Connect schedules and spatial data for spatial-temporal analysis to mitigate risks and drive operational efficiencies

Schedules are the central nervous system for construction projects. They clarify when work will happen, when trades will be on the jobsite, when materials will arrive, and provide a timeline of percent of completion for billing, among other things.

But schedule and resource planning start way before work even begins. Having schedules synced to geospatial data helps visualize on a map where things will be built and their relation to other objects in real life. It is particularly beneficial for linear projects like roads, rail, and utility lines as well as facilities, solar, and wind farms, too.

In nearly every region around the world there is an unprecedented infusion of capital funding for the construction of infrastructure projects. In many cases, federal funding packages like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the US is helping to transition to renewable energy while shoring up decades of underinvestment in maintaining roads, bridges, and rail infrastructure. With this increased funding, now more than ever, there is a higher level of scrutiny to be on budget and on schedule.

Construction projects of all sizes and scale rely on scheduling tools to plan and develop a logical sequence of activities, resources, and measurement of progress during construction. Common scheduling workflows craft, update, and report on schedules using tools such as Oracle Primavera Cloud, Primavera P6 Professional, and Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (EPPM). Development of project schedules have traditionally been done separately from geographic information system (GIS) tools like Esri ArcGIS. However, construction projects are inherently spatial and would greatly benefit through integration of Oracle Primavera Cloud or Primavera P6 with mapping and spatial applications as they relate to the schedule activities.

Incorporating location information into the construction scheduling workflow can illustrate potential conflicts or help streamline work where engineering drawings alone may not.

Geospatial leader Esri, an Oracle technology partner, suggests in their blog, “Linking schedule data to spatial features on a map can help planners, designers, project managers, and other stakeholders interact with the detailed construction schedule in a more intuitive, visual way, providing better understanding, and faster insights and decision cycles.” Integration of the two technologies makes accessing accurate and updated information easier, from within either ArcGIS or Primavera Cloud.

By time-enabling the spatial layer with the schedule data, synergy is created, allowing for improved clash detection with spatial-temporal analysis. This can help better understand situational phenomenon in a particular location during a period of time by allowing planners to compare actual progress against planned schedules. Integration of schedules and spatial data allows visualization of time-driven events combined with objects or events in a natural environment, resulting in better insights that drive better decisions.

To learn more about the Oracle’s scheduling and risk management applications, go to Oracle Primavera Cloud or Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management.

The Oracle Smart Construction Platform combines our industry-trusted applications with a common data environment and an ecosystem of partners to help owners and delivery teams work together and continuously improve performance. The platform connects teams and data, synchronizes work, and empowers individuals to make informed, proactive decisions. Power performance with proven Oracle Construction and Engineering solutions for scheduling, portfolio management, construction project management, project controls, construction payment management, and more.