“Real time”, “connected” and “Trimble” come up a lot when managers describe steps taken over time and across workflows to achieve the strategic transformation that has made Bituminous Roadways more efficient, productive and data driven.
Bituminous Roadways earned the 2024 Trimble Construction Innovation Award in the “Connected Construction” category. Pictured are Kim Scales, IS technology manager, and Nate Larson, construction technologist.
“We see technology as a way to get better insight into our productivity and a real-time view of where we stand, and there’s no data disconnect,” says Nate Larson, construction technologist at the Minnesota paving, utility and sitework company.
"Because systems are connected, data moves seamlessly. This allows us to collaborate more effectively across departments and to eliminate redundant data entry and all the wasted time and opportunity for error that go along with that,” adds information systems manager Kim Scales. She says employee production hours have increased by 150 percent, and equipment production hours are up by 117 percent as a result.
Software connectivity across estimating, operations and accounting
As bid volume grew, Bituminous transitioned from spreadsheets to B2W Estimate for speed and accuracy. Once a project is won, bid data flows directly to B2W Track and B2W Schedule performance tracking and resource scheduling applications. This allows managers to establish daily field logs and assign resources according to how the job was envisioned in the bid.
Field teams at Bituminous capture data and analyze it daily with B2W Track. Labor hours, production quantities, and material and equipment utilization recorded on electronic field logs transfer directly into the Viewpoint Spectrum accounting system. There, the information is reconciled with final costs and invoices for overall analysis of project profitability.
From job scheduling and equipment moves, to mass haul truck dispatching and plant material scheduling, B2W Schedule has transformed logistics at Bituminous. "Dispatchers, foremen and superintendents rely on the real-time updates and digital visualization of the scheduling software to coordinate crews, equipment, materials and trucks,” explains Larson. “Our ability to dispatch over 200 trucks in a day, compared to 80 trucks in previous years, speaks to efficiencies we've gained,” according to Scales.
Moving from what Scales called antiquated software to B2W Maintain has allowed the company to automate preventative maintenance and standardize inspections, repair requests, work orders and parts. "We now proactively schedule maintenance and track detailed equipment repair costs,” says Scales. “Mechanic hours also transfer automatically to Viewpoint Spectrum for payroll."
Accuracy and automation for surveying and machine control
Survey teams at Bituminous use a Trimble SPS986 GNSS Smart Antenna, a TSC7 Controller running Siteworks, and SPS930 Universal Total Stations to capture accurate positioning data for fine grading, paving and site measurements.
Trimble Stratus drone technology supplements surveying capabilities on the ground for mapping and measuring site conditions and job progress. That includes analyzing grades on location, verifying improper subgrade installation and grade breaks and creating the most efficient designs based on existing conditions. Surveying material stockpiles at asphalt plants at least once a month with the drone cuts a week’s worth of time for a GPS technician down to a few hours, Larson says.
A workflow delivering digital data from models to machines allows Bituminous to grade sites and install aggregates faster and with fewer people. Machine guidance files are created from project models using Trimble Business Center. Trimble Works Manger transfers files to machines and data on completed work back to Trimble Business Center. With the files controlling blade height while operators control steering and speed of dozers and graders, efficiency has increased by 30 percent, Larson estimates.
“We’ve used machine guidance solutions on our equipment for so long that I think we often underestimate the value, particularly on a large paving job,” he says.
