Is anyone aware of studies that involve the effects of 3D machine control and positioning on emissions?  I believe the reduction of emissions are obvious but would like to substantiate and quantify with authentic numbers. Please forward any information to editor@machinecontrolonline.com

These are Role Playing Geeks, (RPG)

Whenever I am asked what job I do, I try to explain to people in just a few words or less what it is we do. When I hear the words come out of my mouth I cannot help but think that we are hopeless geeks that do nothing but bask in the light of multiple computer monitors all day long. I guess it’s good to know the truth because that is pretty much what we do.

At the risk of sounding like I am trying to be all inclusive and assume that everybody else in the world is a geek too, I contend that whether it is our profession or hobby we are all geeks of one sort or another. In our line of work it is necessary that we truly are geeks, we must stay current with software trends, engineering changes and overall job progress from multiple locations throughout the world at any given time. That level of dedication requires a certain focus that would lead the outside world to believe that we are geeks I guess we’ll just have to learn to live with that.

What I’m trying to figure out is if everybody in the world actually is a geek about something. Someone will not be that interested in something important in your life and others to be 100% committed to something we could care less about.

You could be involved in a fantasy football league and committed to the point where every weekend you are occupied with your fantasy football games, players, and outcome. I see nothing wrong with that, but because I don’t do that I might have the tendency to call you a fantasy football geek. Maybe the definition of the term geek is someone who is interested in something that you are not.

I feel it’s safe to assume that when you tell people what you do in regards to machine control and the use of GPS for civil construction, you get the glazed over eyes of the listener and can see plainly written on their expression, “this one’s a geek”. Outside of our industry very few people have heard of the application of GPS technology for use in civil construction, sometimes people ask questions that show they are interested in what you do and really want to learn more. The most frequently asked question I get after telling people what I do is how can GPS be accurate enough for grading when it is not supposed to get you within 50 feet of the shoe store? After the explanation they may or may not ask any more questions but the look is still on their face that says they are currently talking to a geek.

I don’t think that any of us need to be embarrassed about what we do for a living, as a matter of fact I’m very proud of what we do and excited every day when I come to work about our industry. I am excited about the future, and what new products lie ahead to make our industry even more efficient and productive.

My advice would be to learn what salespeople call the “elevator pitch “, a 30 second explanation of GPS and machine control. If you get additional questions answered them in the same brief manner as your initial explanation, if you get the “geek stare” then just start talking about fantasy football.

I just returned from a speaking engagement in Eugene, Oregon. I was privileged to participate in Oregon DOT’s “Design to Dozer” two-day seminar that I had mentioned prior in our last newsletter.

Ron Singh, PLS, Chief of Surveys headed the event and with140 attendees registered on Tuesday and 110 on Wednesday, the event was a success. “We want to raise awareness of the benefits 3D machine control and positioning technology provides,” says Ron. “I have been a proponent for many years and although adoption is slow, I believe it is here to stay.”

OR DOT is talking about a follow-up classroom version sometime this winter that will drill deeper into the digital workflow and processes across the design-build lifecycle. I am happy to promote these educational events and believe they are of huge value.

I will be writing a more detailed article in our September newsletter as well as produce a video of the sights and sounds from the event so please stay tuned.

If your DOT’s or other organizations wish to promote similar events, please contact me at editor@machinecontrolonline.com.

More to come …

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The Oregon Department of Transportation is hosting an educational event called “Design to Dozer – Computer Controlled Heavy Equipment Demonstration.” The event will be held on August 16^th then replicated on August 17^th in Eugene, Oregon. Speakers include Ron Singh, Chief of Surveys/Geometronics Manager, ODOT; Murray Lodge, VP Construction, Topcon Positioning; as well as representatives from Autodesk, Bentley, other ODOT representatives, Carlson Software, Trimble and yours truly. This event is designed to educate offering brief seminars and hands-on the technology.

For more information, please visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOMETRONICS/contact_us.shtml or send an email to ODOT.HR.Training@odot.state.or.us

I do hope to see you there!

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I just soaked up a D6

That famous line from infomercials has a relevant place in the world of Machine Control. Just as the ink was barely dry on my monumental review of Trimble Business Center (TBC) was complete, I find the software has been enhanced. Referring to one of my articles as monumental may be a stretch, I have not been nominated for any awards, let alone gotten a high five for my journalistic expertise.

My next article will go over the added and improved features of TBC, but at this time I want to discuss the speed at which our industry moves.

When GPS first started being used for survey and construction I was (luckily or unluckily) there. Buy me a beer and we can talk about 40 pound back packs, batteries that started on fire and a host of other confidence inspiring setbacks. It did not take very long for the equipment to get smaller, faster and easier to use. We now enjoy compact sophistication that lasts for hours.

Software is exactly the same. We don’t seem to notice it because the the program looks the same, what gets changed is under the hood. Software development is like hardware improvement, painful and slow. The difference is when Trimble puts out a new GPS receiver everybody knows because it LOOKS different. Software improvements often times do not reflect the amount of work it took to improve the program and fix the gaps.

We will be watching TBC over the next few months and keep you up to date. Other manufacturers are coming out with new or improved product we want to give time to as well. This forum allows us the opportunity to write about what we know best. Hardware, software and their application to our industry.

Enjoy the new products and features, look closely at them and buy the best ones for your business. We will tell you about them to help make your decision. All of us have received questions and feedback that is valuable to our mission. Keep it up, thanks for reading.

I am in Reno this weekend attending the 2010 NACo Annual Conference and Exhibition. NACo’s motto is “The Voice of America’s Counties” and over 3000 attendees are expected.

I am hoping this event will be a good opportunity to raise awareness of how positioning and machine control can benefit county operations. From GIS to road improvements to GPS landfill management. I will try to shoot some video footage if time allows and share soon.

-Randy

I read a recent reader’s poll on machine control recently.  When asked how many existing users planned to purchase more machine control in the future; seventy-nine percent indicated they will buy more in the next year.

As I have written many times in the past; machine control technology provides an excellent return on investment and increases the competitive nature of your bids.  Yet, it is not inexpensive.  One of the mental barriers to adopting new technology has always been the fear that it is over-hyped and not worth the investment.  With such a vast majority going back for more, I think that fear can be put to rest.

Obviously, those who have embraced machine control are seeing the benefits on their real-world jobs and becoming more profitably as a result.  Why else would they invest in more systems?  Whether you see machine control as a competitive advantage, or just a tool to improve your bottom line; it is here to stay and the market acceptance is increasing even in these challenging times.

If you are sitting on the fence, take these numbers to heart. It is obvious from these numbers that those who have already taken the leap of faith are looking to expand their investment in this technology even further.

I was listening to a radio show about pool maintenance recently. (Insert Marco has no life comment here). They said after adding chemicals to your pool, wait 48 hours to test levels again. Without the wait you are testing an artificially high reading and “chasing the bounce”

We observe interesting trends due to our unique position in the industry. A recent and frustrating one is the “new/old” GPS user. This is a company that bought GPS when the business was booming, tried it without much success and set it on the shelf. With times tougher, they are dusting their units off and realizing they need to revisit the advantages of the technology. They had initially jumped in with everyone else and usually did not have enough time to correctly learn this demanding technology. They were following the initial popularity of GPS, effectively chasing the bounce.

The reasons for idle GPS are consistent. They break down to training and or data. Either the user did not grasp training or get enough. Sometimes the “GPS Point person” left. Data was the other problem. From too little too late, or plenty wrong information. Once you send questionable information to the field, you are done. Speaking as a former field hand, once you put egg on my face, I will never give you another chance.

You may be looking at that dusty GPS rig in the closet and thinking you should give it another opportunity. It is a valuable tool, but still only a tool. You need to know how to use  and feed it. You have seen the contractors who are still out there, working and profitable, running GPS.

Here are the steps for success;

• Get the dealer involved. Have them update firmware and train you on the use of the equipment.
• Learn how to build data, or where to get it done.
• Get your people trained, if they are still with you they are most likely keepers.
• Run your own time and motion studies to see what it costs to move dirt. (Hint, it will be about half the cost without the toys.)
• Change the per yard price on the excel bid sheet. Win some work and make money at lower cost.
• Amaze your friends and neighbors with your brilliance.

I myself fell victim to the Icelandic volcano ash cloud, as did many others, and missed Bauma 2010 held in Munich, Germany. But despite mother nature’s meddling, officials are calling Bauma a success and “a turnaround in the international construction machinery industry, ushering in the hoped-for change in sentiment.”

More from the report; “The mood in the industry shows that in Europe the bottom of the cycle is now behind us. Confidence has returned. Of course at the start of the fair the exhibitors felt the lack of many customers from Asia and America – but in the second half of bauma, this improved considerably. Messe München´s crisis management in the days impacted by volcanic ash was outstanding.” This is how Ralf Wezel, Secretary-General of CECE, the Committee for European Construction Equipment, summed up this year´s bauma. In doing so, he confirmed the expectations of the sector as outlined by Dr Christof Kemmann, Chairman of the VDMA Construction Equipment and Building Materials Machinery Industry Association, at the Main Press Conference for bauma 2010 on the first day of the fair.

The report continues, “Although the ban on air travel in Europe prevented visitors and in the end around 50 exhibitors from overseas from coming to the fair, the mood at the venue among the approximately 3,150 registered exhibitors from 53 countries was good by the close of the fair. Already by the mid-way point of the fair a number of exhibitors were reporting more sales than they had expected. “The good old times are coming back: the figures for sales taken at the fair far exceed our expectations. We reckon we will be able to match the volume we took at the record bauma in 2007. This is a clear signal that at Zeppelin-Cat, too, business is moving forward again after the difficult year of 2009,” confirmed Michael Heidemann, Managing Director of Zeppelin and CEO of Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH, Germany.
Michikazu Okada, Vice-President of Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd., Japan: ” We had a lot of new business opportunities some of which already resulted in unexpected conclusions of sale.”

This of course is fantastic news. For more information, read the rest of the report by clicking here.
-Randy

I have not gotten an attendance count here at Waste Expo but the traffic in the exhibit hall is very good. Always good to see old friends.

Left to right: Ron Ciccarone, Scott Beathard, Randy Noland and Dave Owen.