Case Study: Automated Data Management to Avoid Costly Construction Delays

Client: Port of Seattle / Phoinix Corp Location: King County (Seattle), WA Contact for information management projects: Gayle Thompson

Project Background & Challenges

The Port implemented an Environmental Agent (EA) Construction Support Services program to monitor for potential environmental impacts related to capital improvement projects at Sea-Tac Airport. Under this program, an EA must be on site during any subsurface excavation to collect soil and groundwater samples. To avoid costly construction delays, sampling results must be turned around rapidly and reported to project managers, along with construction progress.

Solution

Aspect developed a data-management plan for the Port’s EA program at Sea-Tac, a plan that establishes clear procedures for data flow, QA/QC, storage, and presentation. We implemented this plan using an in-house SQL/MS Access application that processes field sampling data collected on a GPS unit; this application also generates electronic deliverables that are easily uploaded to the Port’s Environmental Management Information System (EMIS) database. Once the Port’s data manager processes the electronic lab data, the combined sample / results data set is exported to Aspect for ongoing mapping and reporting. AutoCAD and ArcGIS interfaces validate parameters such as geographic position and overlay soil chemistry summaries on as-built CAD drawings or aerial photographs. Our solution has not only eliminated the need to re-key sample and lab data, but it also puts accurate, up-to-date, environmental maps in the project managers’ hands on a weekly turnaround schedule.