Bituminous Roadways (BR) of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, has won a Trimble Construction Innovation Award, which recognizes "exceptional use" of Trimble technology on workflows, processes, and projects by North American customers.
The award for "Connected Construction" concerned the company's work on the recently completed 217,000-square-foot FedEx Ground Distribution Center in Rosemount, Minnesota.
It is a state-of-the-art facility that not only enhances FedEx's distribution capabilities, but also demonstrates how Bituminous Roadways utilizes advanced technology to improve project delivery and efficiency, Trimble said in a statement.
Bituminous, a paving and heavy construction specialist, adopted and connected a wide range of Trimble systems. The lineup includes surveying, positioning, machine control, and drone technology, as well as the Trimble Viewpoint Spectrum construction ERP software and the full B2W suite for estimating, performance tracking, scheduling, and equipment maintenance.
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Data now moves seamlessly between many of these Trimble systems, allowing the company to collaborate more effectively across departments, eliminating redundant data entry, achieving time and labor savings, and improving quality.
For the project, BR undertook the largest parking lot job in its 75-plus-year history, paving 282,000 square yards around the facility. The project required 204,000 tons of rock and 63,500 tons of asphalt.
Integrated technology workflow
BR utilized a cohesive technology ecosystem from initial bid to project completion, including estimating software, performance tracking applications, and scheduling tools that seamlessly shared data across departments.
Advanced surveying
The project team employed cutting-edge surveying technology, including GNSS smart antennas, total stations, and drone surveys. These tools helped verify subgrade specifications and identify potential issues early in the construction process.
Machine guidance
The use of Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform and GCS900 Grade Control System on heavy equipment improved efficiency by approximately 30%, reducing the need for additional operators.
Six award categories allowed applicants to highlight all types of Trimble construction technology used throughout their operations—from design, 3D modeling, estimating, and financial management, to scanning, surveying, machine control, and construction management. Seven winners were chosen, with a tie in one category.
"Sizes, specialities, and challenges varied widely among the Construction Innovation Award winners, but a common theme is how their confident, proactive investment in technology elevated performance, efficiency, collaboration, and data-driven decision making," said Pete Large, SVP of strategy at Trimble.
"It's especially impressive to see how the winners have combined Trimble solutions and their own strategic and creative initiatives to connect people, workflows, and the physical and digital aspects of construction."
