Reducing service strikes with GIS

Service strikes during construction often occur because up to date utility information does not reach the on-site teams.

Dalux InfraField brings this information into a single, mobile accessible platform, providing real time visibility and improving safety, coordination, and efficiency on-site.

The challenge

Service strikes, like accidentally hitting buried gas, water, or electrical lines, can occur because key utility information is often spread out across 2D drawings, PDFs, and office based GIS systems. Field crews may not have real time access to this information and sometimes have to rely on outdated 'as built' or separate 'permit to dig' processes.

This can result in repeated strikes, project delays, and safety issues.

How Dalux InfraField solves it

With Dalux InfraField, construction teams can access GIS data directly in the field using a mobile device, making it easier to collect utility information from multiple sources and organize it into structured GIS layers.

You can set up a shared coordinate system to keep all datasets accurately aligned, and mobile access lets on-site teams filter layers, choose utilities, and view important details like depth, material, and ownership in real time.

GIS layers can also connect to digital tasks, such as 'permit to dig' workflows, which helps automate and improve data capture during project work. This method turns traditional, office based files into a mobile friendly digital utility map that everyone on-site can use.

The result

• Reduce service strikes and improve safety with live access to verified underground data, ensuring everyone uses the same information and supporting a zero strike environment
• Speed up 'permit to dig' approvals with automated, geo tagged workflows for more accurate field data
• Enhance coordination with real time updates, keeping surveyors and site teams aligned throughout the project

Integrating GIS into InfraField

Dalux InfraField helps turns static GIS office data into an on-site tool synchronized for everyone on the project.

To make data easier to use in the field, it's helpful to bring together GIS information from different sources, like utility companies, older surveys, and new GIS systems, all in one place within the project.

When data layers are organized in a clear and logical way, raw map data turns into a straightforward, user friendly digital map. This allows field teams to quickly look up underground risks, manage specific services, and review related information right on their mobile devices, without needing advanced GIS skills.

This approach also makes sure that legacy pipes, fiber cables, and high voltage lines, which might be missing from new design BIM models, are shown as a map layer.

GIS data in InfraField are imported as separate files, and it is recommended to upload the data to Dalux Box first, and then associate it with the relevant locations. Using Box makes version control and distribution easier.

You can read this article to learn how to add a GIS file to your project: How to set up GIS and LandXML

GIS data can be organized into distinctive groups, so users can easily filter and view only the data they need.

On-site teams can easily find the information they need without having to sort through too much data.

If you need to view information from multiple layers at once, you can turn on several layers at the same time.

Unlike a PDF, these layers let on-site teams interact directly with the GIS data and view additional details like material, depth, and owner right on the map. GIS in InfraField is also integrated directly into the map view and can be displayed alongside models, zones, alignments, and drawings.

Project administrators can decide what GIS data should be shown by default, and customize the GIS styling to ensure a consistent view for everyone.

This provides on-site teams with clear, up to date, interactive data in the context they need.

If your GIS data is in one large file and you cannot easily separate the data, you can style the content to clearly distinguish what is what.

Read this part to learn how to style the GIS data: How to set up GIS and LandXML.

Connecting GIS data with registrations

By linking GIS data directly to tasks in Dalux, relevant information can be automatically populated, eliminating manual entry errors and significantly speeding up task creation.

As a Dalux administrator, you can configure a specific BIM data field that extracts data from the GIS layer.

Read this article to learn how to add a task template to the project: How to set up Tasks.

When a user creates a task and chooses a GIS layer in Dalux, the related information is automatically filled into the appropriate fields, helping to minimize manual input.

From static maps to actionable on-site data

Dalux InfraField turns static GIS office data into an interactive, on-site tool that connects utility information with tasks, approvals, and daily operations.

• Reliable hazard control: GIS layers give field teams consistent, up to date utility information, reducing service strikes and improving safety
• Improved coordination: Mobile access and real time updates keep surveyors, crews, and site teams aligned throughout the project
• Faster, transparent approvals: Permit to dig workflows are geo tagged, and integrated with GIS data, reducing manual errors and speeding up field approvals