Trimble V10 Field Experience – An Interview with the Charlotte, NC Water Department

CW provides water and wastewater services for approximately 800,000 citizens in the Charlotte region through a system over 8,000 miles of pipe, and uses GIS to support many business functions such as system planning, hydraulic modeling, work and asset management, routing and regulatory reporting.Rob Bailey, GIS Manager of CW, along with John Walker, GIS Surveyor and Amber Medlin, Drafting Technician also of CW, shared their reasons for purchasing the V10 through Duncan-Parnell.

CW: We were looking for ways to reduce the number of trips to the field and ability to work with both survey and mapping grade data.

CW: Traffic safety, trips to the field, cost, survey/mapping grade accuracy, and workflow.

CW: The capabilities are great. We are able to keep out of traffic and be safe because the V10 captures images and data all around. Images and data captured and easily collected by the office.

CW: We are concentrating on sewer lift stations. Our office technician, Amber Medlin, takes the images and creates models using Sketchup, which generates a lot of interest

CW: The product results are as expected. Once TBC (Trimble Business Center) catches up with V10 technology, the capabilities will be in full production. Until then, there is a gap between V10 and TBC utilization.

CW: Yes it does. There is no competition. The V10 has so many advantages that it will impress the bosses. It is easy to set up and use, and delivers as promised.

CW: It has lowered our operations’ costs with less trips to the field. It has saved us tons of trips both pre and post construction.

DP: Has this product/service made your project a success?

CW: Yes, it has reduced our costs, minimized our risks, and refined our workflows through progression, meeting needs faster.

DP: How has this product reduced your cost?

CW: The V10 is cost-effective. It reduces time and money spent in the field along with safety hazards associated with field work.

DP: How has this product minimized your risk?

CW: It has allowed us to be safer by not having to be in the middle of traffic to collect images and data. In addition, Trimble technology has allowed CW to implement standards for data collection that are used consistently between internal and contract resources.

DP: Would you recommend this product? Why?

CW: Yes, we would highly recommend it. It’s in a league of its own. It has many capabilities and applications that we are just learning.

DP: Would you recommend Duncan-Parnell? Why?

CW: Yes! What’s great about Duncan-Parnell is that they let us borrow the V10 to demo before we decided to purchase it. Duncan-Parnell is great about getting the equipment fast and Mike Withers and Mark White have been helpful with product knowledge.