Is Your Job On Track Or Off The Rails?

Work full steam ahead with aerial imagery

Follow our crew as they bravely travel great distances and battle the perils of the wilderness, blazing sun, and mosquitoes as big as your head to inspect remote infrastructure...the old way.

Somewhere in the rail corridor...

 Team: Hey! We just arrived at the site.

HQ: How's it look?

Team: A little overgrown. Nothing we can't handle. We'll be finished brushing at this site around noon or so then head north towards the crossing.

Later That Day... 

Team: Bad news.  That old shortcut is under water. I saw a little trail cut off to the west about a mile back.  I'm going to head back there.  I'm pretty sure it will connect with the line a little further up.

HQ: OK. Start heading back. I can see on the map it's probably the shortest path.

Later The Same Day... 

Team: Ahhhh %$#&@ ! 

HQ: Now what?

Team: We've got to turn back again.  It's way too steep. I'm not sending my guys over a cliff.

HQ: Too bad.  It looked OK on the map.

Team: We're losing daylight here. We'll have to figure it out tomorrow.

Let's Rewind And Try It The VuMAP Way:

Team: Hey! We just arrived at the site.

HQ: How's it look?

Team: A little overgrown. Nothing we can't handle. We'll be finished brushing at this site around noon or so then head north towards the crossing.

HQ: Great! Just FYI... I just checked VuMAP and I can see further up there's a lot of debris basically blocking the entire stream. Careful if you take that old short cut, the water could be high with the weather what's its been lately.

Team: Will do. Thanks for the heads up.

 Later That Day...

Team: I see what you mean about the water level.  That old trail we used to use looks a little worse for wear and I'm not interested in getting my boots wet.  Is there another way around?

 HQ: Let me check the imagery on VuMAP...

Team: I saw a trail that cuts off to west a little ways back.  Where does that go?

HQ: Don't take that trail! It gets way too steep before it turns back. I checked the contour lines on VuMAP.  There's a straight section that drops 13m. Sit tight, I'll find you something better.

 

Team: Come on! I got guys waiting here! How long's that gonna...

HQ: OK. Here it is. Go back to that little irrigation channel you passed. You know the one I mean about a half mile back?

Team: Uhhh....

HQ: I'm sending you an aerial now.

Team: Ok got it.  Ya, looks familiar.

 

HQ: Take the little trail that runs off to the east. It makes a hard turn north then crosses the channel and connects with another trail that turns back up to the line. You'll have to backtrack a bit, but better safe than sorry. 

Team: Safety is my middle name. Any idea what shape that bridge is in?

HQ: It's brand new.

Team: How do you know that? 

HQ: I can see on VuMAP it wasn't there in last year's imagery. 

Team: Perfect! How far is it?

HQ: Let me measure it...350m on the trail to the bridge, about 125m to get back to the line. Looks like a good option.

Team: Nice! You've always got my back. We're on track again to be done this section on time.

HQ: Great. Let me know if you need me to check anything on VuMAP.

Team: Now you mention it...you know where the washout on the ridge is, coming up?

HQ: I'll take a look...

Team: Should be just south of town near the old road allowance...

HQ: I see the concession line on VuMAP from the property lines... bout half a mile east of the highway underpass?

Team: That's the one.

HQ: OK I'm looking at it now. What about it?

 

Team: Look at the steepest spot...

HQ: Let me turn on the contour lines... Ok I see it.

 

Team: We put some water bars in last year to try to stop it from flooding around the tracks at the bottom.  How's it look?

HQ: Plan worked.  Dry as a bone, but I'd stick to the north side of the tracks anyway.

Team: Great. That's the plan. You'll have to show me this VuMAP thing when I get back.  It sounds awesome!

And the job was finished on time and on budget by using the VuMAP way.

What does VuMAP do for you?

• Timely Communication and Deployment of Field Crews
• Accurate Information on Work Site Conditions and Hazards
• Direct Measurement of Distances, Areas, and Earthwork Computations
• Make Educated Assumptions Before the Project Begins 
• Limit the Number of Costly Surveys and Site Visits 
• Non-Intrusive Site Investigation Techniques 
• Improves Analysis and Reporting Accuracy 
• Improves Overall Decision Making 
• Reduces Costly Errors and Deficiencies 
• System Overviews and Photographic Detail of Individual Sites 
• Visualize and Share Complex Information 
• Make Well-Informed Strategic Decisions 

 

The Moral Of The Story...

An annual subscription to VuMAP including high resolution aerial imagery, elevations, property information, many layers of natural and built features and the tools to learn more about what you see costs $1500.  

How much do you think it costs to send your whole field crew on a wild goose chase for just one day? 

Start working and communicating better today with a free trial.