, engineering software, technical documents and cartographic bases that do not communicate with each other, making it difficult to obtain a unique and reliable view of the project.
Another recurrent factor is the lack of territorial visibility. When decisions are made without considering the entire geographical context of the area, the chances of conflicts and unforeseen occurrences are increased.
In addition, changes in the field, urban occupation, existing networks or environmental constraints are not always reflected quickly in the projects, generating inconsistencies between planning and reality.
This adds to the challenges of team integration and the difficulty of identifying risks in advance, making many problems only discovered during execution, when correction costs tend to be greater.
How does the GIS reduce errors during planning?
The planning phase is one of the steps in which the GIS generates greater value.
By centralizing geographical and operational information, teams can evaluate scenarios before significant investments are made.
Technology allows simultaneously to analyze factors such as:
- Topography;
- Land use and occupation;
- preservation areas;
- Population density;
- existing infrastructure;
- Logistic access;
- Regulatory restrictions.
According to Esri, a geographic information systems specialist, GIS brings together critical information to support location decisions, taking into account proximity, travel times, population characteristics and site suitability.
This significantly reduces area selection errors, one of the main causes of delays and project reviews.
Simulation of scenarios
Projectors can compare alternatives before execution.
For example:
- Different tracks for a highway;
- routes to an energy distribution network;
- Location of treatment stations;
- Urban infrastructure expansion.
Instead of working with limited hypotheses, the team starts making decisions based on geographical evidence.
How does the GIS reduce conflicts between project and reality?
A common error in infrastructure works is to discover during the execution that the reality of the land is different from that envisaged in the project.
With GIS, it is possible to integrate:
- Satellite images;
- drone data;
- Remote sensing;
- Field digital models;
- Registration information;
- Field data in real time.
Esri points out that GIS allows working with digital maps, images, three-dimensional data and real-time information, offering a more complete view of the situation analyzed. As a result, there is less rework, less unexpected interference and less need for emergency project revisions.
The role of space analysis in error prevention
One of the most valuable capabilities of GIS is space analysis. According to Esri, most data have a geographical dimension, and space analysis allows to identify hidden relationships between them.
In infrastructure projects, this helps answer questions such as:
- What areas have the highest geotechnical risk?
- Where is there possibility of flooding?
- Which assets are close to environmentally sensitive areas?
- How will a new work impact local mobility?
- Which communities will be affected by a new undertaking?
Without this kind of analysis, many risks become ignored until they become real problems.
One GIS application is analyzing flood-prone areas, urban constraints or environmental restrictions before construction begins. By viewing this information together, teams can avoid decisions that might cause delays, route changes or cost increases during execution.
GIS and asset management: avoiding errors after delivery of the work
Reducing errors is not important only during construction. After delivery, infrastructures continue to require monitoring, maintenance and efficient management.
Esri points out that the GIS helps organizations understand where their assets are, what the condition of each and how to manage them throughout the life cycle. This is especially relevant to:
- Road dealers;
- Sanitation companies;
- Energy distributors;
- Telecommunications operators;
- Public bodies.
When the location and state of the assets are known precisely, operational errors decrease considerably.
GIS and integration with BIM: a powerful combination
In recent years, integration between GIS and BIM has become one of the main trends in digital engineering. While the BIM provides detailed information on the built asset, the GIS offers the geographic context in which this asset is inserted.
This integration allows better coordination between teams, in addition to viewing the enterprise in its real context. This makes it possible to carry out more complete territorial analyses, reduce incompatibilities between disciplines and increase predictability during the implementation of projects.
For complex infrastructure projects, this integrated vision directly contributes to the reduction of planning and construction errors.
Practical benefits of GIS to reduce errors
Companies that incorporate GIS in their processes tend to gain significant gains in quality, efficiency and predictability. With centralized and updated data, the information becomes more consistent, supporting more assertive and substantiated decisions.
Geographical analysis also helps identify problems and interference in advance, reducing work and avoiding failures during execution.
In addition, the GIS promotes collaboration between teams by providing a unique territorial reference, facilitating alignment between different areas. This integrated vision contributes to more efficient risk management, allowing early identification of restrictions and vulnerabilities.
As a result, timelines and budgets suffer fewer impacts of unforeseen events, increasing project predictability.
The role of PARS in this ecosystem
The adoption of technologies such as GIS requires not only appropriate tools but also understanding how they fit into the digital transformation strategy of organizations.
With more than 40 years of operation in the Brazilian market, PARS connects companies, channels and global technology manufacturers, supporting the identification of the most suitable solutions for each business challenge.
In the context of Digital Engineering, Esri solutions allow for expanding territorial visibility, integrating data and improving decision-making in infrastructure projects.
FAQ
1. Does GIS replace engineering software or BIM?
No. GIS complements these technologies by providing geographic context and advanced spatial analysis capabilities.
2. Which industries benefit most from GIS?
Infrastructure, construction, energy, sanitation, telecommunications, transport, utilities and public administration.
3. Does the GIS only help in the planning phase?
No, no. It also supports the construction, operation, maintenance and management of assets throughout the infrastructure life cycle.
4. How does the GIS reduce work?
When identifying conflicts, restrictions and risks in advance before the start of implementation.
5. Does GIS technology work with real-time data?
Yeah. According to Esri, the GIS can integrate information in real-time, images, digital maps and three-dimensional data to support faster and more accurate decisions.
