Utilizing GIS for Cost Control in Infrastructure Projects

Abstract

Cost control is a basic issue that has its increased importance due to competitive nature of engineering projects. Each party of any project concerns on achieving his goals by least cost in order to make final sufficient benefits. New computerized systems have been developed very efficiently to offer the most capabilities for more perfect and reliable work. This research concerns on how to utilize GIS great capabilities for cost control in infrastructure projects, and how to improve the applying of cost control processes to get more control. To achieve this aim, interviews with specialists are performed, several issues of cost control processes have been discussed based on comprehensive literature review and good experience. Unfortunately, Cost control processes are applied very poorly in Gaza; So, experts emphasize on improving cost control in projects. Conceptual model of cost control has been built and discussed with experts. The main concept is to divide the project to three control levels: element "task" level as data collection level, contractual item level as main cost control level, and finally, project level as summary level. Cost control processes deal with "variances"; So, this research focuses on cost control elements as cost variance (CV), cost performance index (CPI), estimation to completion (ETC), estimation at completion (EAC), progress ratio, and forecasting variances between contract and what planned to perform. A computerized system based on GIS has been established and applied on a case study to explore its capabilities. GIS capabilities give more accurate results, early quantity surveying, lots of tabulated and graphical information, many visual outputs, statistical indicators, rather than easy inquiries and selection methods. The research recommends to join time schedule to the system, and use this open environment for more developing in order to produce integrated computerized extension that can be used very easy for reliable decision-making.