Frequently Asked Questions

  • Essentially, a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is the data that can be uploaded into the GPS equipment contained within a bulldozer, excavator, grader or other earthwork equipment. This enables a company to quickly and precisely build a site. Also called TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network), MCM (Machine Control Model), surface, or tri-faces, DTMs are loaded into GPS handheld devices for various dirt work and/or staking.

  • Anybody who performs earthwork with GPS-equipped construction machines will need a DTM to complete the work. In addition, anyone who uses GPS rovers for field staking can benefit from DTMs.

  • No! Basically, a takeoff is a count or estimate of the amount of material needed to go into a project. In earthwork, a dirt quantity takeoff provides dirt numbers for a site based on the construction plans. Takeoffs are a great tool to assist the client in making a knowledgeable bid because they know all of the quantities associated with the project.

  • In most cases, no. The process for creating a takeoff model is different than a machine control model. The takeoff model is a representation of existing conditions vs. the proposed design to estimate the job. It doesn’t contain the necessary detail to complete a project.The DTM is an extremely detailed process. Be wary: anyone who tells you that takeoff models work for the field is inaccurate! Machine control models are still required to accurately build a site per the construction plans.

  • Our digital files are compatible with a range of machine control systems, including top brands such as TopCon, Trimble, Carlson, and Leica.

  • When quoting a job, we base our prices on the complexity and the size of the project. Very small, but very complex projects may quote for as much or more than very large-scale but very simple projects. We always try to stick to our original quote unless the scope of the project changes at the client’s direction, and we’ll work with our clients to make the project as affordable as possible. Perhaps most importantly, our models allow the project to be as precise and accurate as possible, saving the client both time and money.