Making the Invisible Traceable – Digital Process Management for Grouting-Paper

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The paper presents a cloud-based digital data management framework for grouting, where work takes place underground and is difficult to inspect directly. It connects construction-site equipment and sensors with planning, BIM, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, making production data traceable and useful for quality control, analysis, and billing.<br /><br />The framework follows six steps: automated data acquisition; monitoring, reporting, and clearance; construction process management; analysis using key performance indicators (KPIs) and time forecasts; quantity determination; and data export or API integration. Data is collected from pumps and other sources, checked against predefined criteria, and organized into standardized work sequences. Dashboards and visualizations help stakeholders identify irregularities, monitor progress, and coordinate decisions.<br /><br />KPIs can assess performance, material use, planning, and process productivity. Combined with construction reports, these indicators also support Monte Carlo simulations to estimate process stability and remaining construction time. Automatically linking tracked resources to tender items can streamline quantity determination and billing.<br /><br />The authors contrast this approach with traditional documentation, which often relies on manual data transfer and spreadsheets vulnerable to errors. Digital management can reduce time spent on daily documentation by an estimated 63–87%, shifting engineers’ effort from repetitive data handling toward analysis. It also enables consistent, near-real-time information sharing among project stakeholders.<br /><br />Use cases covering soft-gel and compensation grouting demonstrate the framework’s adaptability. In compensation grouting, rapid monitoring, alerts, and approval workflows are especially important because nearby buildings may be at risk. Overall, the paper argues that standardized processes, direct system interfaces, and shared visualizations can improve traceability, efficiency, communication, and decision-making across grouting projects.

Keywords

cloud-based digital data management

grouting framework

BIM integration

ERP systems

sensor data acquisition

construction process monitoring

key performance indicators

Monte Carlo simulation

quantity determination

quality control