Adapting construction staking to modern technology : final report.

El-Gohary, Nora; El-Rayes, Khaled; Liu, Liang Y.; Golparvar-Fard, Mani; Zhang, Ruichuan · 2017 · ROSA P / Illinois Center for Transportation

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Summary

This report details the development of written procedures for integrating modern technologies into highway construction staking in Illinois, intended for inclusion in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Construction Manual. The research was motivated by the absence of existing specifications for technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), 3D computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), and civil information modeling (CIM). These technologies offer significant potential for improving quality, reducing costs, and expediting project delivery, yet IDOT’s policies remained outdated. The primary objective was to create standardized guidelines that enable contractors to utilize these tools effectively. The study employed a six-task methodology to derive these procedures. First, the researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review of construction manuals, regulations, and research studies from all 50 state departments of transportation (DOTs), classifying manuals by their level of detail regarding GPS and CADD/CIM usage. Second, they surveyed state DOTs and contractors to identify current practices, barriers, and success factors in states that had already adopted these technologies. This survey utilized four distinct questionnaires targeting construction, design, surveying staff, and contractors, yielding 36 responses from 20 states. Third, the team identified twelve potential practices for Illinois based on the literature and survey data. Fourth, they gathered feedback on these practices from IDOT staff across all nine districts and Illinois contractors through personal interviews, receiving 79 responses. Finally, the team developed draft procedures for review by a Technical Review Panel and subsequently finalized the complete written procedures. The resulting procedures, detailed in Chapter 7 of the report, cover twelve key areas: general provisions, evaluation of construction methods, AMG equipment specifications, work plans, training requirements, electronic design files, digital models, project control, accuracy and tolerance standards, site calibration, spot checks, and final checks. Specific guidelines address the setup of GPS base stations, the submission and review of Automated Machine Guidance (AMG) work plans, and the responsibilities associated with providing electronic design files. The procedures also define accuracy requirements for AMG compared to conventional staking and outline protocols for site calibration and quality assurance checks. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a formal framework for IDOT to adopt modern staking technologies. By establishing clear standards for equipment, data exchange, and quality control, the procedures aim to facilitate the widespread use of AMG and digital models in Illinois highway projects. This standardization is expected to enhance construction efficiency, improve project quality, and reduce costs by allowing contractors to leverage advanced positioning and modeling tools within a regulated and supported environment.

Key finding

The research team identified twelve primary potential practices for employing modern technologies in construction staking and developed complete written procedures for inclusion in IDOT’s Construction Manual.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 115

Provenance

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