Title: Technology on the I-65/I-70 North Split

Mark Santucci, chief engineer, Superior Construction

Technology supports numerous industries with software, tools, programs, and features that make workflows operate smoothly and more efficiently. In construction, there are multiple ways technology bolsters production and time management.

An example of technology being used on the second largest interchange in the state of Indiana, the I-65/I-70 North Split in downtown Indianapolis, is within the Survey Department at Superior Construction, the design-build contractor selected by the Indiana Department of Transportation for the $320 million interchange reconstruction project.

”The biggest use of technology on this job is using Trimble products coupled with Trimble Works Manager to keep the flow of calculations and field data flowing back and forth between the office and the field.”

“The biggest use of technology on this job is using Trimble products coupled with Trimble Works Manager to keep the flow of calculations and field data flowing back and forth between the office and the field,” said chief engineer for Superior, Mark Santucci.“Additionally, we use bi-weekly drone flights implementing the Propeller platform to help track the flow and completion of work.”

Using Trimble’s synchronizer makes it possible to push data out to the field as soon as it is available.  It supports concrete pre-pour checks to provide the data minutes after collection with no downtime due to transferring data by other methods.

 This also minimizes mistakes with outdated data, which can often happen on design-build projects. Santucci can also log into a survey controller directly from his computer to assist craftspeople and troubleshoot when issues arise.

Despite the learning curve technology may pose, the time pays off in the long run by increasing accuracy, decreasing transferring time, and creating files to share with automated controlled machinery, according to Santucci.

“It wasn’t too long ago when you were limited by radio range on GPS or needing to install multiple repeaters to reach all ends of a project with GPS,” said Santucci.“Our current system puts our GPS corrections from our base for all project and survey equipment to use. With one base and no repeaters, we are able to cover the entire project.”The most innovative use of technology on the project is leveraging the capabilities of aerial drones. Office employees use drone collected information to plan their work in unconventional ways.

As for the future of technology, as it relates to construction, Santucci is hopeful that augmented reality will see an uptick in use. “I look forward to seeing how augmented reality finds its way into the industry,” he concluded.

For more information about the North Split, check out the North Split website here