FabSite Industries has invested in the latest 3D GPS Systems in order to better provide a finished product for our customers. We don’t just “eyeball” the grade. We utilize Trimble GPS Machine Control, an advanced positioning system that integrates 3D design models directly into our heavy equipment. This allows our operators to see exactly where to dig, push, or level with centimeter-level accuracy. With the use of todays latest Trimble Systems we are able to cut construction costs by 25%.

While the machinery handles the heavy lifting, the Trimble GPS Rover is the “brain” on the ground. Think of it as a handheld command center that allows our site foremen and grade checkers to carry the entire project’s digital blueprints in their hands. A Trimble Rover consists of a carbon-fiber rod topped with a high-precision GNSS antenna, connected to a ruggedized tablet (data collector). It communicates with a fixed “Base Station” on-site to provide centimeter-level accuracy. Our team simply walks the site with the Rover. The screen shows their exact position relative to the 3D site plan. We can “digitally stake” building corners, curb lines, and utility paths in a fraction of the time.

Instead of relying solely on wooden stakes in the ground, our operators have a rugged 10-inch touchscreen in the cab. This screen displays a 3D digital twin of your project’s engineering plans. For our bulldozers and excavators, the Trimble system can actually take over the hydraulics. As the machine moves, the GPS sensors adjust the blade or bucket automatically to follow the digital design. If an engineer makes a change to the site plan, we don’t have to wait for new paper blueprints to arrive. We can upload the revised 3D model wirelessly to the entire fleet. This leads to faster project completion. By removing the need for constant manual staking, we can keep the machines moving 100% of the time.

Safety is the highest priority on any commercial site. While GPS is often associated with speed and accuracy, its most significant impact at FabSite is the “invisible safety net” it creates for our ground crew and operators. Our GPS systems also reduce “Human-in-the-Ditch” exposure. In traditional site development, a grade checker or surveyor often has to stand in a trench or near an active excavator to check depths with a manual level. Since the excavator’s bucket is calibrated to the GPS model, the operator knows the correct grade without anyone needing to enter the “swing zone” or the trench. We significantly reduce the risk of “struck-by” accidents, which are a leading cause of injury in construction.