The Peej
Senior Member
Great work, updates, and writeups
I haven't been on in quite some time, but decided to check in and read this.
We have quite a bit of difference in the use of GPS than most of you, as almost all we do is stream restoration. We do not have to do any take-offs as the designers provide us with a surface, and our RFPs include quantities for most items. Some are tremendously complex including pictures and orientation of logs used in wood structures, riffle, glide, and pool grading, and floodplain grading. Some include just simple linework and surfaces. We often require different layers for each component as there gets to be too much information on one screen, primarily linework.
With the help of our Sitech representative we have been able to learn how to import files in xml, csv for control points, and dwg. We use TBC to export to GCS 900, and it is good to be able to export layers individually as necessary. We have CB 460 on a D6T, 345D, and 320D. A couple of months ago we purchased a next Gen 330 which comes with 2D capabilities and purchased the 3D portion from Trimble. It cost $7500 to unlock the computer in the 330 in order to be able to use 3D. I believe Trimble offers an "Advanced" version for better function of the automatic capabilities, but I understand that is an additional $8,000, and we really don't use the automatic features much anyway. Seems we are getting to the point where despite buying the machine, one doesn't necessarily own all of its capabilities. I imagine soon everything will be on a yearly subscription basis. The Next Gen machines are electric over hydraulic rather than pilot controls, and I hated it at first as the feel of the controls wasn't nearly as nice as our older machines, but we are getting used to them and they can be adjusted.
One thing that the rover and TBC has been very beneficial for is being able to do pre and post construction surveys, and to be able to produce earthwork reports comparing the two surfaces. On one project that we bid on there was a requirement to hire a licensed surveyor to perform pre and post surveys to establish a quantity of material moved, as that cost line item was an actual quantity. There was approximately 110,000 cubic yards of mine tailings to move in order to restore a floodplain. We bid that item including the surveyor' cost, which was about $25,000, and included drone flights but he could only assure accuracy to within .3' as the tailings had come out of a dredge and were not at all uniform. In an alternate proposal included in our proposal we suggested that we would flat top the tailings, shoot the cut area with our rover, and then shoot it again once we had completed construction, and then provide the data to the engineer as well as our Sitech Rep to calculate the volume of tailings moved. They Project Manager accepted our alternative calculating that even if our data was off in our favor by 5% or so the savings in not having to hire a licensed surveyor would be a push. We prepared our own earthwork report via TBC (very easy to do) and came out within 100 cubic yards of what the engineer calculated using our data. I am not smart enough to know exactly why there was any difference, but I believe it had to do with trimming triangles on the surface edges.
The Next Gen is pretty impressive as the screen in the machine shows shading in between lines, and really helps to see what we are building beyond the reach of the boom. The download process is different as the calibration file is integrated into TBC and then exported from there, whereas with the CB460 we are able to add a cfg file independently on the jump drive. The Next Gen also contains the ability to add files/designs directly to the machine from the office, though I don't see us using that feature.
As I am sure many of you have learned, the old free TBC versions did not require the licensing to complete most of the tasks that we use. I bought a lower level of license for our newer version (under duress), but still have the older version just in case.
I bet you will find that after becoming comfortable with the new technology there is no way you would ever go back, but swallowing the initial cost is less than palatable!
I feel that one. December-February is normally the driest part of the year for me. I'm sitting on 6" YTD. Which is approaching 400% of normal rainfall. About the only time there hasn't been mud is when the ground is frozen.It has rained down here so much this year, more than usual. So tired of the mud.
So far, we have yet to experience an entire day without snow since spring began!I feel that one. December-February is normally the driest part of the year for me. I'm sitting on 6" YTD. Which is approaching 400% of normal rainfall. About the only time there hasn't been mud is when the ground is frozen.
Thanks for that. Sorry I just got notice that someone responded to my question. I have a dump truck and a single axle water truck with a 2000 gallon tank. I thought the tandem would pack more evenly than a single axle. It doesn't necessarily have to be packed rock hard just evenly packed to hold the moisture in without developing pot holes. I think the truck might do a good job empty while leaving the track a little tacky. For bike races could scarily the surface which might work for cars as well. Lots of tracks have the cars with wide tires pack the track but I think it makes it easier for the track to deteriorate. A pad foot or sheep's foot is used to create depressions in the ground which will hold water. If I can open up the ground deep enough to get the water several inches down I'm hoping to pack the surface to hold the moisture in and it can slowly work its way up to control dust. Just don't want chunks and holes to form.Well WD most specs and geotechs here require a loaded tandem dump truck proof roll a site before any engineered fill is placed. A friend of mine who is also a geo-engineer would rather have a tandem do a proof roll compaction test instead of a nuke gage because in his words - "A tandem doesn't lie".
A fully loaded tandem dump is a great compactor especially for clay when the moisture content is at or right at optimum. The problem with using a tandem as a compactor is efficiency compared to an 84" wide roller that covers more SF in a pass. However you are not building pads everyday you just need your track fixed.
So if you have a tandem at your disposal, load it up and get to rolling, I wouldn't rent a roller. Hell it doesn't have to be a tandem dump, a single axle dump or water truck works just a good only thing is you have to make a few more passes.
Another option is a trench roller. We have 2 of them (need 2 in order to have 1 working when you need it..) and use them all the time. What a trench roller would allow you to do is get in tight transitions. I picked up the last one for around $5K IIRC at auction.
The poor man's way of determining optimum moisture in soil is grab a handful and squeeze it into a ball. Open your hand leaving the soil ball in your palm. If soil sticks to your fingers it's too wet, if it crumbles and falls apart it's too dry if it makes a ball and stays it's shape then it's close to optimum moisture.
Thanks for that. Sorry I just got notice that someone responded to my question. I have a dump truck and a single axle water truck with a 2000 gallon tank. I thought the tandem would pack more evenly than a single axle. It doesn't necessarily have to be packed rock hard just evenly packed to hold the moisture in without developing pot holes. I think the truck might do a good job empty while leaving the track a little tacky. For bike races could scarily the surface which might work for cars as well. Lots of tracks have the cars with wide tires pack the track but I think it makes it easier for the track to deteriorate. A pad foot or sheep's foot is used to create depressions in the ground which will hold water. If I can open up the ground deep enough to get the water several inches down I'm hoping to pack the surface to hold the moisture in and it can slowly work its way up to control dust. Just don't want chunks and holes to form.
Damn that's a pile of wisteria! That stuff is like a rope that thinks it's a cable.
How did you get that much stone and rip rap through that soup?
I don't understand what the Faircloth skimmer is supposed to do in this case. The inlet brings in the water, the outlet takes the water away. Doesn't seem like the skimmer will do much of anything. The OCS might catch some sediment until the next gully washer scours the OCS clean, out the outlet. Is there anything to slow the water out the outlet?