The Accuracy Effect: Why it Matters

The accuracy effect: Where a single map makes all the difference

Propeller Aero

1st February 2024

Read Time: 5 mins

Learn what a point cloud actually is and then how drone data is integrated with a point cloud to build a 3D worksite model.

Site and civil contracting is famously competitive, with firms cutting their margins to the bone to win bids. But winning a bid is just the first challenge; on the job, the cost of even a small error can be significant, whittling away even further at profits and tight timelines.

On dynamic worksites, precision is more than a preference; it’s a requirement. This need for accuracy explains the rise of 3D mapping technology that unlocks data that’s been historically hard to gather and even harder to interpret for everyone on site.

Propeller’s commitment to accuracy transcends the technical. We want to transform the way teams interact with survey data by turning accuracy into an accessible and empowering tool that everyone can use.

Accurate survey data has a profound and positive ripple effect on every aspect of a project, from enhancing efficiency to making projects more sustainable. When survey-grade accuracy becomes simpler and more accessible, every team member is empowered to make better decisions driven by data.

Read on to learn how the accessible accuracy effect is revolutionizing the way work gets done, contributing to more efficient workflows, more productive sites, and a healthier planet overall.

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The challenge: Precision pitfalls in construction

When it comes to surveying, the right way hasn’t always been the easy way. Teams have been forced to make tough choices about when to wait for the best information and when to move forward with decisions without the right data.

A technical bottleneck has compounded these challenges. When only a few trained workers can interpret the data, most of the team stays in the dark about the bigger picture.

Here are just a few of the accuracy challenges that plague earthwork teams:

The speed-accuracy paradox: Construction professionals are all too familiar with the traditional tradeoff between speed and accuracy. They’ve been forced to choose: get data quickly, or get it right. Accurate information is important, but so is staying on schedule and meeting project timelines. The need for speed has long come at the cost of precision, leading to costly errors and rework.
Survey data no one understands: Traditionally, survey data was highly technical, understandable only by a few experts trained to use it. This reliance on surveyors to interpret the data has hindered the broader team’s ability to use valuable data effectively.
Data sharing and accessibility: Accessing and sharing survey data has long been a cumbersome process. Too often, workers on-site lack the access, the tools, or the training to use the data that would help them make decisions based on the bigger picture. Or, even when they have access, they don’t know where to look.

The solution: Making survey-grade maps accessible to everyone

Collecting and sharing accurate survey data doesn’t have to be a painful process. Since our inception, Propeller has set out to change the game, overhauling the concept of survey accuracy in some of the most fast-paced industries.

Step 1: Capture the right data quickly

Should data be accurate or fast? There’s only one correct answer: both.

AeroPoints Accuracy Wins

Advanced hardware, like RTK drones and AeroPoints, make it easy to capture and process survey-grade data at speed. Depending on site size, pilots can put a drone in the air for as little as ten minutes to get all the data they need, empowering teams to survey once a week or more.

“Everything before that had to be done by hand, either with a GPS or total station, would have taken days. Now I can do it in a couple of hours with a drone and get more accurate data.” —Justin Russell, Head Surveyor, Fiore & Sons

Step 2: Empower the right people

Surveyors shouldn’t have to be the go-between or interpreters of all worksite data. Propeller provides a single hub to help you close the information gap, empowering your whole team to measure quantities and manage progress from anywhere—and from any device.

With just one source of data, there’s no confusion about where to find the latest and greatest information. And because it’s processed into a 3D map, there’s no confusion about what it means, and no technical training required to read it.

As survey data touches more hands, the role of survey teams is more important than ever. Using drones and other advanced tools responsibly requires the right resources to escalate and verify data quality when needed, ensuring that the surveying program sticks to high-quality standards.

Accessible surveys are just one tool in the surveyor’s ever-evolving toolbelt, helping them empower entire teams to answer their own questions, stay connected, and make confident decisions.

Step 3: Make the right calls

Trusted and accurate measurements lead to confident decision-making and improved collaboration.

When everyone has access to real-time information, your business gets more efficient and more agile. Team members at every level can make better decisions, faster.

“There’s better planning and more efficiency in what we do, day in and day out. The 3D model speaks for itself; it’s all transparent and open.” —Jonathan Wills, Director, Wills Bros

“With accessible survey data, I was able to point out a 20-foot deep creek bed that was missing from the engineer’s topo. So we were able to push that back and get the plans revised without us having to eat the cost and fix it ourselves, because we caught it early enough.” —Paul Sheppard, UAS Specialist, Plateau Construction

The accuracy effect: Make accuracy your win

Prioritizing accessible precision on the job sets off a domino effect of benefits that we call “the accuracy effect.” Here are just a few of the pieces that fall into place with fast and shareable data you can trust:

Fewer mistakes: Improved accuracy means reducing errors, boosting your client-side reputation, and preserving your profits.
Reduced rework: Accurate data reduces the need for costly do-overs, helping you keep projects on time and on budget.
Empowered team: It’s easier to work toward a shared objective when everyone has access to the big picture.
Better decision-making: When we know better, we do better. With the right data in your hands, you’ll make better decisions about what to do next, even when projects run into challenges.
Less fuel burn: Efficient operations mean reduced environmental impact—a win for the planet.
Less waste: Balancing a site at the design stage means you never move more earth than you have to.
Higher margins: Imagine a project without mistakes, rework, and needless waste, allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned profit.
Healthier planet: Reducing emissions and waste is a net benefit for the environment, contributing to lower emissions and a smaller footprint.

At Propeller, we believe the right way and the easy way should be one and the same. We’re redefining data accuracy with smart survey solutions designed for both surveyors and non-surveyors, making accuracy everyone’s win.

Take the guesswork out of earthwork with survey-grade accuracy that’s easy, repeatable, and ready to scale. Schedule a demo today.