I have been an avid reader of all things data and machine control since the inception of the word. I have been interviewed by various publications, and have been asked to speak in various symposiums relating to our industry. It is now time to be on the front lines as a writer, speaking about something I have been involved with for many years.

The approach of this magazine is to have professionals in the industry write the articles, thereby providing input that receives less filtering than a journalist who has not been in the trenches. For the reader, it means good solid information, backed by the tough lesions I learned from being on the leading edge of the business since its inception. For the editors, it means a lot of work improving poor sentence structure, and confusing processes.

The topics I will discuss will relate to the production of data, its use on the job, and work flow of modern sites. We are all under the gun regarding lower prices and tighter deadlines. These require streamlined methods of data production, and implementation in the field.  Even though most contractors are familiar with machine control, data has been the smoke in the machine that has been a sticking point regarding the purchase of GPS equipment. I will demystify the process, and help you to understand the strength of data and many applications in addition to grading and layout.

This magazine will provide a forum for users and potential buyers of technology, a place to ask questions, and get answers from experienced users. I predict that the topics for future columns will come from forum topics that get a lot of involvement, and benefit from the detail available in a printed article.

Your input is critical; I need to know what is important to you. I am fortunate to have experience in this business that provides me with insight few others can share. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with the community of engineers, surveyors, and contractors who want to see this technology achieve its true potential.