Wilson Contractors are enjoying real time and cost savings after employing an SPS rover and base at their project site at Jack’s Point. As a contracting company working in rural areas around the South Island, Wilson Contractors was keen to find an alternative to relying on subcontracted surveyors for project estimates and ‘as-built’ drawings of work in progress.

The SPS rover and base enables Wilson Contractors to carry out their own surveys, revolutionising the way that the company operates.

“The SPS Base allows us to carry out surveys on remote projects we are tendering using a single point setup that enables us to get the simple topographic measurements we need … to produce our tender with minimum time and money spent,” project engineer, Stephen Osborne explains.

Because all surveying is now done in-house, the company has more flexibility to carry out surveys during and after the job to give accurate progress reports and to better manage the site throughout the construction process.

The company uses Trimble Business Centre software to view and manage their data. They also use SCS Data Manager software to automatically synchronise their chosen files with the rover and then back for accurate reporting.

Osborne explains: “On projects such as Jack’s Point where the design and survey data is provided to us by others, we are able to sync the TSC2 Controller with all the relevant designs and accurately set out and record the work that is undertaken. We no longer need external help setting out our projects.”

The benefits continue as the project progresses. “The ability to survey and record design surfaces and compute volumes allows us to know at any point throughout the project our progress and work remaining, giving us careful and accurate control of our material usage as well as accurate quantities for billing purposes.”

Osborne credits GeoSystems with ensuring a smooth transition to their improved process: “GeoSystems’ advice with regard to the selection of equipment and software has improved our efficiency as a company substantially. The on-site advice and training we received has been crucial in helping us to understand and use the equipment to its full potential. The continuing support from the GeoSystems’ team is a great help.”