Machine Control Data Prep

What are the deliverables??ÿ Need a sense of scale.

@jaccen

Finish grade surface and associated linework file.?ÿ All lots have ditches between them.?ÿ Detention ponds, roads and also a few walls.

That's a huge liability for such a low fee.?ÿ Maybe at another zero to the price.?ÿ

I don't know the laws of your state. There are plenty of non-surveyors creating the deliverables you identified, usually construction only type surveyors.?ÿ ?ÿI don't think this is right but what's a guy to do??ÿ Me, I will just stay away from providing this type of data unless it's our own project design and then it's provided with a huge disclaimer.

I've been seeing that for a while. I haven't done one for about 4 years because of that reason. Pennies on the dollar for something makes someone many dollars. I refuse to be used like that. What's the price of a lot in that subdivision?

Oh yeah, be prepared for the call when the dozer blade jumps up and down. The new guy won't be able to figure it out and the client will call you even though you had nothing to do with the model. Wait and see, I bet a cold beer sometime.

Posted by: @thad

So Surveyors race to the bottom for survey services are now happening with machine control.?ÿ 366 lot subdivision, $3,000

Come on guys that is ridiculous.

so wait... I'm confused as to which you think is ridiculous here? the cost of the grading model being too high or too low or something else??ÿ

And people keep telling me that we need more surveyors...

Nah.

Posted by: @thad

So Surveyors race to the bottom for survey services are now happening with machine control.?ÿ 366 lot subdivision, $3,000

Come on guys that is ridiculous.

?ÿI had kicked around the idea of going into business modeling, until I priced a few jobs. I can't grasp why a model for a $10,000,000.00 grading job would go for $1,500.00. I asked the guy why he was so cheap and he told me he had no overhead, but time and software, and if he was any more expensive someone else would get it. The data business had great potential, but people jumped in with the "how many hours did it take me at $100 an hour" and "I don't have any overhead" and bottomed out the pricing before it ever had a chance. The value of the data to the contractor is TREMENDOUS. A $10,000,000.00 grading site model should go for no less than $20,000.00 at the low end, what it has turned into is sickening.

And BTW, the surfaces you provided for our Leica demo were great. I might be reaching out in the future for overflow I can't get to.

I think this discussion is missing the framework of what is being debated. ?ÿ Iƒ??m basing that observation coming from an understanding that the earthwork design is developed by an engineer utilizing software such as C3d. ?ÿTaking that electronic design and transforming it into a format compatible with the contractorƒ??s proprietary software program can be as simple as a push of a button or can be fraught with problems. ?ÿEven a $10,000,000,000,000.00 earthwork project may take minimal effort to transform into an amg model if the design output is easily read by the inputting amg software. Or it could be tremendously involved requiring extensive edits, manual data inputs and extensive qc/qa. ?ÿI myself strive for simple, direct transformations which are ?ÿquite inexpensive to perform.

@clearcut

I have been creating models for AMG for over 18 years and have yet to see a surface suitable for AMG from an Engineer (at least up to our standards).?ÿ Engineers may be better in your area than the ones with which I deal.

Thad

@steve-emberson

You're welcome.  Just let me know if you need any help.  [email protected]