May 6, 2021

Work Smarter

Lump Sum Grading Contract? Owners Still Need Site Intelligence Software

Better data allows owners to manage their projects more efficiently, preventing delays and cost overruns.

Site intelligence software provides owners with the data they need to prevent delays.

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Owners should own their data‍

Grading contractors are often under a lump sum contract, so owners don't want to pay extra for drone flights and site intelligence software. Here's why they should:‍

Delays are expensive!‍

What does a two-week delay cost? Let's break it down.

Let's say the cost of money on a $10 million project is 6.5%. A two-week delay would cost the owner $25,000 ($1,800/day) on the cost of money alone! Delays also open owners up to risk, including material escalation in other phases of the project, housing market volatility, and increased administrative costs.

It's in the owner's best interest to prevent delays as much as possible, and here's how using regular 3D topographical drone scans and software can help:

Identify problems early: Weekly drone scans enable owners to catch errors and prevent rework before they cause major schedule disruptions.
Make better decisions faster: Not having the right data can delay project schedules. Accessible project data can reduce the decision-making time from days to hours.
Settle disputes: A visual record of the project allows owners to settle disputes with contractors to keep the project moving.

‍Billing accuracy protects cash flow‍

How are owners verifying contractor billings as the project progresses? While the overall cost won't change in a lump sum contract, it's in the owner's best interest to only pay for the work completed. If owners are looking at the contractors reports that use truck counts and time cards, there's a much better way. 3D topographical drone scans provide accurate measurements of work performed from week to week, month to month, and over the course of the project. Using TraceAir's software, owners can quickly measure quantities to ensure their contractors bill accurately, protecting their cash flow.‍

Better workflows reduce consultant hours‍

Grading contractors may be under a lump sum contract, but engineers and consultants bill by the hour. Owners can significantly reduce the amount of billable hours using drone scans and software, like TraceAir, to collaboratively develop solutions based on real time site conditions using accurate measurement tools. Engineers estimate that the number of meetings and billable time to the owner is reduced by 50%.‍

Better relationships create better projects‍

When the entire project team collaborates transparently, the project–and ultimately the owner– benefit. Lump sum contracts can leave the owner in the dark, but tools like TraceAir provide better visibility into their projects, and save time in the long run.‍

Worth the investment‍

The cost of drone flights and site intelligence software provides an excellent return on investment by preventing delays, reducing consultant fees, protecting cashflow, and allowing better communication.

I’m mesmerized by the engineering complexity and beauty of the process of converting the designs into functional spaces. A powerful blend of people’s creative ideas, brutal economics rules, laws of physics, and construction people’s skills and expertise makes this industry so unique. It’s incredibly cool to be a part of this process and contribute to empowering people in it.”

— Maria Khokhlova, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer

Construction marketing has always been a challenging and highly rewarding career path. Now that I’m in construction technology, I enjoy communicating how adopting new solutions can drastically increase efficiency for construction teams.”

— Samantha Burns, Head of Marketing

I really enjoy being a part of the construction tech industry. It’s exciting to see ideas such as drones and automation that once were very futuristic now be an everyday reality that helps people and businesses. As a creative person, I find it empowering to work in a space that embraces out of the box thinking and going against the grain.”

— Katie Larrimore, Marketing Specialist

My favorite part about working in the construction industry is listening to customer stories and being able to provide tech solutions to make their job easier. No two divisions are the same, and it’s rewarding to be able to connect and help clients solve their unique challenges here at TraceAir! I am eager to hear new challenges and look forward to the tech solutions down the road that TraceAir will create based on the needs of our clients.”

— Jordan Wojtowecz, Account Executive

The construction technology industry is constantly changing and I love being a part of that evolution. I get to speak with a diverse group of land developers and acquisitioners who are integral parts of the home building machine; making their lives easier is so rewarding.”

— Lauren Schaefer, Business Development Representative

I find it thrilling to be part of an industry with so much room for innovation and growth. Every day I am given the opportunity to speak with and learn from best-in-class homebuilders. At TraceAir, it’s incredibly rewarding to watch great minds come together to make construction a more collaborative and effective industry.”

— Kyra Ketch, Market Development Representative

Built environment impacts our lives on so many levels and the significance of what we do as an industry inspires me every single day. Our shared responsibility for the fragile nature we transform keeps me laser-focused on innovating sustainably. And I am beyond grateful to do so alongside the many amazing women leaders and professionals of TraceAir!”

— Alena Petrova, Product Manager

I've always been fascinated by how so many construction projects are so unique and individual, though the construction processes are the same for all of them. It is awesome to be a part of and to see how choosing to use sustainable materials, taking into account environmental factors, applying innovative engineering ideas and using digital technology make construction better, smarter and faster.”

— Olga Rollins, Operations Manager

I enjoy seeing the projects come together, each project is so different and presents a multitude of challenges that take real teamwork and collaboration to overcome. I love working with my clients in the construction industry and helping them utilize powerful tech tools to help their projects run smoothly.”

— Isabella Knori, Customer Success Manager

I’m particularly interested in the ever-evolving use of spatial data to inform decision making at all stages of construction. The increase in innovation and application, of both vector and raster data products, is really fascinating.”

— Cari Ruffino, Operations Manager

I worked at construction sites for 9 years and I can tell you that it’s so inspiring to see how your efforts grow into real objects. I was a surveyor and I saw all construction processes with my own eyes. The construction industry adapts to the technical progress so slowly, Traceair makes this process better and faster. It's why I like our company - it drives construction to the next level. We are on the way which turns the dreams of our clients into reality, and our dreams too.”

— Olga Razina, GIS Specialist & Customer Success Engineer

Throughout the past 5 years in cartography & GIS, I have observed how technologies and automatization are making the industry better and faster. I find inspiring bringing this into construction to make the industry even greater! Humans are everywhere, everybody needs place, construction grows. TraceAir shows that we are able to reach our designs faster with drones help and to enjoy the process using platform, maps, tools, etc. Join us!”

— Vera Lugovskaya, GIS Specialist

Lump Sum Grading Contract? Owners Still Need Site Intelligence Software