to the given project. These professionals can be hired in-house or retained as contractors, with several geotechnical contractors currently in the industry. Although these technologies require specialized skills to develop and manage, the computer software used is generally inexpensive (e.g., renting an enterprise database from a cloud computing provider costs a few dollars per month) or open source (not requiring software licensing fees). These systems can usually be developed using industry-standard or non- proprietary software, allowing significant sharing and reuse by contractors. Impor- tantly, these systems can be “transparent” in some aspects of their data sources and calculations, facilitating peer review or audit by owners. The cost of a PIMS entirely depends on: • The number of data sources, or data streams, involved (e.g., a single grout- monitoring device versus several disparate field forms and instruments). • The duration of construction (a PIMS often requires a monthly or weekly maintenance fee). • The nature of any associated speci- fications (i.e., some projects require formal submittals). A PIMS developed for large projects, including those developed for government agencies or utilities with data management specifications, can vary greatly in cost. However, it’s common for these systems to cost over $50,000 to set up, and over $20,000 per year to maintain and operate. The projects described above range in cost from U.S. $15,000 to $40,000, including a development/deployment fee of about 80% and an ongoing maintenance fee (about $3,000 to $8,000). For more information on project information management systems, refer to the DFI white paper at www.dfi.org/publications.asp?goto=1046. Conclusion Web-based profile to visualize grout stage data (water test and/or grout take) at scale Project information management systems are a crucial component of the analysis, documentation and quality control components of a construction project. Today’s PIMS technologies are declining in price, and include field data entry forms, geospatial visualization tools, interactive data query tools, automated report and as- built drawing generators, and interactive web-based dashboards. The advantages of PIMS include their ability to facilitate field data entry and the combining of this data with data downloaded or streamed from instruments and other equipment, to permit visualization of all data in a common context, and to serve up data to formatted reports, interactive tools and CAD-based drawings. By taking advantage of the good data management tools and templates that traditionally are used in larger projects, smaller foundation projects can benefit from the same construction efficiency and quality improvements of a PIMS. Interactive web-based reports to review grout information in real time Jamey Rosen, P.Geo., is a senior principal geologist with Geosyntec Consultants in Ontario, Canada. For over 20 years, he has specialized in designing and developing project information management systems for environmental and geo-foundations projects and has built systems used by contractors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Tennessee Valley Authority and several municipalities. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2020 • 93
