Not just for surveys: How Trimble Stratus is firmly embedded across Wills Bros on their recent Kerdiffstown project
Wills Bros is using Trimble Stratus, Powered by Propeller. Trimble, the global leader in positioning technologies, was an early partner of Propeller. Our teams work closely together to deliver Trimble Stratus survey-grade drone data solutions for the heavy civil industries.
Trimble Stratus powered by Propeller is well embedded at Wills Bros with more than 250 users. With an employee count of 450, that means a little over half of the company is using the platform, making it an essential collaboration tool to communicate site progress and measurements. Users are spread across several departments, and each group uses the site data and maps for different purposes. Check out what departments at Wills Bros are using it and how:
- Engineering: establishing project controls, surveying, quantity and volume checks, cut/fill balances
- Planning: monitoring site progress, reviewing quantities, comparing actual versus planned programs and making necessary adjustments
- Commercial and project management: conducting project spot checks, sharing data with clients, substantiating claims, assisting with commercial discussions, monitoring subcontractor progress, verifying materials stock on site
Wills Bros, a family-run contractor based in Ireland and the UK, has long embraced construction technology advancements such as 3D surveying and machine control. Their diverse client base includes government bodies, local authorities, airports, port and rail authorities, blue chip companies, and national road authorities.
They began using Trimble Stratus powered by Propeller back in 2020 on the £40 million Maybole Bypass project in Scotland. Since that project and others, It is now widely used across the entire company, particularly on the current Kerdiffstown landfill remediation project in Kildare County, Ireland. This project is turning a former landfill into a new public park with all-weather sports pitches, playground, and walking paths for local residents.
Appointed as the contractor by the Kildare County Council, Wills Bros’ primary responsibilities for this project include the installation of an engineered capping system across the 30-hectare site, as well as the installation of new environmental management and control systems to ultimately deliver the multi-use public park. These are containment technologies that form a barrier between the waste source area and the ground surface to minimize people’s and the environment’s exposure to the contaminated area.
Jonathan Wills, a director at Wills Bros, is a highly skilled construction professional who has demonstrated his ability to safely deliver quality projects efficiently and effectively, and recognizes the need for civil construction to embrace new technology and innovation to deliver sustainable projects. We had a chance to catch up with Jonathan to talk about Wills Bros’ work on the Kerdiffstown project and how they use Trimble Stratus.
Beginning the remediation work
The Kerdiffstown landfill had been a hazard in the local community for a long time with many issues, including catching fire from time to time. The plan was to cap the waste on this site with liners and geotextiles so the recreational area could be developed, providing the local community with public land space and removing the hazard. Wills Bros’ first task was to demolish several concrete buildings on the site that were part of a recycling plant and transform the landfill into a uniform shape. An interesting aspect of their approach was the integration of drone surveys and Trimble Stratus into the project, as shared by Jonathan.
“We began using it on the project to capture weekly project photos for the client and to keep track of the quantities of waste materials we had to move around the site, as we began reprofiling the landfill. We created a model of the existing landfill and then we were able to generate a cut/fill balance against the final project design. We were then able to track that regularly and see how we were progressing on the project.”
Additionally, it proved to be highly advantageous for Wills Bros during their regular progress meetings with the client. The use of 3D maps and photos enabled them to identify on-site issues or challenges, facilitating discussions and solution-seeking within their office. This eliminated the need for team members to physically visit the potentially hazardous site, ensuring enhanced safety and efficiency.
Some early challenges on the project centered on implementing the project design correctly. Once reprofiling and shaping the site began, the Wills Bros team discovered that sections of the design needed to be reworked in order to properly install the liners. With the 3D terrain model generated by Trimble Stratus, they were able to create the optimum, uniform design for the project. Also, when balancing the site, Wills Bros had to be careful not to overdig, because doing so could release toxic gas into the air.
“We had to be very careful that we had our material movement down to a very fine balance,” explained Jonathan. “Our surveys in Trimble Stratus were key to keeping that focus. Between the 3D survey and our machine control, we were able to connect it all together to get accurate information.”
Accurate data faster for closer collaboration
Trimble Stratus reduced Wills Bros’ lack of information and data in terms of surveys and 3D models. To manually survey a site like the Kerdiffstown project could have taken two weeks for a survey engineer. But by surveying the site with a drone and processing the data with Trimble Stratus, surveying was shortened to approximately one day. Now their engineers can focus on making sure their work is of the highest quality with no rework.
“Having access to that real time information makes us as a business more efficient, more agile and our engineers can make better decisions, quicker. This tool really empowers them. There’s better planning and more efficiency in what we do, day in and day out. That in turn gives program certainty to our clients and to us. It also reduces the risks facing our teams in the field, as they don’t have to walk the site as often.”
Wills Bros also gives their client access to the site maps within Trimble Stratus, which helps to eliminate any difference of opinion and streamlines their monthly meetings, ensuring smoother and more efficient discussions. With the timelapse feature they can show their client month to month what has changed on site.
“Commercially, when you’re sitting down with your client you have near real time, accurate information to use in the discussion. The 3D model speaks for itself. It’s all transparent and open, and helps with any commercial discussions. It’s very easy for our clients to follow, aids in our collaboration with them, and builds complete trust. Putting the model and video of the site up on the screen generates positive conversations among our team and our clients, which leads to productive problem solving.”
Wide use across the entire organization
Since adopting it four years ago, Trimble Stratus is now well embedded at Wills Bros with more than 250 users. With an employee count of 450, that means a little over half of the company is using the platform, making it an essential collaboration tool to communicate site progress and measurements. Users are spread across several departments, and each group uses the site data and maps for different purposes. Here’s an overview of what departments at Wills Bros are using Trimble Stratus and how:
- Engineering: establishing project controls, surveying, quantity and volume checks, cut/fill balances
- Planning: monitoring site progress, reviewing quantities, comparing actual versus planned programs and making necessary adjustments
- Commercial and project management: conducting project spot checks, sharing data with clients, substantiating claims, assisting with commercial discussions, monitoring subcontractor progress, verifying materials stock on site
Jonathan also shared that the environmental and safety departments use it to ensure compliance with regulations and to spot any worksite hazards that need to be addressed. He commented on the tremendous overall value they’ve gotten from their Trimble Stratus license.
“There’s not one department across Wills Bros that is not using Trimble Stratus to some extent. It’s a great information tool for our business to inform each other about the ongoing work. The videos and maps speak volumes and different departments take different information from those…and accurate information is key to any business.
I’ve never seen any technology be adopted across the company this quickly, which speaks to the quality of the product and its ease of use. The gains have been overwhelming. Everyone wants a job within budget, completed ahead of program (time) and with a good working culture, and Trimble Stratus has given us that.”