Bear with me a moment for an old-school story time. It matters, especially if you find yourself regularly frustrated when in search of accurate as-built plans. 

On October 30th, 1970 an episode of The Brady Bunch titled “Call Me Irresponsible” aired. The iconic episode showed lovable Greg Brady facing the challenges of an after-school job at his father’s architectural firm. When tasked with delivering important architectural drawings and plans, Greg misplaces the plans, causing trouble for all involved. If this were to air today, I’d love to be able to tell you that the episode would be a lot shorter. Sadly, for far too many job sites and facilities, that is not the case.

While we live in a world defined by rapid technological advancements paired with increasing urbanization. The Greg Bradys of today are no longer delivering important as-builts via their Schwinn bicycle, yet throughout the AEC industries, infrastructure asset management, especially existing conditions documentation and accurate records, might as well be stuck in the 1970s. 

Unless your firm or facility is utilizing infrastructure asset software and ensuring it’s populated with accurate as-builts. 

The management of infrastructure assets has never been more critical. Organizations across various sectors, from utilities and transportation to telecommunications and energy, rely on effective asset management of their infrastructure networks. As the demand for smarter and more efficient infrastructure grows, strategic investments in innovative software solutions like SiteMap® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, are set to shape the future of infrastructure asset management. 

The Evolution of Infrastructure Asset Software

Traditionally, infrastructure asset management has relied on manual processes and paper-based records, making it challenging to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about asset inventory, condition, and performance. However, with the advent of GIS technology, organizations have increasingly turned to software solutions to streamline their asset management processes and unlock new opportunities for optimization and innovation.

Ways Infrastructure Asset Software Has Changed

• Easily Shared– Assets & facilities – above and below-ground – are now more easily accessed and shared with teams than before. Especially when utilizing SiteMap®, which makes securely sharing your data as simple as clicking a few buttons. 
• Easily Stored– Infrastructure asset information is easily stored within the cloud, view your data when you want to, where you want to. 
• Visualized In-Depth- View your data in new and interactive ways. Dig deeper with SiteMap’s Digital Map Room, allowing you to cut away each layer of infrastructure, clicking for extra information as needed, if available. 
• Easily Understood– You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, and you don’t need any formal or extra training to understand the data presented in your SiteMap® MapViewer. 
• Safely Stored- Modern software like SiteMap® make it easy to safely store your data. This prevents safety breaches, both physically and digitally, keeping your data and the worksite safe and secure. 

SiteMap®: A Game-Changer in Infrastructure Asset Software

SiteMap® stands out as a leading solution in infrastructure asset software, offering advanced capabilities for underground utilities mapping, utility mapping services, and more. Here’s how SiteMap® is transforming the future of infrastructure asset management:

Underground Utilities Mapping

Nearly 34,000 underground utility strikes each year are caused by locator error: meaning the utility locating company either failed to mark or mismarked subsurface utilities.

SiteMap® provides comprehensive, 99.8% accurate data supplied by GPRS that maps all underground utilities, allowing organizations to accurately see the location, depth, and type of underground infrastructure.

By creating detailed maps of underground utilities, SiteMap® enables organizations to minimize the risk of utility strikes, service disruptions, and costly repairs.

In January 2023, the U.S. government announced an infrastructure investment of over USD $1.2 billion from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance discretionary grant program for 9 projects. This boom is creating more impetus for the adoption of underground utility mapping across many sectors. Further, the telecommunication segment is estimated to witness high demand between 2024 and 2032. Many believe that this bloom is ascribed to growing efforts to bring 5G technology across the globe. The telecommunication sector is one of the major users of underground utility mapping technology. 

Boost In Accuracy

SiteMap® offers utility mapping services that go beyond traditional mapping techniques, leveraging advanced technology and expertise to deliver accurate and reliable results.

This is particularly due to the fact that SiteMap® is backed by GPRS, a leader in ground penetrating radar technology and services. GPRS offers a 99.8% accuracy rating, which is possibly the most accurate in the country. 

GPRS is the only company in the U.S. that can capture your entire site or facility, above and below-ground, to provide you with accurate as-builts, private and public utility maps, 2D CAD drawings, and 3D photogrammetry and Building Information Models (BIM) that can integrate surface and subsurface existing conditions and construction progress capture to provide cloud-based, digital mapping & modeling solutions for the construction, architecture, engineering, facility management, and related industries via SiteMap®.

GPRS provides:

• A+ track record – 99.8% accuracy on 500,000 projects
• Delivery of consistent outcomes – deployment of the Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) 
• National footprint – highly trained PMs  with the latest technology in market 
• Industry leading digital mapping & modeling – CAD, 3D, NASSCO and free PDF & .KMZ files 
• Excellence in concrete scanning – assured with the Green Box Guarantee 
• Rapid response program – deployment to site in 24-48 hours

New Technologies, Methodologies, & Services

Private Utility Locating Services

65% of all on-site utilities for virtually any construction project or facility are private, meaning 811 One Call services cannot locate them for you. GPRS provides comprehensive digital and PDF utility maps of every utility on site, whether public or private – including depths – and can export your utility data into a wide variety of drawings, maps, and models that provide seamless communication and collaboration on any project.

Facility Mapping Services

We provide comprehensive above and below ground facility and infrastructure mapping for the construction, facility management, engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and related industries.

Directional Drilling Clearance

When installing fiber and telecom lines, you have to know where to drill to avoid striking existing underground utilities. Cross bores caused by trenchless technology risk utility infrastructure and community safety. Avoid damages and confirm the safety of your work with pre and post-installation cross bore inspections that capture accurate existing conditions underground before you drill, and confirm the safety of your completed work.

CCTV Video Pipe Inspection

Video Pipe Inspection (CCTV) is a sewer inspection service that uses industry-leading remote video cameras to assess conditions and prevent problems in water, sanitary and storm sewer, and lateral pipelines. Our NASSCO-certified technicians scope your sewers to locate clogs, identify cross bores, find structural defects & damages, and conduct lateral sewer line inspections. GPRS provides comprehensive, interactive reporting that details every inch of your pipes to help you plan repairs, maintain your system integrity, and mitigate risk.

All GPRS VPI Project Managers are NASSCO-certified in PACP, LACP, and MACP, along with our required Subsurface Investigation Methodology (SIM) certification, so they are experts in locating, identifying and mapping complex sewer systems, and categorizing pipe defects to provide comprehensive reporting for your needs.

3D Laser Scanning

Accurate measurements help you avoid expensive mistakes, reworks, and change orders. GPRS’ 3D Laser Scanning services provide 2-4mm accuracy by capturing 2 million data points per second, for efficient planning, design, and construction.  GPRS’ Mapping & Modeling Team can translate 3D laser data into 2D CAD drawings that provide your team with up-to-date plan views & record drawings. Captured 3D data can be used to create a point cloud that technicians can use to create their own 2D CAD drawings & 3D BIM models. 

Virtual Tours

Capture and regularly update existing conditions documentation for a site or facility with WalkThru 3D. GPRS utilizes rectified 3D photogrammetry to create an orthomosaic 3D image that you can virtually walk through to visualize every aspect of the project.

WalkThru 3D allows you to remotely report existing reality capture to stakeholders, managers, contractors, and trades, so that they can walk through the site at their own pace. And, because it is delivered via SiteMap®, you can even digitally measure inside the image to help plan and design better.

GPRS and SiteMap® provide a multitude of services and technologies to help you see the world around you in new, accurate ways. 

Strategic Investments in SiteMap®: Key Considerations

As organizations look to invest in infrastructure asset software, there are several key considerations to keep in mind when evaluating solutions like SiteMap®:

Scalability: SiteMap® offers scalability to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes and industries, from small municipalities to large utilities and engineering firms.

Ease of Use: Despite its advanced capabilities, SiteMap® is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing organizations to quickly learn and master the software with no extra training or technical expertise.

Data Portability: SiteMap® offers seamless data portability with many existing GIS systems and tools, enabling organizations to leverage their existing data and workflows while maximizing the value of their infrastructure investments.

Data Security: SiteMap® prioritizes data security and compliance, ensuring that sensitive information about infrastructure assets is protected from unauthorized access, tampering, or loss.

Customer Support: SiteMap® offers dedicated customer support and resources to help organizations get the most out of their investment in infrastructure asset software.

Don’t be a Greg Brady, move into this century by opting for a better way to manage your infrastructure assets. With its advanced capabilities in underground utilities mapping, and more, SiteMap® is on its way to shape the future of infrastructure asset management. By leveraging SiteMap’s intuitive tools, scalable infrastructure, and robust security features, organizations can streamline their asset management processes, minimize risks, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth in a rapidly evolving landscape. SiteMap® makes the subsurface simply accessible. 

Contact SiteMap® today to learn more about how we can help.