1 Bringing Machine Control to California DOT (Caltrans) Construction Projects Kevin Akin, LS Office of Land Surveys.

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Bringing Machine Bringing Machine Control to California Control to California

DOT (Caltrans) DOT (Caltrans) Construction ProjectsConstruction Projects

Kevin Akin, LS Kevin Akin, LS

Office of Land SurveysOffice of Land Surveys

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CaltransCaltrans 22,000 Employees22,000 Employees Most designs are done in-houseMost designs are done in-house Most projects are staked and Most projects are staked and

inspected in-houseinspected in-house 15,000 centerline lane miles15,000 centerline lane miles 12,500 Bridges12,500 Bridges 08/09 budget of 14 Billion08/09 budget of 14 Billion 36,000,000 +/- People in California36,000,000 +/- People in California

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Districts and RegionsDistricts and Regions 12 Districts12 Districts 2 Regions2 Regions

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Earth QuakesEarth Quakes

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66

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MG History in CaltransMG History in Caltrans 2001 Vendor Presentations2001 Vendor Presentations 2001 Contractor Requests2001 Contractor Requests

– Can we have your design model?Can we have your design model? 2003 Machine Guidance Committee2003 Machine Guidance Committee 2005 Interim Guidance2005 Interim Guidance 2006 California Industry Capacity 2006 California Industry Capacity

ExpansionExpansion 2007 Pilot Projects2007 Pilot Projects 20?? Road Design Software Change20?? Road Design Software Change 20?? Create Policy\Implement workflow 20?? Create Policy\Implement workflow

changeschanges 20?? Full Adoption20?? Full Adoption

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Machine Guidance Machine Guidance CommitteeCommittee

Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues– Change Change

Design software limitationsDesign software limitations Reluctance to provide Reluctance to provide

electronic fileselectronic filesAdditional LiabilityAdditional LiabilityTranslation issuesTranslation issues

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MG Committee Cont.MG Committee Cont.

No data to positively show No data to positively show that MG will save money on a that MG will save money on a Caltrans projectCaltrans project

Technological Overload Technological Overload Information OverloadInformation Overload

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Design Product is a Design Product is a Set of 2D Paper PlansSet of 2D Paper Plans Paper plans are the legal documentPaper plans are the legal document 3D design files are an intermediate 3D design files are an intermediate

product- product- not a final productnot a final product Our current software (CAiCE) is not Our current software (CAiCE) is not

model based it is cross-section model based it is cross-section basedbased

Additional work is required to create Additional work is required to create a 3D modela 3D model

Model/files not required at bid dateModel/files not required at bid date

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Early ProjectEarly Project8-SB-15 8-SB-15

15 miles each side of existing 15 miles each side of existing HighwayHighway

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Brawley Bypass Stage Brawley Bypass Stage 11

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Interim GuidelinesInterim Guidelines

Contract is already awardedContract is already awarded Existing files- Existing files- No model availableNo model available Divisions of Construction/Design Divisions of Construction/Design

determine level of Caltrans determine level of Caltrans participationparticipation

Participation is not mandatoryParticipation is not mandatory

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Suitable MG project?Suitable MG project?

Design base on a DTMDesign base on a DTM Large amounts of earthworkLarge amounts of earthwork Good GPS environmentGood GPS environment Electronic files availableElectronic files available

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Not Every Project is Not Every Project is Suitable for MGSuitable for MG GPS issuesGPS issues

– Narrow canyonsNarrow canyons– Tree canopyTree canopy– Tall buildingsTall buildings

Design not based on a full DTMDesign not based on a full DTM– Pavement overlayPavement overlay

Design difficultiesDesign difficulties

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Files Needed to Create Files Needed to Create ModelModel Original ground DTMOriginal ground DTM Alignments and profilesAlignments and profiles Cross-sectionsCross-sections Contour grading areasContour grading areas 2D Microstation Cadd files2D Microstation Cadd files

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Translation IssuesTranslation Issues

No single data formatNo single data format Different triangulation algorithmsDifferent triangulation algorithms Data goes through two or three Data goes through two or three

translationstranslations Is there distortion? Is there distortion?

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Tested Vendor SoftwareTested Vendor Software

Data after vertical line was Data after vertical line was deleteddeleted– XML parser problemXML parser problem

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Legal IssuesLegal Issues

Added liabilityAdded liability Foolproof waiver of liability?Foolproof waiver of liability? Electronic file securityElectronic file security Copyright issuesCopyright issues Homeland securityHomeland security Electronic file vs. paper plansElectronic file vs. paper plans

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Stakes for InspectorStakes for Inspector

Will stake projects as normalWill stake projects as normal Construction has to match stakesConstruction has to match stakes Surveys staking QASurveys staking QA

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Results From MG Results From MG ProjectsProjects Contractor wiped out inspectors stakesContractor wiped out inspectors stakes Increased speed of earth movingIncreased speed of earth moving Caltrans Construction RE valued having Caltrans Construction RE valued having

3D model for problem solving3D model for problem solving Reluctance to give our electronic Reluctance to give our electronic

informationinformation Most contractors are now requesting Most contractors are now requesting

filesfiles Spotty documentation of resultsSpotty documentation of results

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Brawley\Tudor Bypass Brawley\Tudor Bypass Pilot ProjectsPilot Projects

Tudor

Brawley

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TudorTudor Brawley Brawley

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Expectations of Pilot Expectations of Pilot ProjectsProjects Effect of MG on projectEffect of MG on project

– TimeTime– MoneyMoney– ReworkRework– ??

Suggestions for MG workflow Suggestions for MG workflow Document resultsDocument results

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Full ImplementationFull Implementation

Management/Organization Management/Organization commitment commitment

Build a 3D model for every projectBuild a 3D model for every project Model included in bid packageModel included in bid package Change workflow during Design, Change workflow during Design,

Bidding, & ConstructionBidding, & Construction Early identification of projects Early identification of projects

that should not use MG that should not use MG

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New Road Design New Road Design Software-Wish ListSoftware-Wish List Design products that are Design products that are

interactive interactive – 3D model3D model– 2D Cad files2D Cad files– Slope Stake notesSlope Stake notes

Export to major formatsExport to major formats Translation issues identified and Translation issues identified and

resolvedresolved

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3D Models in Bid 3D Models in Bid PackagePackage Electronic securityElectronic security Liability waiversLiability waivers Copyright protectionCopyright protection Assigned responsibility to manage Assigned responsibility to manage

filesfiles– Updates/Changes/Etc…Updates/Changes/Etc…

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Project ControlProject Control

Last through life of projectLast through life of project Agree on control to be usedAgree on control to be used Mutual GPS calibration at the Mutual GPS calibration at the

start of the projectstart of the project

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Questions?Questions?

Contact InformationContact Information

Kevin AkinKevin Akin

916-227-7650916-227-7650

[email protected]@dot.ca.gov

1727 301727 30thth St. MS 35 St. MS 35

Sacramento, Ca. 95816Sacramento, Ca. 95816