2 Quick Ways to Improve Project Turnaround Time

As a Civil Technology Engineer (CTE) at OnStation, I am tasked with building projects for our users. What’s my goal? To make the building process quick, simple, and mindless. Currently, the average turnaround time to release a project is about two weeks. This fluctuates on the project development queue. I’d like to provide two quick ways to improve project development time, which in turn will shorten the release period.

Submit clear project designs with the correct file formats

Working with the correct design files is crucial to speeding up turnaround time. Industry software to generate these design files include, but are not limited to, Civil3D, OpenRoads, Geopak, and MicroStation. An important element customers should also be submitting when it comes to project design is a centerline alignment. This centerline alignment powers our Station Finder so users can locate themselves on the job in reference to the plans.

Three easy ways to improve your project designs and file formats are:

Create a LandXml v1.2 from your alignment. By having this file ready we can dive straight into creating layers for your project!
Once you decide what linework you need displayed, create a KML file. Creating a KML file will save time and reduce the guesswork as to what linework is needed.
All drawings need to have coordinates systems assigned to them.

Optimize OnStation’s organizational features by including important project information

To increase productivity, OnStation uses critical information provided during the project setup to ensure users can be organized and efficient while working on a project. Some of this information is provided in features, such as tagging, to help individuals on and off the project communicate in one centralized location.

Here are three common missing items an individual should submit while building a project with us:

Project Line/Pay Items
Clients take advantage of this feature while trying to keep tabs on certain pay items. This can help keep not only your project organized, but also your budget on track. It’s easy to get all your project pay items uploaded into our system. All we need is an Excel sheet with the pay item numbers and descriptions.
Plan sets
Did you know that in OnStation you can view any plans or pdfs associated with your project? This can be helpful when dealing with many workers/contractors on a job that will need this information. Submit a pdf and we take care of the rest!
Alignments with stationing
In order to use our Station Finder Tool, make sure one of your drawings have alignment(s) and stationing.

Conclusion: Time Now = Efficiency Later

Individuals who don’t rush this first important part of our process here at OnStation find they earn greater value from our app. The most important features in OnStation, when provided with clean and clear information, allow users to have accurate location readings and ease of coordination with others on a project.

Looking forward, these next couple of months are going to be devoted to expanding our app. Our new features will not only allow OnStation to be a better tool for the construction industry, but it opens the door for anyone that needs to communicate on the road such as towing companies, emergency services, etc.