Designing Our Future: GIS for Architecture, Engineering & Construction

By Kathleen Kewley, Micah Callough, Keith Mann

Learn how the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is implementing GIS to improve efficiency and transform the way they plan, design, build, and operate in the built and natural environments.

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Learn how architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms work to improve sustainability objectives and advance new ideas about creating more livable cities, workplaces, and campuses as they create greater operational efficiency.

Location intelligence is changing how land development and large infrastructure projects take shape. From constructing a new residential neighborhood or planning a modern urban experience to building a high-speed rail system, a geographic approach helps pave the way to better, more sustainable designs.

In Designing Our Future: GIS for Architecture, Engineering & Construction, learn how the AEC industry is implementing geographic information system (GIS) technology to improve workflows; bring context to large undertakings; and increase collaboration between governments, contractors, partners, and the public. With GIS, architects, engineers, and construction professionals are discovering new efficiencies; gaining deeper insights about complex projects; and transforming the way they plan, design, build, and operate in the built and natural environments.

In this collection of case studies and “how to” guidance, gain an overview of how GIS was used to

  • Reduce the carbon footprint and mitigate future climate-related damage from a cross-country, high-speed rail project in the US.
  • Document all above and below ground assets such as utility services, electric, gas, surface water, and sewer drainage for a local transportation agency.
  • Plan maintenance for and respond to hazards from aging structures and vulnerable hillsides using drones in Japan.

Designing Our Future: GIS for Architecture, Engineering & Construction also includes a “next steps” section that provides ideas, strategies, tools, and actions to help jump-start your own use of GIS. A collection of online resources including additional stories, videos, new ideas and concepts, and downloadable tools and content complements this book.

Kathleen Kewley
Kathleen Kewley is a director for AEC at Esri. She has over 20 years of experience working with executive leadership of global engineering, architecture, consulting, and constructions firms. Prior to joining Esri, Kewley spent 10 years at Autodesk in key business development roles helping the industry transition to 3D geospatial modeling and building information modeling (BIM).

Micah Callough
Micah Callough is a technical director for AEC at Esri. He focuses on building location analytics and GIS solutions for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Callough has over 20 years of technical and business experience, including cloud and data lake development and product management. He also served as vice president of technology/data projects at Arcadis.

Keith Mann
Keith Mann is a principal content strategist for Esri Press. He is a writer and contributor to books such as the GIS for Science series and the Applying GIS series. 

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