Site modeling

Bob,

Thad can probably elaborate better, but from what little bit I know, It is basically a tin that is uploaded into the machine control units.

If not the surveyor, then who?

Good luck, and if I am wrong, please someone correct me. I am interested in learning, but have a plate full right now.

Jimmy

This machine control is CAD complex unless you run the CAD side far better than the
GPS side.

Really Machine control has everythig to do with CAD and little do with operation
of Robots Gps rovers aka survey

I was grade gps control and model on a larger excavation the data prep and cad
was about 1 hr ++ on C3D to every hour digging with no machine control
just dig to what tin the rover was staking.

To add Machine issues well good luck and a deep bank account

Peter,

Thanks for sharing. I guess the person I spoke with was misinformed. It sounds more complicated than what I was lead to believe.

Thanks again,
Jimmy

Not complicated at all.

If you've ever edited a TIN, you can do it easily.

:coffee:

I have been involved with machine control for about five years managing a fleet and building data. The surfaces can be prepared in any software you are comfortable using. Each different brand has their own conversion software that will produce the specific files required by the machine. Surfaces vary from project to project from a mass grade which can usually be generated quickly (minutes to hours) using contours and drawing some breaklines to smooth the surface to a detailed 6 mile widening project requiring detours, lane shifts, super elevated curves, ditches, benched slopes, etc., requiring sometimes weeks to complete. We use surveyors on every project for as-builts, wall layout, building layout, control networks, etc. There is a great niche market out there for those who want to embrace it. I suggest finding your local Trimble and Topcon machine control dealers and taking those guys to lunch so they have a name for the contractors who are asking "who is going to build my surfaces, set control, layout clearing limits, etc". Many companies who only have one or two systems can't justify having someone on staff full time and will need some help.

Thanks for the info, Steve. I think the contractors in our state are lagging a little behind most other areas. Hopefully, when things get rolling again, I'll have the opportunity to get some work in machine control.

Do you really think it's a "niche market"...?

We've been doing it for years now, and it seems more and more of the contractors we work with do large site grading this way. It's significantly more cost-effective. I think it's now been a few years since we've graded a large (non-highway) site without using machine control.

I guess by niche I mean that the only data prep or machine control support in my area comes from the dealer or farmed out over the internet. I would like to elaborate but I have a retirement plan dreamed up for when the economy gets a little more suitable:drink:

I was a non-believer until I saw it. Its the way its going boys. Licensed engineers build ours, we just check it. There is still plenty for surveyors to do on our job, but setting grade stakes aint one =)

Do you guys have any UTS sytems on your graders?

Yes