{"id":4498,"date":"2021-06-10T13:47:20","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T17:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/resources_pages\/managing-survey-data-key-to-success-of-major-highway-project\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T03:15:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T07:15:30","slug":"managing-survey-data-key-to-success-of-major-highway-project","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/blog\/managing-survey-data-key-to-success-of-major-highway-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Survey Data Key to Success of Major Highway Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dodge Data & Analytics on June 10, 2021<\/p>\n

\"Scdotmidlandsconnection\"
Above: Aerial view of the Parr Road overpass bridge over I-26. Sourse: SCDOT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As soon as the Archer-United Joint Venture (Archer Western and United Infrastructure) was awarded the $421 million Midlands Connec\u00adtion Project<\/a> by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Doug Browning, senior survey man\u00adager, says he started thinking about how they were going to manage their data on the project. The vast size of the project\u2014widening 16 miles of an exist\u00ading highway corridor and replacing 10 bridges\u2014makes it critical that every\u00adone is using the most up-to-date plans. Bring\u00ading survey data into the documentation adds to the challenge. \u201cWe are constantly referencing the CAD files we have, because it is unrealistic to receive updated CAD files to do what we need to do with them on the survey side as many times as we have revisions,\u201d says Browning.<\/p>\n

How Survey Data Is Managed and Utilized<\/strong><\/p>\n

A key element that makes the accuracy and completeness of the survey data particularly cru\u00adcial is their use of automated equipment. \u201cWe\u2019ve invested a lot of money into our machine-con\u00adtrolled fleet on this project, \u201c says Browning, \u201cand for us to use the earth-moving equipment and all that to its fullest, it takes a lot of prep time upfront with the data \u2026 It isn\u2019t just a \u2018plug-and-play\u2019 type deal. There\u2019s a constructability aspect where we clean the files for our field crews.\u201d He points out that, \u201cif you do it right up front, you save yourself a lot of time in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n

They are also gathering data from two sources\u2014GPS and conventional survey methods with a robotic total station\u2014and required a solution that could integrate both. A cloud-based solution offered the much-needed data integration while also enabling field crews to access the data via a tablet. Browning describes how \u201cone of my crews can have a robotic total station set up and then, with the click of a button, switch right over to GPS.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, a cloud-based solution allows him to track work progress from his office, or, due to the pandemic, from his home. \u201cI can sit at my computer and see the same screen that [my bulldozer operator] sees in the cab of the dozer. I can give him files, and I can take files out. I can roll off the correct data for the correct model of whatever tasks of scope of work he\u2019s [doing].\u201d He points out that this ease of access is particularly critical when they have dozens of pieces of equipment online at the same time, each needing the correct data to get the work done properly. \u201cIf we can\u2019t manage the data, we have a hard time keeping our produc\u00adtion crews going.\u201d<\/p>\n

System Implementation a Critical Component<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ease of implementation and usability of the plat\u00adform was particularly important due to the large number of people from two different companies involved in the project, many of whom had never worked together. To implement a system for a project of this scale, Browning selected a vendor who had supported them in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cA month after we were awarded the project, I sat down with the team [from the vendor], and we dis\u00adcussed \u2026 what we envisioned our needs to be, and we were able to come up with a plan before we even broke ground or purchased equipment.\u201d Browning believes that collabora\u00adtion early on was a key part of the success\u00adful implementation.<\/p>\n

When asked about implementation challenges, Browning responds that \u201cwe had some hiccups, but not enough where anything has been an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Browning also feels that having a data management plan before you break ground and choosing a vendor who will provide support after the sale are critical success factors. \u201cThe biggest advice I would give another con\u00adtractor is know the scope, have the support, and take every advantage you have to [plan ahead] \u2026 You\u2019ve got to put the legwork in upfront.\u201d<\/p>\n

An unexpected advantage for the successful technology implementation was timing: The project broke ground in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. workforce. Browning describes how resulting delays allowed them more time to \u201ccreate surface models, which are critical for our grade crews.\u201d He is of the opinion that the extra time to work with the data helped prevent rework and ultimately saved the project money.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Survey Data Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Browning has found the biggest benefit they have experienced is improved productivity. Instead of prepping data in the office, putting it on a thumb drive and bringing it to the crew, everything is con\u00adnected in the cloud. As Browning explains, \u201cIt\u2019s a couple of pushes of a button, and away you go.\u201d Having up-to-date information and better commu\u00adnication between the field and the office Browning believes has also helped improve safety. \u201cI think safety just falls right in line when you do the prep work upfront.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, Browning considers the technology a competitive advan\u00adtage. Based on his experience with this project, he is considering other technologies that can further improve his projects. \u201cI am looking for any and all ways that I can separate myself and my department to give us advantages over our competitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Completion of the Midlands Connection Project is projected for late 2024\/early 2025.<\/p>\n

This case study was published originally in The Civil Quarterly, 2021 Issue 2<\/a>. The Civil Quarterly is a free, quarterly publications that offers research, interviews and feature articles on trends transforming the civil construction sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":24873,"template":"","class_list":["post-4498","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nManaging Survey Data Key to Success of Major Highway Project | Dodge Construction Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how effectively managing survey data can lead to the success of major highway projects and improve project outcomes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.construction.com\/blog\/managing-survey-data-key-to-success-of-major-highway-project\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" 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