When working with GPS-enabled heavy equipment, CAD services are necessary to get the machine working. Some of the major benefits are increased accuracy, reduced waste, faster time to completion, and improved safety. ECI’s CAD Services include earthwork takeoffs, linework, 3D models, and as-builts. Each service is offered a la carte and delivered to our clients promptly to help avoid digging delays on the job site.

Today, most projects have coordinate systems because of CAD design. Often, the coordinate systems being used differ between what the architect uses versus what the civil engineers use versus what the structural engineers use versus what the surveyors use. As a result of the different systems, the measurement units differ, and the plans don't align.

How many bids are you currently working on? Would you like to bid on more? Competition for construction projects bids is as fierce as ever so finding ways to speed up your bidding process should always be top of mind. The more projects you bid on the higher the chances that you’ll win more bids.

There have been many advances in the technologies used for creating precise maps for use in earthwork projects. However, have you struggled with getting your point cloud into your takeoff software? You are not alone!

The holiday shopping season is in full force with reports that consumers are hitting spending records this year! If you’re thinking of buying a drone for someone special (yourself included), here are some tips on which ones we recommend for earthwork flights. With so many different drones on the market, it can be confusing to decide which one to buy.

Rovers have many different uses in the construction industry and elsewhere because they're small, can be attached to almost anything, and provide very accurate information about your project. Depending on which device you're connecting your rover to, the level of accuracy will vary.

The main purpose of an as-built drawing is to record any changes made during the building process that deviate from the original plan. As-builts are useful for many reasons, one being the value they bring to water lines which in our opinion are some of the most troublesome proposed utilities on a job site.

The years fly by, and we live in a world of constant change but when it comes to building a career in construction, several things stand to the test of time. One of those constants is that in our industry, there will almost always be more projects than there are laborers to work on them. Proving this still remains true today is the fact that this theme came up again recently when Ray attended Build Witt’s first Dirt Summit in Houston, TX last month.

We all know that computers are significant in today’s world, and its impact on the construction industry is no exception. Whether it is the computer systems that are being used to design projects or the machinery used to build them, computers are critical to the project’s success. For example, the days of designing sites using hand-drawings or blueprints are long gone, and that includes redlines of the blueprints which were replaced by As-Builts. Systems such as computer-aided designs (CAD) have taken the place of blueprints and become more sophisticated from year to year.

The Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China, and great Roman roads were all built in ancient times. Today, it’s nearly impossible for us to consider moving dirt and stones without the use of heavy equipment. The Romans were known for building perfectly straight roads and were able to do so without the modern surveying tools or machinery used today.

It’s essential to get accurate site calibrations when it comes to earthmoving projects. A single-point calibration is the simplest type of calibration performed. Site calibrations are necessary because they enable multiple GNSS-based rover systems to work in your local site's coordinate system. How do you know when a single-point calibration is sufficient or not? We'll share some information and advice to help you figure it out!

One can never be too careful when it comes to underground utilities detection and digging. According to Common Ground Alliance (CGA), which represents a body of industry stakeholders that advocate for the 811 service, U.S. damages cost $30 billion every year! Contributing to the vast expense of damages are: failure to notify, excavating issues, and locating issues.

It’s no surprise that most people don’t associate the construction industry with technology like they do jelly to peanut butter. The reason is, it has been one of the slowest adopters of technology when compared to most industries. The term Big Data has increasingly gained momentum over the last twenty years, but depending on which industry it's referring to, its meaning and use vary widely.

Curbs are necessary for providing barriers, structural support, protecting landscapes, and directing water flow towards drains. Installing a curb is a laborious process, often including skilled laborers working on their hands and knees using guides or boards to ensure the lines are straight and that the reveal is correct. Machines have become available over the years to make the manual process more manageable, and depending on your budget, there are some different options available on the market.

There are things you can do to extend the life of your GPS equipment. In this blog, some of our former operators turned engineers will share some advice based on their experiences for what you can do to help your machines stay operational longer. It's not always possible to purchase new equipment, so keeping your existing equipment working will require some forethought and action!

Companies have been using GPS technology on their construction equipment for a very long time. In most cases, companies stick with one manufacturer, but the brands used on their fleet vary for others. Is having a hybrid fleet viable? We say - Yes.

Milling machine manufacturers have developed technology that has enabled significant process improvements since the invention of the Roto-Mill in the mid-1970s. The amount of asphalt that a milling machine could cut during, let's say, two hours back in the 1980s compared to today is night and day. If you're still handling your paving jobs without the advanced machine technology, it's time to take your process to the next level, which will save you time and money!

Depending on which brand of GPS equipment you’re using the file types and therefore file extensions will differ. The reason for this is that the brands each have their proprietary systems with their own file types as opposed to universal ones. For example, have you received files ending in .ttm, .dxf, .csv, .tn3, .ln3, or others and wondered what’s the difference between them?

Trenching and excavating – these top the list as the most hazardous operations in our industry. They cannot be avoided, however, as they play a significant role in civil engineering. Being careless or making mistakes could lead to fatalities among your work crew. So, what can you do to keep your job site and workers in the safest possible conditions?

A construction project’s success factor begins with accurate survey data and the coordinate system it is based on. The coordinate system is the source for obtaining the precise survey data. Coordinates are necessary when laying projects out, whether it’s a highway, bridge, site work, utilities, or another type of construction project.