By bringing together virtual models, data analytics, systems, people, and improved workflows through CIM you will gain efficiencies in every phase. Stakeholders will be able to easily access and rely on accurate and timely information which will enable them to do their jobs better. Your projects will not run behind schedule as often and your overall costs will decrease.

So, you’ve invested in some GPS machine control technology. You’ve weighed the option of training or hiring an in-house person versus hiring an external service provider to handle the data prep. Based on your research, you’ve decided to partner with an external company that specializes in data prep and want to know what the next steps are.

A question we are frequently asked by our clients and prospective clients is “What is the turnaround time for this project?”. Generally speaking, we typically run on average with a two-week turnaround time but situations sometimes impact that timeline which means it could take longer. Let’s go over some problems that impact the speed of model building.

The increased use of GPS systems for construction projects has led to contractors often asking themselves or service providers like us, “What does a 3d road model cost?”. Typically, you’ll hear the standard reply of “it depends” which it does. However, we’re going to explain why it depends and what each type might generally cost.

There are tons of specialties that one can build off of within construction. Not everyone has to be a carpenter or a heavy equipment operator. However, if you do start in one of those jobs, your chances to further build out your skills are plentiful.

Continuing our support for Careers in Construction month by giving you information about two exciting professions: civil engineering, and landscape architecture. Some might think they’re very similar, however, they differ quite a bit.

Dozers are arguably the coolest piece of heavy equipment out there; however, we can make a strong case for the road grader. Long gone are the days of graders being pulled by horses and tractors! The power and versatility of a modern-day road grader are two of the top reasons we consider it to compete with the dozer for being badass.

There is so much for a PM to consider when managing a construction project. Establishing and maintaining effective monitoring and control protocols improves project success. With so many moving parts and the potential for changes arising at any point, how can you best monitor and control your job site?

For GPS to work successfully and efficiently in earthwork, there must be accurate 3D models loaded into the dozer or other heavy machinery. GPS has become more of the industry standard, and we expect there will not be many site contractors running projects without GPS on their equipment. The benefits are far too great not to make the switch.

Land surveyors have been using GPS receivers at a known position, called base stations, for a long time, and that method continues to be effective and used a lot. However, there's also the option of using a virtual reference station (VRS) instead of a base station. A VRS is a technique for network RTK for GPS systems. How do you choose between a base station and a VRS? Well, there are pluses and minuses with each system, so it depends.

The American Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is one of the most important considerations that must be factored into all construction projects, whether new construction or renovation. Numerous ADA guidelines must be followed when constructing, for example, sidewalks, ramps, parking spaces, or buildings. Not following them will result in hefty fines, which can reach as high as $150,000 depending on the number of violations.