Installation, detection, maintenance, mapping, and management of
underground utility assets present challenges to owners, engineers and
contractors. Industry-wide practices include the use of geophysical and similar
technologies to determine depth and location, and 2D as-built plans integrated
with GIS databases for information management. The feasibility of incorporating
3D BIM models of the subsurface to replace the 2D plans to improve
visualization and data management is examined in this paper. Obtaining an
accurate image of the underground infrastructure would help minimize excavation
accidents due to equipment-utility collisions and prevent property damage.
Further, the inclusion of automated data collection and sharing features
realized through BIM technology can enhance operations of smart cities. The
research methodology consists of a state-of-the-art review of the current
underground utility management systems, combined with statistical analysis of
survey responses received from utility providers and one-call centers in the
U.S. Three categories of utility practices are identified based on the level of
digital technology integration. It is found that a vast majority of utility
firms have adopted GIS databases with 2D plans, depth and other asset
information, while a smaller percentage of providers have achieved full GIS-BIM
integration, incorporating a wide range of
asset data. Future progress on broader implementation appears to be
constrained by the digital literacy of personnel and high costs of technology acquisition and application. A three-step framework
for converting 2D plans to 3D BIM models is also presented and discussed. The
process model proposed for this purpose allows the utilization of commercially
available software with minimal need for additional coding.
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