In one of our recent SiteMap® articles, we broke down the four major costs and pitfalls any construction project can actively avoid by transitioning to a digital infrastructure management solution. SiteMap’s digital planning tools can especially help mitigate these risks by providing fully comprehensive and accurate visualizations of your entire site both above and below ground. With such innovative capabilities, these services help facility managers and their teams avoid the following most common pitfalls and additional costs identified by FINCH Brands…
- Utility outage due to underground utility strike
Of the facility managers surveyed, 58% reported that they have experienced this type of damage during construction within the past 5 years. The average repair cost to rectify this issue is approximately $13K.
- Conduit or rebar damage due to core drilling or saw cutting
48% of the facility managers surveyed reported to have experienced this type of damage in the past 5 years. The average repair cost for this occurrence is approximately $12K.
- Utility Strike
33% of the surveyed facility managers reported experiencing this type of construction damage within the past 5 years. The average repair cost for this kind of damage is approximately $14K.
- Post Tension Strike
30% of facility managers surveyed reported experiencing this issue during construction within the past 5 years. The average repair cost for this particular issue is approximately $10K.
When totaled, these potential pitfalls can cost a project $56K in damages and 8-12 weeks of downtime per utility strike! Moreover, there is one thing each of these pitfalls has in common; they are a result of improperly maintained subsurface infrastructure data.
Here are the crucial subsurface features any construction project must prioritize before breaking ground, and how SiteMap® helps customers fully visualize and accurately store such valuable data…
- Concrete Imaging: Slab Components & Thickness Evaluation Data
Through uploading accurate as-built structural drawings, SiteMap® allows facility managers and their teams to fully view concrete slab components and their exact dimensions. Through this process, a fully comprehensive view of all structural and utility components within present concrete slabs can be visualized with detailed 3D models and tours.
Ensuring that the data collected on concrete slab components and thickness is accurate and up-to-date is absolutely critical prior to any construction planning, coring, or saw cutting can take place. Collecting and properly maintaining this information is one of the most important steps of the visualization processes, as mistakes discovered after drilling into concrete structures are often the most costly and hazardous.
- Underground Utility & Video Pipe Inspection Data
Another major subsurface infrastructure layer to account for are the underground utilities and pipelines present at a given site. Similar to concrete scanning data, the exact location and current state of these underground features are pivotal to ensuring accurate measurements and planning take place before initiating any construction project. By ensuring the data collected on these underground utilities is fully comprehensive, facility managers can ensure their projects will stay on time and budget, while maximizing the safety of their works and surrounding communities.
Recognizing the great importance of maintaining this data properly, SiteMap® allows you to not only view all current as-built positions of your site’s hidden utilities, but also to completely review all sewer and manhole video inspection data. This can even include a fully annotated, NASSCO certified Video Pipe Inspection Report.
- Underground Storage Tank Information (UST)
It is also very important to obtain accurate and organized documentation of both the horizontal and vertical positioning of your site’s Underground Storage Tanks (USTs). Documentation such as periodic testing or release detection equipment, and inspections of overfill and spill prevention equipment can be easily stored, shared, and reviewed within the SiteMap® platform.
- Subsurface Void Information
Subsurface voids can be easily overlooked within the busy early phases of project planning. However, it is just as important to locate, record, and fully map these features especially before using any large machinery on your site, such as large cranes and concrete trucks, let alone before you excavate, as too much weight over an unaccounted void can lead to severe accidents, putting your works in great danger and costing the project thousands in damages. Proper void locating can be performed through our advanced GPRS capabilities. Once stored within SiteMap®, this data is then made available for easy reference and designated viewing.
Through these services, facility managers are provided with the modern digital tools they need to keep their teams safe and their projects on schedule. SiteMap®’s innovative infrastructure management process streamlines communication, improves safety, and minimizes costly change orders on any project, allowing teams to collaborate better than ever before.
How can we help you collaborate better on your next project? Learn how SiteMap®, powered by GPRS, can provide complete facility visualization and a unique tool to help you Visualize the Built WorldTM by downloading our brochures, and contacting us for a quote today!