Data Details: Civil Sites
We all want all jobsite data available to us in a grading model. I have always contested that 10 minutes at the computer is about 30 minutes in the field balled up in the truck with a calculator. We do as much as is requested for a job, but we will also not waste your...
Handling ALL That Data
Several of my recent blog articles have been on data collection and use. Many readers have responded with the same questions. With data coming at me like a fire hose, how do I safely store and retrieve it? Being married to a professional landscape photographer, I...
The Evolution of Modeling in Construction
Building information modeling (BIM) has established itself as a useful process for architects and construction teams over the past two decades, as it allows users to create intelligent 3D models that include every detail of a building. This process also enables you...
Civil Construction Amid COVID-19
Disclaimer: This article does not contain health and safety protocols. For years we talked about remote jobsite access where we could check a project’s progress by viewing live feeds from cameras and machine sensors. The mining industry has embraced this and my...
Processing Photogrammetry Images: Outsource or Inhouse?
Many of our customers find that capturing images during the life of a project is useful. In this article, I will discuss the options available for processing images. There are two options for image processing and surface generation - do it yourself or pay someone...
3D Data on a Fast Track Civil Site
The urgency to start projects and complete them quickly has become common. No matter what the use, the quicker the job is completed, the faster it’s used. Being first on the site, civil contractors generally have the least complete plans to start with. Owners do not...
3D Modeling for a Cul-De-Sac
American suburbia is practically synonymous with cookie-cutter houses, carefully manicured lawns and winding roads. Another staple of these types of neighborhoods is the cul-de-sac. These road designs have been used in suburban planning for the better part of the last...
Mastering Mass Haul Diagrams for Construction Efficiency
Mass haul refers to a calculation that multiples the volume of material with the distance that it's transported during construction. It's commonly used in construction and civil engineering projects as they often involve excavating and moving large amounts of earth. A...
Carlson and Civil 3D: The Details
Let’s get to the meat of the program and see how data is produced. Before sending things out to the field, we need to make 2D and 3D lines as well as points. As I go through the steps, you will see some different approaches to the process that may help users with...
Navigating the World of 3D Point Cloud Data
New technologies are always disrupting the construction and civil engineering industries. Point cloud modeling has existed for a while, but it's becoming a major tool for contractors and engineers who seek more ease and efficiency when conducting land surveys. It...