The Development of 4D GIS (Construction Management)

Platform: ArcView 3.x, ArcGIS 3D Analyst, Microsoft Project, and Primavera Project Planner

The Nucleus of Integral GIS

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of GIS is its ability to integrate diverse data sets, databases, and applications. While we don't suffer from the notion that GIS is a panacea, we do believe it's an appropriate technology for many engineering related projects.

In March of 1997, work began on Seattle's new baseball stadium, Safeco Field. At a cost of more than $485 million, and with an extremely tight construction schedule, this project required efficient and organized execution if it was to be completed on time.

To help with Safeco Field's successful completion, Patrick Moore integrated its construction with the three-dimensional capability of GIS and the one-dimensional time management capability of Primavera Project Planner. This innovation led to our creation of what is now known as 4D GIS Construction Management.

The successful construction of Seattle's Safeco Field was largely assisted by Patrick Moore's development of four-dimensional GIS Construction Management, which joins costing, document management, and spatial and scheduling technology. This technology is the foundational work that started Integral GIS.