GPS is a great tool, and integrating it into your company’s operations takes time and care. Last issue, we talked about moving data into the field to successfully use it. Now we will discuss the flow of data back into the office.

Many contractors do not use the full potential of GPS. The usual routine is to produce data, then grade the job. Seldom does information get gathered in the field, and transferred to the office. I will break data flow to the office into two separate topics, data preservation, and field data.

Data preservation is the archiving of data creating another copy or backup. If a topo is on your data collector and it gets dropped in the lake, you suddenly understand the need for data archiving. You can devise any method that accomplishes the task, but here is the take home message. Data needs unique names and storage in more than one place. Your work needs to pass the “vacation test”. If you are out of the office, a coworker should be able to locate and understand the contents of the most current version of the data. One way to accomplish this is by the referencing the dates for the data, and a simple excel spreadsheet that explains what each file is. This will save you from having to get out of the vacation pool and remove your water wings to answer a call from a confused co-worker.
Field data refers to anything you do in the field that needs to be used by other people, for multiple purposes. The data from the office is already there and on your data collector, so that is not an issue. We need to address what you do in the field that will help the company to track the job and make it run smoother and be more profitable. As you become more proficient and comfortable with the manipulation of data, you will use more data to do more things. I will discuss two basic processes that will yield multiple benefits, Topo surveys, and as-builts.

Topo’s can be taken on a weekly basis to get the real amount of dirt moved, no more load counts and guesses. These topo’s are sent to the office for safekeeping and use in pay requests. There is no better way to prove the progress of a job than to show a cut/fill map with actual yardage to date. Every time you get a job, it is important to go out and topo the site. You will know what actually needs to get done. It is easier to bring up yardage claims before you move any dirt.

If you encounter a hard dig situation it is easy to measure the area, compare it to the work that needs to be done and submit exact pricing. As a job progresses and material is moving on and off site, a spot takeoff can let you know if you need to transfer more material. This will eliminate the need to bring back material after you trucked away, or call the trucks back for more export.

Any time you do something that will eventually be covered up; it needs to be documented with a point. Think of the power that has, no more searching, just go back to the point and there it is. This information will also come in handy years down the road after everyone has forgotten about the job. When paving a job it is easy to find valves after paving, eliminating dry holes and inaccurate tie outs.

GPS is a powerful tool. My goal is to provide tips in hopes of making GPS do more for you and your business making your jobs go smoother, and more profitable. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

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