Author: Mark Franklin

Civillo introduces a third dimension

Post author By Mark Franklin
Post date 17/09/2020
No Comments on Civillo introduces a third dimension

Throughout Australia, there is a growing need for engineers and other professionals involved with civil construction projects to be able to view design files in three dimensions.

Civillo was originally developed almost a decade ago to address a different ongoing need, that of time-consuming double-handling and error-prone communication. By allowing all stakeholders access to the latest up-to-date spatial data, everyone using Civillo is on the same page.

Civillo has always existed to help to solve problems as they arise and thus increases overall project efficiency.

Now the innovative Civillo developers are proud and excited to unleash 3D features and functionality. And existing Civillo clients have been quick in adopting and utilising the new technology.

For several weeks, the Civillo 3D features were explored by existing users and the preliminary feedback was extremely positive. The soft launch proved so successful that now the refined 3D capabilities are accessible for all new and existing Civillo projects.

Civillo clients can now view a range of three-dimensional features in their preferred web browser on a PC or mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Solids and cylinders, along with polyfacemesh or even LandXML surfaces are now seamlessly and smoothly translated into the Civillo environment.

“This was a considerable technical undertaking with almost two years of significant effort being poured into making 3D available for our users,” explained Andrew Gaussen, Civillo General Manager.

“Civillo clients have consistently explained to us the growing importance of 3D, so our team is proud and excited to announce this massive improvement which is now ready for them,” continued Mr. Gaussen.

“Civillo exists as a solution to real-world construction work-site problems, and our new 3D functionality helps make workflow easy and efficient.”

"Civillo exists as a solution to real-world construction work-site problems, and our new 3D functionality helps make workflow easy and efficient."
Andrew Gaussen, Civillo General Manager

Civillo is a solution-based application allowing users to import, amend, and share native CAD datasets without the need for costly licenses. Civillo users can work with high detail design drawings imported from native filetypes including DWG, DGN, and DXF formats.

There have been two particular aspects of Civillo’s new 3D undertaking that has been very well received during the trial stages:

The ability for Civillo to now overlay aerial imagery alongside imported 3D drawings,
The ability for Civillo to now apply the same measure and information functionality to 3D features, including 3D lengths and height separations.

The Civillo development team was also able to incorporate the importing and processing of 3D terrain models into this same updated release, sooner than expected. This allows for height information to be ascertained inside Civillo and additionally a powerful look at 3D models in conjunction with terrain surfaces.

With a commitment to constant innovation, the Civillo team has promised to continue listening to their users. With surveyors, engineers, and project managers all providing constant feedback the future is bright for all projects that benefit from what Civillo brings to the table, whether working remotely or on-site.

Civillo Case Studies Melbourne Projects

Environmental Location Systems adopts the power of Civillo

Post author By Mark Franklin
Post date 10/08/2020
No Comments on Environmental Location Systems adopts the power of Civillo

During every stage of a large-scale civil project, it is absolutely crucial for all involved to know where the valuable services are located.

From accounting for underground gas lines, overhead electrical wiring or aging sewer pipes to working with surveyors and engineers to implement new design setouts, the latest spatial data must be easily accessible.

Stuart Miles, Business Operations Manager at Environmental Location Systems (ELS) happily explained the benefits of using Civillo for his business and its specialised processes.

Mr Miles believes that “you won’t find a better way to view your job site whilst boots are on the ground.”

It is the multiple-device portability that has made Civillo popular across many different civil construction projects and work sites since 2012. Originally developed by Melbourne based surveyors, Civillo was born from a need to be efficient.

Considering the importance of the role ELS plays on a civil construction site, ensuring all staff are always on the same page is imperative. Especially making sure that the datasets are up-to-date and consistent, which is the main strength Civillo provides its users.

"...you can see everything in real time; features, contours and underground utilities right in the palm of your hand..."
Stuart Miles, Business Operations Manager at ELS

ELS outline on their website that they “accurately identify subsurface utilities and assets using top of the range service locating equipment with accredited, professional and dedicated personnel.”

Civillo is now a proud part of that renowned ELS stable.

Keeping things moving forward is a primary objective when marking and locating services whether they are as-built or design layouts.

When discussing the business advantages since adopting the Civillo technology last year Mr Miles elaborated by explaining that “Civillo is accessible via your mobile device and you can see everything in real time; features, contours and underground utilities right in the palm of your hand.”

The clever and simple motto adopted at ELS is “Underground understood” and Civillo helps ensure this quality service is maintained on site, at all times, for everyone.

Civillo Case Studies Melbourne Projects

How John Holland Group is using Civillo to eliminate level crossings

Post author By Mark Franklin
Post date 16/07/2020
No Comments on How John Holland Group is using Civillo to eliminate level crossings

With the help of mobile spatial technology and some considerable foresight from the Melbourne surveying team, certain divisions of John Holland Group (JHG) are now collaborating more efficiently than ever before.

Since the implementation of Civillo which brings the latest in civil construction project planning innovation, JHG are expertly attacking the removal of dozens of Melbourne’s most dangerous and crowded suburban level rail crossings.

Almost a decade ago, Civillo was born from the need to have all of a project’s up-to-date data loaded together inside the one single software resource. Advancements have now seen Civillo evolve into the ideal cloud-based solution for all workforces, even those that are physically separated with team members needing to work from home.

Civillo incorporates CAD and GIS files of different formats with other useful geo-referenced layers such as aerial imagery and map information. This creates a useful and comprehensive overview of a project’s spatial layout.

"Civillo has made my job easier because it's so versatile; you can utilise it within the civil engineering area, the resources area and also the HR area."
Stephen Meadows, John Holland Group - Survey Manager

Civillo allows all staff and stakeholders to access the same up-to-date datasets, thus JHG has experienced significant enhancements in workflow efficiency.

John Holland Group Survey Manager, Stephen Meadows explained that “Civillo has made my job easier because it’s so versatile; you can utilise it within the civil engineering area, the resources area and also the HR area.”

The key to efficiency is communication. Civillo ensures all spatial data is consolidated, current and consistent.

Mr Meadows appreciates the time-saving power of having all of his staff on the same page. “The advantage of Civillo having all the features, all the design, all the as-builts in one area is that that you can access it and then easily send it out for people to utilise on (or off) site”, he explained.

Whether on a PC, laptop, tablet, or smart phone Civillo is within easy reach of all JHG employees at any time of the day or night. Time wasted chasing the latest plans, design files or survey measurements is entirely eliminated.

Collaboration is powerful when it is undertaken effectively, and delivering to deadlines on large-scale civil projects is constantly a priority for John Holland Group. With Civillo on board, JHG are optimised, particularly in relation to their recent works removing Melbourne’s congested level crossings.

With progress now underway on the Upfield line in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs between Bell Street and Moreland Road, JHG continues to deliver and execute these complicated projects with clarity and accountability. Civillo continues to be a valuable partner in managing the vital spatial information.

(Main photo by Dean Bennett on Unsplash)

Civillo Case Studies Melbourne Projects

How Winslow Group is Increasing Efficiency with Civillo

Post author By Mark Franklin
Post date 10/07/2020

The Winslow Group is one of Victoria’s leading civil construction contractors, managing the design and implementation of civil engineering projects for government organisations, corporate property developers and private landowners. For over twelve months now their process efficiency has been enhanced by using Civillo.

With expertise in road and bridge construction, roadway infrastructure projects, industrial, residential and commercial subdivision, bulk earthworks and land remediation, the Winslow Group manages a diverse range of civil projects.

In order for Winslow to maintain their valuable reputation of delivering jobs to specification, to budget and on time, efficiency and effective collaboration between both team members and different third-party businesses operating within the Group is essential.

Increasing Efficiency Through Improved Access to Information

Winslow management initially identified that Civillo could improve the speed with which survey data was made accessible to the other areas of their business.

Before using Civillo the Winslow engineers, project managers, site foremen and general labourers were required to request the information from the survey professionals before key decisions could be made and actions undertaken at the job site.

This resulted in the surveyors having to deal with a high volume of requests, and in some cases having to travel out to site and set out the information in order for decisions to be made. Obviously this was identified as a significant drain on time and resources.

“The reason we wanted to start using Civillo was to get that information into the hands of our project managers, foremen and engineers, so they could make decisions without involving the survey group.”

“That way the surveying resources would be utilised in the capacity intended – for more complex scenarios and decision making,” explains Hugh Peck, Survey Manager at Survey Management Solutions (Winslow’s survey division).

In particular, creating asset protection plans (APPs) took up considerable time and resources for the survey department. It is essential that every worker on the project is familiar with the APPs before any work is undertaken, thus creating and distributing APPs is critical to the smooth progress of any Winslow job.

Before adopting Civillo, a range of different individual systems were used to generate these plans. In some instances the project managers would even print out construction plans and manually highlight the presumed location of services. At other times, the survey group was required to go onto site and map the locations in AutoCAD. “Then, the APP was generated in AutoCAD which can be cumbersome and takes a lot longer to generate a plan,” Mr Peck explains.

Now, using Civillo the up-to-date survey data is immediately accessible to all Winslow users, vastly speeding up processes and ensuring the survey professionals’ valuable time is protected.

Increasing Efficiency Through Improved Collaboration Workflows

As a result of using the software in this capacity, Winslow has also found Civillo to be an invaluable collaboration tool for businesses within the group.

The Winslow Group is made up of a construction entity and other supporting entities that include the survey group and traffic management, which supply services such as soil cutting, traffic planning, and non-destructive digging. The seamless collaboration between each of these businesses and teams is vital to the group’s efficiency and profitability, and to the successful completion of projects.

On a recent cradle-to-grave project at Palmers Road in Melbourne’s west, Winslow was tasked with locating existing services and undertaking a clash analysis and therefore utilised Civillo to plan the works and show where different tasks were needed.

“...we’ve had the team on their iPads... sharing screens with Civillo and talking to it directly, instead of having to... have a site meeting."
Mr Hugh Peck

For example, the functionality inside Civillo was able to guide where trucks needed to drive in order to excavate and expose the existing services. Then, the survey group came through and mapped the location of these services, which were then incorporated back into Civillo to show when the work was completed. From there, the modelling and clash analysis was able to be done.

“It is helpful as a collaboration tool to plan across the different businesses – where the traffic control needs to be set up, where the support of the soil cutting part of the business is needed to do soil cutting on asphalt to expose services under road or footpaths, and planning the number of resources we need in planning shifts,” Mr Peck explained.

Furthermore, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, “we’ve had the team on their iPads and doing video conferencing meetings, sharing screens with Civillo and talking to it directly, instead of having to bounce back and forth or have a site meeting where people are wandering around not knowing where things are,” he elaborated.

Next Steps

As part of Civillo’s policy of constant improvement and user-led development, feedback and suggestions from Winslow are now driving new additions to the software and user interface. This collaborative and iterative way of working ensures that Civillo remains at the forefront of the field and continues to drive innovation in the Australian construction sector.

Conclusion

Since using Civillo, Winslow has seen a marked improvement in efficiency across the group. With Civillo improving the effectiveness of several key processes including the creation of asset protection plans (APPs). In doing so the Winslow Group has been able to free up considerable time and resources for their survey department, therefore the Civillo software has now been implemented more widely across the entire company.

As a result of using Civillo different business sectors, third party service providers and internal teams are now all collaborating more easily, which in turn is improving overall efficiency and productivity, thus saving significant money.

Increasing Efficiency Through Improved Access to Information

Increasing Efficiency Through Improved Collaboration Workflows

Next Steps

Conclusion

Learn more about implementing Civillo on your projects.