GIS-Based Solutions for Monitoring and Controlling COVID-19 in ASHGHAL Construction Projects: Improving Construction Sector Resilience

Abstract

Early in 2020, doctors around the globe identified the virus responsible for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Rapidly spreading, the virus reached every continent. As part of its efforts to prepare for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and Qatar National Vision 2030, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the State of Qatar, is on a fast-track mission to implement major infrastructure projects to revamp roads and sewer networks. Managing the human workforce on construction project sites becomes a significant challenge considering the pandemic. Large infrastructure projects are always characterized by many workers interacting in proximity at the work site. Immediately at the pandemic's beginning, management was instructed to leverage technology to empower decision-makers with COVID-19 monitoring tools across all the infrastructure construction projects. Thus, the Engineering Services Department created an ArcGIS Dashboard for engineers, contractors, and higher management to track the construction projects' COVID-19 status. Maps and data are combined in ArcGIS Dashboards to highlight significant patterns and measures. This paper explores the workflow established with direct communication and a submission system from the contractors and project managers to help collect and monitor critical health parameters of workers to prevent the propagation of COVID-19 infection. The study concluded that implementing a GIS safety dashboard for workers can help reduce the risk of project shutdowns due to novel Coronaviruses and provide an effective tool for organizations to improve occupational health and safety standards at worksites.