Take-off Professionals has been in the business of preparing data and 3D models for our clients since 3D machine control technology began. We have no association with any manufacturer or system type but provide 3D models for all manufactures: Topcon, Trimble, Accugrade, Carlson, and Leica. We don't really care what you own; we know what it takes to provide the 3D model for your specific system.
We prepare 3D models and perform related services. No matter what software the engineers used to create the design: Terramodel, MicroStation, Civil 3D, Bentley, or any other design software, we will provide you with the final 3D model, in the proper format required for your equipment.
Our focus is laser sharp. We are not in the business of selling hardware. We sell a professional and experienced service, that is all.
COMMERCIAL SITES:
Small commercial sites range from $750.00 to $1,200.00. For big box retail, $1,200.00 to $1,800.00. This includes pads, parking and retentions. Another rule of thumb for grading costs for sites is to plug in $100.00per acre. Options include Storm and sanitary packages, wet and dry utilities can also be done. Includes pads, retentions, and street rough grading. Options include storm, sanitary, and water trenching data. We average over 5,000 subdivision lots per month, we know subdivision dirt!!
SUBDIVISIONS:
Per lot pricing depends on the size of the project.
Up to 100 lots, $40.00 per lot.
100 to 200 lots, $30.00 per lot.
Over 200 Lots, $20.00 per lot.
ROADS:
We can give you driving lanes for a blade at $500.00 per lane mile. We also do full slope to slope for machine control and layout for $750.00 per lane mile. Call us for a quote, we have experience with over 30 State DOT's. Last year we prepped over 1150 miles of road for our clients.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
Sure we build data, we put the smoke in the machine that drives GPS layout and machine control. At one point, a customer asked; "What do I pay TOPS for?" My answer was spontaneous and has since become something of a slogan for us. “You pay us to be nervous”.
We get a set of plans in the office and approach it like there are trap doors everywhere. We are paid to build the 3D model like it appears on the paper, and then look for problems and work to make the job right, here is how a typical job goes;
• The contractor calls us and lets us know they have a job coming out to us. If they have not been in contact with the engineer, we will call on their behalf and acquire the electronic files. The paper is shipped to us and we start work.
• A work order is filled out with the scope of work our customer is responsible for, as well as any special requirements needed on the job. With newer customers, we usually ask a few questions and make sure the contractor gets everything they may need; you may not know what you need from us in the beginning.
• The project is managed by one of our staff engineers, and the data process begins; making notes and adjusting the obvious errors that got missed in plan review, such as 46 feet being typed as 64 feet.
• With the 3D model done to plan, we note areas of concern and report them to the engineer with proposed fixes. Never ask a question unless you know the answer. A open question to our customers; do you seem to be getting a new revised set of plans before the job even starts? What happened was that we found some things that needed attention, proposed fixes to the engineer, even sending them new points files! The changes are incorporated and you get new paper that magically matches the 3D model built by TOPS, just one of the things we get paid for.
• If we are doing wet utilities, we go through the same process of checking and proposing fixes, just like we do for sites. As far as we know water rolls downhill all over the world, if the plans don't reflect that, we work with the engineers and get it right.
• At this point we have built, reviewed, and edited your jobsite an average of FOUR times! What does that mean to our customer? We moved the dirt 4 times on the screen, and did not waste your money on equipment, fuel, labor and overhead. With this quality of data in your hands, confidence levels go up, and productivity increases.
• In regard to changes. It is important to remember that the changes to a job that seem to occur every day, have for the most part been taken care of by careful data preparation in the first place. When the initial bugs are fixed, plan changes are usually true adjustments to the final look of the site, not the repair of overlooked design issues.
This is an overview of the process requires to successfully prepare a 3D model for a site. We are happy to report that the design community is warming to the idea of having TOPS in the loop as it pertains to doing a project right the first time. More and more firms around the world are doing their work as usual, and keeping open communication with us as we prepare the models, making the process quick, and very efficient.
We support the work done by the design engineers, and want the project to go along without a hitch. The more we work with small and large firms, they don't see our work as problem finding and finger pointing, but an important part of the design process that helps to mesh design and construction into a cooperative dynamic effort.
3 EASY PIECES:
People will often inquire what we need in order to get started doing data for a job. We have simplified the process to three steps. CAD, Paper, and Work Order.
CAD: We need to get the CAD files for the project. If the contractor has received them, they can be shipped with the paper, or uploaded to us on our ftp site. We can use multiple file formats including industry standard AutoCAD .DXF and .DWG, as well as numerous proprietary formats like: PRO, TTM, TIN, DGN, GC3, TP3, TN3, LN3, CMD. Just call or email us for upload instructions. We can process any type of CAD package from AutoCAD, Micro Station, Carlson Construction, Carlson Civil, and others
Paper: When we receive a set of paper plans, the first thing we do is have them scanned, so we can put them on our server. No matter what engineer works on your job, we all have access to your paper, electronically. You can transmit the scans of the paper to us if you wish. It is usually cheaper to ship the paper than to have it scanned, if the engineer can give you scans of the paper, just upload it or send us a CD.
Work Order: On our home page, on the left, there is a link to fill out a data prep work order. Just click on the link and fill out the details for your scope of work. No matter what you want or need, we can provide it, just tell us how you need the job to look, and we will get right on it.
We try to make the data process go as smoothly as possible. If you need help or have any questions with the process, just call us. We are here to help.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Question: What is "Data"? Answer: Any type of layout or machine control needs 3D points to connect and make a surface. Whether it is a road or a site, 3D points will be linked to form a surface, sometimes refered to as a TIN, model, or 3D surface. This TIN guides the operator to the correct grade, buy displaying real-time Cut or Fill values on the operators control box.
Question: Isn't data available from the engineer who designed the project? Answer: Engineers are paid to produce a set of plans in 2 dimensions and print them on paper. Currently there are some engineering firms attempting to produce data. We find the extra set of eyes, (your or ours), reduces the chance for error and yeilds better results.
Question: What does Data Cost? Answer:
Subdivisions; Pads, streets, and related retentions:
Up to 100 Lots, $40.00 per lot
100-200 Lots, $30.00 per lot
200-300 Lots, $20.00 per lots
Regular customers always pay $20.00 per Lot!!
Commercial and Retail pads and parking: $800.00 to $1,200.00. Additional retail shops $200-500 more. This is for a 20-30 acre site.
Roads:
Driving lanes for grader, $500.00 per lane mile.
Daylight to daylight for grader and rover $750.00 per lane mile.
Excessive ramps and intersections additional.
Question: How long does it take to have TOPS process my data? Answer: With a full time staff of professionals, we can get you up and running quickly. Usually a day of data work, can keep you working for 3-4 days.
Question: What if the data is wrong? Answer: We make every effort to catch the discrepancies in plans. Humans are bound to make the occasional mistake. This is another reason to have us prepare data instead of the engineers. Another set of eyes will help eliminate problems later.
Question: What about changes? Answer: Small changes and corrections are done immediately, at no cost, and e-mailed when corrected. If a change order is to be issued, let us know, we may need to bill if the changes are substantial
Question: What brand of system is the best? Answer: If we only had a nickel for every time the question was asked. My recommendation is to go with the dealer that will give you the best service.
Question: How long will it take me to learn to process data? Answer: This depends entirely on the individual. With a strong background in engineering, AutoCad type programs, computers and construction, many of our students start doing their own work after our 3 day site class. Roads take more time to learn. We do more data in a week then any of our clients do in a year, experience cannot be taught. We can get you correct information quick, and correct.
Question: Can I use my takeoff as data? Answer: The answer is easy to give and difficult to understand. If your takeoff is good enough to use as data, you spend WAY to much time on it. A good takeoff is a balance between speed and detail. A takeoff good enough to get a dirt number still needs some work to get it into the machine.
Question: What else can I do with the data? Answer: The data is not just for the machine control system; once the model is prepared it can easily be exported to your grade-checker or surveyors data collector. Whether it’s Survey Controller, Survey Pro, Pocket 3D, SurvCE, SCS900 or others, we can provide you with data.
Take a topo of the site, send it to us, and we will provide you with accurate reports of the amount of dirt moved to date, and what else is left. Take as-built shots, send them to us, we will process them and print them on plan size paper for submittal.
10 REASONS WHY YOU WANT TOPS TO DO THE DATA:
1. Details: No need to sweat the details. We comb through the plans, finding and fixing problems electronically before they become dirt mistakes. From school sites to the runway expansion at Los Angeles International Airport, we know the details of data.
2. Consistency: Do you like red property lines instead of blue? How about overbuilds on pads, streets to subgrade, and 15 foot storm offsets, we build your data the way you like it… every time.
3. Focus: We don’t sell equipment, software, or supplies. All we do is perform the best takeoffs, and build the best data in the business. We may be one trick ponies, but it’s a great trick.
4. Versatility: Need a rough grade file to start while plans are being finished? Want to combine the offsites with the current job? How about curb offset points for layout? We have the experience and ability to make all your jobs more profitable and more efficient.
5. Technologically Advanced: We use up to four different types of software in the preparation of every job. Our experience with all types of available software allows us to use the best package for different parts of a project.
6. Staff: Engineers, surveyors, grade setters, operators, we have people building your job that have actual experience in the industry.
7. No Hassles: Send us a copy of the paper plans, fill out a data prep work order, email the CAD files, or upload them to our website. We will get started immediately and email the completed job files, exactly the way you want them.
8. Experience: Nobody has more experience than we do. We complete over 450 jobs per year ranging from parking lots to super highways. We prepare more data in a week than the largest contractors build in a year.
9. Value: The advantage of TOPS accuracy, turnaround time, and consistency make us your best choice. The reason to use GPS is to move dirt one time, great data insures this.
10. Fast: Need a 48 hour turnaround for data on a rush job? Full time engineers, surveyors, and field tested experts will combine talents to keep you working. We know how frustrating and expensive idle iron is. You have better things to do; let us build your data, and perform your takeoffs, so you can run your business.
Still not sure? We will prepare a portion of your site at NO Cost to you! Experience the difference in your production with data prepared by the nation’s leader in data preparation, TOPS.
Thank you for visiting our site, if you have any questions, you can call me personally, or submit an email request.
Sincerely,
Marco Cecala, President
Take-off Professionals
623-776-9546 ex 108
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