Trimble Total Station

Earlier this year, over 40 Local 393 members took advantage of the next advancement in layout and precision measurement technology by attending courses at the Loyd E. Williams Pipe Trades Training Center that covered the proper care and operation of the Trimble Robotic Total Station.

The Trimble Robotic Total Station is an electronic instrument that utilizes input from 3D or CAD drawing in order to automatically locate vital layout points as a building is under construction. After a worker establishes and enters the site CAD drawings into the device, it then communicates wirelessly with a hand held prism to establish reference points. Once a few reference points have been confirmed, the device can then extrapolate and calculate the location of pipes, sleeves and hanger locations or just about any other reference points critical to precise layout.

The controller allows you to carry, manage, work with, and lay out jobsite blueprints. Wireless capability enables transfer of data and daily progress updates between the office and the field, reducing delays associated with traveling to and from the jobsite. If the crew needs new data for a different project or updated information for the current job, the data can be emailed directly to the crew's handheld controller.

Nathan Culver from Sitech demonstrates
Trimble Robotics to journeymen/apprentices.

Each year contractors and construction management firms face more complex building designs and requirements for precise locations of electrical, plumbing and HVAC components. Since they need to be able to transfer those precise locations to the field layout process with greater speed and accuracy, they are mandating the use of devices like this as a replacement to tape measures. This provides for greater efficiency, accuracy and productivity ... more than has ever been achievable.

As the construction industry incorporates more and more technologic advances, it is up to the members and signatory contractors of Local 393 in San Jose to step up and embrace these new tools and processes if they want to remain a viable workforce in the decades to come.

Congratulations to the individuals and contractors that have embraced the changes in the industry and improved their skill sets and productivity by purchasing and learning about the vital new technologies available. By keeping up with the changes in our industry, we remain competitive and relevant.