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If you're in the construction industry, you’ve likely read the beloved book Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site  to your kids. Now, imagine that book brought to life with real Caterpillar earthmovers equipped with the latest 3D machine control technology. Quantum’s own 3D machine control expert, Ryan Murguia , developed the precise 3D models for Cat Grade equipment that made this animated site possible. Ryan had some fun challenges in getting the models to scale correctly with Caterpillar machines and animations, but nothing he could not handle. Watch the video below with your kids, nieces, nephews or just for kicks. It brings the well loved children's book to life.

John Deere and Trimble have teamed up to deliver better machine control solutions for contractors in construction. By combining John Deere's heavy equipment expertise with Trimble's GPS machine control technology, this partnership aims to provide practical tools to improve accuracy and efficiency on projects. What This Means for Contractors For those using John Deere construction equipment with Trimble machine control systems, this partnership means better integration and more efficient technology. Trimble’s Earthworks GPS and machine control features are being integrated directly into John Deere SmartGrade machines, making it easier to use the technology across various earthmoving projects. This collaboration brings machine control technology to more equipment, helping contractors manage earthworks, grading, and excavation with greater precision. It’s especially beneficial for those already using Trimble tools who want seamless compatibility with their John Deere fleet. Key Benefits for Contractors 1. Better Integration: Machine control systems will be integrated directly into John Deere construction equipment, making it easier to use and backed up by dealer support. 2. Increased Productivity: Combining John Deere SmartGrade equipment with Trimble’s Earthworks machine control helps contractors work more efficiently and complete projects faster. 3. More Access and Options: Contractors will have access to advanced machine control and GPS tools, benefiting companies of all sizes and technology preferences. The Future of Earthmoving Technology This partnership marks a significant step for contractors who rely on machine control and precision tools to maximize the productivity of their earthmoving equipment. Adding these tools to your operations can help you stay ahead in the construction industry. If you’re using John Deere machines and Trimble’s control systems, this collaboration will make your job easier with a more integrated worksite and technology. At Quantum Land Design, our machine control models are the backbone of your GPS technology, no matter the brand. Read more here: - Trimble Press Release - John Deere Press Release

3. Set a Few GCP's Inside the Site Once the site is boxed in with control it's time to place a couple more GCP's to dial in accuracy. These will help fine tune the photogrammetry process, too. Not something you need to worry about, unless you process your own data, but important nonetheless. To start, place a GCP on roughly the highest and lowest spots on your project. Don't worry about placing them on EXACTLY the highest and lowest points, just do what you can to get fairly close. Your highest and/or lowest points might be one of the boundary points from principle two , and that's ok. While your boundary points do much of their work by scaling in your drone data horizontally, these high/low points make sure you are scaled in to the full range of vertical elevations on your project. If your highest and lowest points are on the outer boundary, place a GCP close to the middle of the project. You should have a minimum of five GCP's for any flight. Why five? This blog post in our GPS Site Control series explains why, geometrically, five is the minimum necessary. Ideally, we like to see six to eight, or more for a larger site. For most construction sites (20 acres or less), six to eight control points will cover it. On a larger site place more control points evenly between the others. It's good to see a GCP every 500' to 800', more or less. You can stretch it out further on really big sites but keep in mind that your accuracy could start to drift between GCP's. In areas were elevations are critical place a GCP or two in or near those areas. That will guarantee the best accuracy possible for your flight where it counts the most. One more thing to keep in mind. It's good to have a little extra ground control in case you have a bad topo shot or one gets disturbed before you fly. Take a few extra minutes to make sure you have at least the minimum GCP's required in place and consider adding a couple more for "extra credit" On an active construction site you rarely get a second chance to collect the topo data you need. A couple "insurance" GCP's are well worth the time. Take a look at the sewer plant below. There are three GCP's inside the site boundary. One at the high point near the buildings in the north center of the site. Another is in a drainage basin to the south of it, the low point. There is a third on the middle of berm between the two lagoons. Any areas between bodies of water should have a GCP. The photogrammetry process does not work on water covered areas and we need to give it a little help with a GCP in that situation. The high point on the pre-construction flight for this golf course project was along the cart path, roughly in the middle of the project area. The low point was on the southwest corner, where one of the boundary GPC's was able to do double duty as the low point. The road section on the left has three control points between the ends of the project. It's best to alternate sides of the road and place a painted target in the middle of the road, if safely possible. Every 500' or so is enough in most situations, just make sure to hit the highs and lows and add more as you go around a curve. Consider placing extra GCP's in critical areas like near intersections or access roads. Next: Principle 4 - Collect Topo Check Shots Previous: Principle 2 - Surround the Site

5. Measure GCP's With Same GPS System You Are Using For Machine Control ALWAYS, and only , measure in your ground control with a rover that is fully calibrated to the site control for your GPS system. Take the time to check your GPS system to make sure it is accurate that day. In the end, the only thing that matters is that your drone data lines up with the Engineer's design, your takeoff and your machine control model. If it does not, you will not be able to use the data for volume calculations or to measure production over the duration of you project. For this reason, all of your ground control and check shots should be measured in with the same base/rover GPS setup you are using for machine control. By using the same GPS system, calibrated to the correct site control, you will be guaranteed that your drone data will work in conjunction with any data collected on your site, past, present and future. To measure each ground control target or check shot, just place your rover in the center, level up and take the topo shot - just as shown in the photo to the left. Use a bi-pod if you have one. Your drone data can't be any more accurate than your ground control. A little extra effort here pays off here. Give the point a simple description in your controller, like GCP1SW, for "ground control point 1 south west". A simple description like that will make your field work much easier to sort out for your data company or someone back at the office. It's nice to paint the GCP # next to the target, but that's not 100% necessary. For topo check shots, label them "check" or "CK". Any check shots that are in an important spot like a flow line or tie-in just need to be labeled them clearly. When it's time to export the points you can use the proprietary file type your GPS brand uses or a universal file type like CSV or TXT. However you export the data be sure to select the Point #, Northing, Easting, Elevation and Description fields. That's it. Five simple to understand principles you can quickly apply to any drone mapping project. If you still need to make the jump and add a drone to your fleet, give the Quantum Flight Pack a look. 1. Location matters 2. Surround the site 3. Set a few GCP's inside the site 4. Collect topo check shots 5. Measure GCP's with the same GPS system you are using for machine control If you need to clear up any lingering questions regarding drone systems or ground control email us at sales@avqld.com or call 515-505-3510 ex: 702, we would be happy to hear from you.

Are you ready to take your earthmoving business to the next level? Join me at the upcoming Trimble Dimensions conference for a session that will open up new possibilities for using drones in construction. My session, "How to Use Drones in Your Earthmoving Business," will cover everything you need to get started with drone technology and, what you actually want to know , how to turn that technology into real profits. Don't worry, the machine control system you have invested in will be leveraged to get the most out of your drone data. Drones have quickly become a game-changer in the construction industry, especially for earthmoving contractors. With precise aerial data, contractors can improve project planning, streamline processes, and verify work completed—all while saving time and reducing costs. But where do you start, and how do you make it all work for your specific needs? That's exactly what we'll dive into at my session.   We'll keep things practical and straightforward—no deep technical gibberish. I'll cover what you need to get started with drones, how to incorporate them into your existing workflow, and where you'll see the biggest benefits. We'll spend most of our hour on real-world applications, looking at how other contractors are using drones to document work, verify quantities, and improve their bids.   The beauty of drone data lies in its flexibility and the ability to leverage it throughout the entire project lifecycle. Whether you're documenting progress, verifying cut and fill volumes, or refining future bids, drones can make your job easier and more profitable. My goal is to show you how to make this technology work for you, without the need to overcomplicate it.   I won't be pushing a specific drone system or data processing methodology. Instead, we'll discuss the options available, so you can decide what fits best for your company and the work YOU do. This session is all about empowering you with the right knowledge to make informed decisions.   If you're attending Trimble Dimensions, make sure to stop by my session at C-1746. Bring your questions—I'll answer every one I can or we can leverage the audience to share their experience. Let's explore how drone technology can help you work smarter, be more efficient, and ultimately improve your bottom line.   Looking forward to seeing you there! Wednesday, November 13th 9:00 AM, Galileo 1006 Register at the link below (have your login info handy). How to Use Drones in Your Earthmoving Business

Quantum Land Design is proud to support the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Scholarship Program. To support young people in joining the industry our team has donated a 3D Machine Control Model for Stringless Paving or Curbing. Up to 1 mile of two lane road or 10 acre parking lot! You can bid on the the model just click ----> HERE It's easy to register, text CIM2024 to 76278 or you can register on this website. It just takes a couple minutes to register. They have everything on the auction block from fly ash, to NASCAR tickets to our Stringless Paving machine control model.

Quantum's team is looking forward to attending World of Concrete. We always enjoy the opportunity to re-connect with old friends and meet new ones. Reach out to one of us here if you'd like to meet up in Las Vegas. As our team prepares to walk the show floor we do our our best to step into a concrete contractor's boots. Of course, our focus is on how to identify and adopt technology that will improve our business. Here are some questions you might consider asking vendors about their 2D/3D paving, grading or other machine control technologies at the World of Concrete: Technology Overview : Can you provide an overview of your 3D paving and grading technologies? What makes your technology stand out from others? Efficiency : How does your technology improve the efficiency of paving and grading projects? Can you share any metrics or case studies? How can I avoid or limit a reduction in efficiency a when I first adopt the technology? Quality Control : How does your technology ensure the quality of the paving and grading work? Does it have any built-in quality control or error detection features? Integration : Can your technology be integrated with other systems or technologies? How easy is it to incorporate into existing workflows? Will your new system be compatible with the technology I currently use? Training and Support : What kind of training or support do you provide for customers who are new to this technology? Who is the dealer for my area? How can I contact them? Costs : What are the costs associated with implementing and maintaining your technology? Are there any ongoing costs such as subscriptions or service fees? What is the cost of and who can install software updates? Future Developments : What future developments are planned for your technology? How do you see it evolving in the next few years? Remember, the goal is to gain an understanding of how technology can specifically benefit your needs or projects. While it's tempting to be drawn to the latest innovations at the show, sometimes the best solution is to step back, re-evaluate your business operations then decide if adding technology really is the best solution. Enjoy your time at the World of Concrete!

Here are all of our DJI Phantom 4 Pro and Mavic 2 Pro training videos. Both drones fly using the free Ground Station Pro software on an iPad. Bookmark this site and subscribe to our YouTube channel , we're always working on new content to help you make the most of your construction technology. Topographic Survey Flight Planning Camera Settings for Topographic Flights Low Light Camera Settings for Topographic Flights Reuse a Flight Plan

We just posted a new Quantum Flight Pack video. Learn how to plan a topographic mapping mission for a construction site in DJI's Pilot 2 software. This flight plan is optimized for the new Mavic 3E. A GPS machine control model and drone flight are all you need to get started in monitoring your project with the lastet construction technology. Want to learn more about how to set up ground control and use the data collected with your Quantum Flight Pack (or any drone system)? Click here to head over to our Education page.

We’d like to invite you to join Quantum Land Design at ConExpo 2023.

We have been hearing a lot about how OpenAI's ChatGPT conversational AI can supplement our workflow. Maybe, in the near-ish future it will help us better utilize our GPS machine control systems or optimize an earthmoving plan on a commercial or road grading project. We thought it would be fun to ask ChatGPT how to get the most out of attending Conexpo. Admittedly, a simple question, but a regular Google search does not give us simple and easy to follow results. ChatGPT gave us an on-point list of tips to maximize our experience. We've posted them, verbatim, below. Before we get to the that, ChatGPT did miss one KEY POINT we would be negligent to ignore. Visit Quantum Land Design's booth in the West Hall (W43207)! I am sure that by Conexpo 2026 artificial intelligence will KNOW that our booth is the place to be. Click here for Quantum's registration and education discount codes. Use and share them. We'd love to see you there. Question posed to ChatGPT: How can I get the most out of attending the Conexpo trade show? ChatGPT's Answer: Attending a trade show like Conexpo can be an excellent opportunity to network, learn about new industry trends, and explore new products and services. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of attending Conexpo: 1. Plan ahead: Before attending the trade show, create a plan of what you want to achieve during the event. Make a list of the exhibitors you want to see and the sessions you want to attend. Also, set specific goals for what you want to achieve during the show, such as meeting potential customers, learning about new technology, or finding new suppliers. 2. Research the exhibitors: Review the exhibitor list before the event, and visit their websites to learn more about their products and services. This will help you to determine which exhibitors you want to visit first and which ones to prioritize. 3. Attend educational sessions: Conexpo offers a variety of educational sessions, such as seminars, workshops, and keynote speeches. Attending these sessions will help you to gain knowledge and insights on new industry trends and best practices. 4. Network: Take advantage of the networking opportunities that Conexpo offers, such as meet-and-greets, receptions, and social events. This is an excellent chance to meet new people, exchange business cards, and make new connections in your industry. 5. Take notes and ask questions: During the event, take notes of important information and ideas you learn. Also, ask questions to exhibitors, speakers, and other attendees to gain a better understanding of their products, services, and industry perspectives. 6. Follow up: After the event, follow up with the contacts you made during the trade show. Send an email, make a phone call, or connect with them on LinkedIn to continue building the relationship. By following these tips, you can maximize your Conexpo experience and come away with valuable knowledge, connections, and opportunities for your business.

Ready for Conexpo 2023? We are! Quantum Land Design has big plans for the show. It starts with our booth in the West Hall (W43207), includes two education sessions (drone data and machine control) along with more we will share later. We are looking forward to meeting with many old friends and hundreds of new clients we've only met virtually since ConExpo 2020. Your first step will be to Register for the Show. Be sure to use Quantum's Conexpo promo code to secure a big discount on your registration, it's QUA9684C. Just enter it when you register. Maybe you can "invest" your savings at the poker table. Whether it's our sessions or any others seriously consider the education program. Knock 20% off the top by using our education promo code EDUCATION20. Look at it this way, sign up for five education sessions and you get one free. Multiply that by applying what you have learned and you are effectively getting paid to attend the education sessions. How can you beat that ROI? Looking forward to seeing you there! We asked ChatGPT's artificial intelligence model how to get the best out of your trip to Conexpo. Click here for ChatGPT's six simple tips anyone can follow.