Keep Ahead of Schedule with Terramodel and SCS Data Manager

Tasked with keeping a tight schedule, Fletcher Higgins Joint Venture (FHJV), principal contractor on Transit New Zealand’s upgrade on State Highway 2 from Dowse to Petone, selected Trimble software to manage all design and survey information on the project.

Commenting on the power and versatility of the solution provided by GeoSystems, project surveyor Charles Dunk said, “We used Terramodel and SCS Data Manager on the project to interpret and centrally store our design data, including DWG and MX Roads files. We were able to combine the different CAD files and create one ‘master’ design file along with a set of ‘base’ models that could be easily overlaid when required.”

GeoSystems Account Manager, Will Newall, felt that Terramodel was perfect for the job, “It can read virtually any file format available. Once imported, data can then be examined and analysed in 3D.”

Emphasising Terramodel’s flexibility, Dunk continued, “Each file was rotated and scaled for our site control so that all elements, for example bridges, drainage, and barriers, were in our site coordinate system. This led to easy grouping and transferring via SCS Data Manager, using Terramodel to export 3D DXF files for geometry strings, TTM files for surface models and CSV files for stations and points such as pile centres.” SCS Data Manager allowed Dunk’s chosen files to be synchronised automatically, ensuring optimum data flow both out to our Trimble survey equipment, and then back in for comprehensive reporting.

Dunk concluded by saying, “Terramodel was also used to design our temporary road alignments, allowing us to negotiate with Transit and stakeholders well ahead of the construction phase. Drawings and sections could be produced and batters set-out, helping with communication to third parties.”

Trimble software, as part of the complete Trimble solution, has enabled FHJV’s survey department keep the project ahead of schedule. Managers have been able to easily organise, monitor and control all data from a single point, which lead to increased efficiencies once the project commenced.