We've been asked by a contractor of one of our projects to furnish a "CAD FILE" so they can "PLUG IT IN" to their GPS. Can anyone give me a quick primer on what they REALLY want. Don't know what equipment they are using(TOPCON, TRIMBLE). Do they really just need the CAD file? (Our drawings are broken down into several XREF divisions) I assume if the need a cad file, all the XREFs would have to be merged into one drawing. OR... does Trimble or Topcon need a brand-specific file generated from our CAD file to upload into their dozer controller? I am pretty sure that he is interested in the finish-grading plan but would like to know a little background before I proceed in any further discussions with them. If the drawings need converted, what programs can accomplish this?
You will need to discuss with the client what they want. Only they would be able to tell you exactly. This is an opportunity for your company to provide a new service. If it wasn't mentioned in your original contract, draft a new one and charge accordingly.
> You will need to discuss with the client what they want. Only they would be able to tell you exactly. This is an opportunity for your company to provide a new service. If it wasn't mentioned in your original contract, draft a new one and charge accordingly.
I wonder if the contractor has to pay for it? They would probably want the drawing so that they can have someone create a model.
Ralph
> You will need to discuss with the client what they want. Only they would be able to tell you exactly. This is an opportunity for your company to provide a new service. If it wasn't mentioned in your original contract, draft a new one and charge accordingly.
David is correct on all counts. Although I have not worked such a project I have been following the developments through http://www.machinecontrolonline.com/ magazine and newsletter. Two articles there "CAD Control; Insure Data Transfer Does Not Become Corrupted" and "3D Modeling: Data for Models" may give you some idea what questions you need to ask the contractor.
I wrote a machine control overview for a company I was with several years ago when the technology was new and we had completed several machine control data prep projects. I placed the text into a blog which can be found at:
http://surveying--mapping.blogspot.com/
Hope this helps. If you have any questions pleasecontact me.
Sincerely,
Ron Garton, PLS
The problem is THEY don't know what they want
Call me and I can go over with you what they need and are looking for. Too much information to write. I can also answer any questions you may have. I have been involved with machine control models for close to ten years now.
Thad
803-810-0313
Glankler Data Services
They know what they want just not what they need!
On a side note, next week I will be part of a new to the US technology in machine control. I posted awhile back about the Trimble Gedo
https://surveyorconnect.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=158270 .
I received a new s8 and tsc3 along with the carriages last week and Trimble will be out Monday to start a week of training. It seems this is the first one sold in the United States and shouldbe very interesting to work with. I will get a ton of pics and video to post so stay tuned.
Cool- I must have missed the original post. Would love to check it out. I will have time from mid Dec until Jan. if you don't mind someone tagging along.
I think I can make that happen, you might have to go through a little safety thing to get a temp badge to get on the site but its no big deal.
You guys installing rails now?
Yeah, the orange line . We opened the first phase for revenue service in July to Irving convention center, the second leg opens the first week of dec to Beltline/ 161. This third phase will go into the airport to a new station at terminal a.
The connector job is winding down and we missed on both the grand parkway in Houston and the mixmaster downtown. It was either here or NOLA. I'll have two solid years here, right about the time that baby girl finishes high school then me n momma will probably hit the road.
Cool.
I relocated a while back and work in Killeen now. Looks like Houston will be the next stop when this project is finished. Great company with jobs all along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast.