Comparison of Conventional Survey Techniques with Modern GIS Tools

In this study, survey data from distinct sources includes Total Station measurements, ArcGIS, and Global Mapper at a planned dam location at Qila Abdullah district in Balochistan are compared. Because of the study area's complicated topography, a precise elevation assessment is essential to the feasibility of the project. Elevation information from open-source NASA SRTM models integrated using ArcGIS and Global Mapper was contrasted with high-precision Total Station data, which served as the reference benchmark. In the field, 146 survey points were gathered, and AutoCAD Civil 3D was used to process all of the datasets for a thorough analysis. Significant elevation differences between the datasets were observed in the results, with SRTM-based models demonstrating large deviations from ground-truth observations. The analysis between total station and ArcGIS Pro reports a mean error of 15.647917m and standard deviation of 3.894677m. The results between total station and Global Mapper give similar results reporting a mean error of 14.870448m and standard deviation of 3.960269m. These differences directly affect feasibility studies, especially when it comes to cost estimation, design precision, and possible overestimation of material requirements. Because relying on broad open-source data might result in significant errors in project planning and execution, the findings point out the significance of accurate survey methodologies for infrastructure projects in rough terrains.