Kevin Garcia, general manager of civil specialty solutions of Trimble, answers common contractor questions and discusses future developments.
Q: What's the most common technology challenge you hear from contractors in the field right now?
Without question, it's managing data around the job site, specifically, getting that data to flow the way it should. Many don't realize they don't have to run design models out to machines on a USB stick anymore. They can have as-built data streaming in from their machines in real time, view productivity metrics through cloud-based tools and track where equipment is across the site without leaving the office.
Also, not everything requires powerful office software. It's much easier to create infield designs and other basic tasks directly from survey solutions or even on the machine control software. The connected site environment effectively flows data, and it usually branches from there into other things, such as e-ticketing integrations. Those capabilities are real and affordable today.
Q: Do contractors doing routine road or parking lot work need 3D paving control — or is that still mainly for high-spec jobs?
This is one of the most important misconceptions we're working to change. You hear people say ‘3D is for airport runways and racetracks; I don't do that kind of work.' But smoothness specifications are tightening across all road work, not just high-end projects. State DOTs are rewriting specs to require lower International Roughness Index numbers, and some are offering bonuses for hitting smoothness targets.
There are more surface types that need precision than most think — pickleball courts, tennis courts, running tracks. 3D helps you meet those specifications. That said, 3D isn't the only path to smoothness. There are exceptional 2D laser approaches that provide the right smoothness target for certain applications.
Q: Compaction is critical to pavement life, but it's traditionally hard to measure while work is actually happening. What's changing?
This is a big development, and it applies to every paving contractor regardless of what kind of work they do — everyone needs a properly compacted surface. Traditionally, the approach is formulaic with estimated proof rolls and an inspector on hand to test for accuracy.
Now, you can get density readings from inside the roller cab while you're compacting. You're measuring, not guessing. That's a meaningful shift for road life, maintenance costs and even safety, as now inspectors aren't walking active paving zones to verify density.
Q: What technology is growing in ways that are surprising even to contractors who consider themselves tech-forward?
Reality capture, without question. There's been an explosion of ways to document what you've built and compare it against the design, and contractors are realizing it's not just for the owner's benefit. It protects them too. Mobile mapping systems and terrestrial scanners give you much better results. What's interesting is that tools like Trimble SiteVision, which uses a LiDAR scanner connected to a smartphone can now accurately capture a site and overlay a point cloud against the design model.
You're literally looking at the physical reality and the design at the same time. It's become a genuinely practical — and affordable — tool for verifying that what you built matches what was planned. Construction-grade survey work — knowing where your edge of pavement is, where your back of curb is, what your elevations should be, where your crown and slope transitions are — is very achievable without a professional surveyor's license.
Q: Many contractors simply can't afford the capital expense of technology investment such as machine control. Is there an alternative?
A large upfront capital outlay is not the only option. Look into subscriptions that let you access the hardware and software for a fixed monthly cost that goes into job cost rather than sitting on the balance sheet as a capital expenditure. And there are benefits beyond just cash flow: You always have the latest hardware. You're covered if equipment gets accidentally damaged. You never have buyer's remorse because something newer came out.
Another option, if you're a company just starting your technology journey and machine control feels like too big a first step, digital survey solutions are a logical starting point. You get speed and you get cost savings. The investment is minimal compared to machine control, and the ability to verify your own work on your own schedule changes how projects move.
Q: What kind of return on investment can a contractor realistically expect in year one of a technology investment?
It depends on where you start, but the returns are real and they come faster than most people expect. One contractor — a self-described late adopter — decided to invest in grade control for the compact machines they use to prep subbase before paving. They reported grading 50 percent faster than before they had the technology, and they paid off the investment in the first six months.
Q: When will asphalt pavers have the ability to auto-steer — and what's holding it back?
Auto steering has the potential to transform jobsite operations, giving operators one less thing to coordinate during a complex operation. This technology is advancing quickly and the list of supported machines should expand significantly within the next 18 months.
Q: What about AI for paving applications?
Where AI is genuinely useful right now is in two places. One is technical support: a few search terms now gets you to the right answer far faster than hunting through documentation or YouTube videos. The other is processing things like point cloud classification and feature extraction, a task that used to take experienced operators hours but is now becoming automated.
Many are hoping to see AI solutions that help create a model. The time it takes to get from survey data to a usable design model will accelerate, and AI will fill in parts of the process that currently require hours of skilled CAD work. But there's considerable work still to do. Right now, AI can accelerate the path to a model, but it can't replace the professional sign-off and the engineering accountability piece. That still requires a human.
(Article reprinted with permission from Trimble.)
