Tracking and Control of Earthmoving Operations Using Spatial Technologies

This article presents a new model for tracking and control of earthmoving operations. The proposed model uses spatial technologies including Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support its management functions. It is most suited to highway construction projects. GPS is used to automate site data collection in near real time to facilitate information exchange among members of project teams. GIS is employed to automate data acquisition and to analyze collected spatial data. The model uses GPS data to estimate on-site crew productivity and forecast project time and cost. Project progress performance is reported using the earned value concept and the project ratio method. The developed model has been coded in prototype software using object-oriented programming and Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC). An example project is analyzed to demonstrate the features of the developed model.