Risk assessment for underground utility damage due to spatial data quality

Spatial data are used in a variety of projects. Their quality directly contributes to the project’s success. One of the risk sources for underground utility damage in construction works is the quality of spatial data. The article presents the results of research on a method for estimating underground utility damage risk. It consists in calculating the risk (both qualitative and quantitative risk) from specific risk factors and impact weights. The primary risk factors are incomplete spatial datasets and horizontal and vertical position accuracy of objects in the database. The calculated risk value is within 7.0 to 34.2 points. This means that the minimum risk of damage to underground utilities during construction works is 7.0 points and the maximum risk of 34.2 points is nearly five times higher. We also developed a risk map of underground utility damage. It is a thematic map with qualitative project risk. The proposed map is a 2D and 3D cartographic document that represents the actual risk of damage to underground utilities due to spatial data quality.