Category: PILLAR Talk

For the third straight year in a row, DOTs are facing a shortage of snowplow drivers. A survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials shows that 84% of respondents reported higher to much higher snowplow operator vacancies than normal. 

Snowplows are a critical component of keeping the roadways clear during winter storms. Without the proper number of qualified drivers, municipalities will face difficult decisions. They may call upon their management staff to fill the gaps to provide citizens with services they rely on.

Short-Term Strategies to Do More with Less

When DOTs are forced to put managers and supervisors with CDL driver credentials in snowplows, their regular responsibilities such as planning and other tasks become rapidly backlogged and important tasks get dropped. In other words, this short-term solution creates long-term problems. Pillar can help keep the department on track and moving forward through its staff augmentation services. Pillar works with you to optimize snow management plans and implement efficiencies to take control of snow event response even if you have fewer trucks on the road by rearranging snow routes and developing efficient response plans that work with the resources you have. This same approach can also be used for other tasks requiring CDL drivers.

Long-Term Strategies to Address the CDL Driver Shortage

Navigating from snow event to snow event in crisis mode due to a lack of CDL drivers is stressful and inefficient. And, let’s face it, that stress extends throughout the year with any task that requires CDL drivers. There’s a longer-term strategy to deal with the CDL driver shortage that puts you in control. Our staff helps fill management and planning shortages on demand and can get to work immediately to sustain productivity until the crisis has passed. Through Pillar’s staff augmentation services DOTs have access to experienced maintenance professionals that can provide:

• Crew and contractor monitoring and inspecting
• Supplement work and equipment forces
• Specialized expertise
• Quick execution of backlogged tasks

Take Control Today. Contact PILLAR.

Pillar stands ready at a moment’s notice to support your team through the remainder of this season’s winter event. With spring in sight, now is the time to start planning for next year’s winter season.  Let us help you take charge of your snow program despite driver shortages by optimizing your plan and creating efficiencies.  Contact us today.

Apple fully embraced LiDAR technology when they released the iPhone 12 Pro that came equipped with a LiDAR scanner, giving users the ability to engage with augmented and virtual reality technologies more easily.  

With LiDAR now available to any smartphone user, you may wonder if iPhones can be used for transportation asset collection. In short, the answer is no. Read on to find out why.

What is LiDAR technology?

LiDAR stands for light detection and ranging. It works by pinging lasers off objects and calculating how long it took for the light of the laser to reflect from the object. The collected data is then used to create 3D maps. LiDAR was first used in the 1960s when laser scanners were mounted to airplanes and gained popularity in the 1980s for use in GPS technology. [1]

In the world of smartphones, LiDAR enabled devices allow users to create 3D renderings of their environment at distances up to 5 meters. Typical applications for this technology include more accurate photos, improved motion capture, and—most importantly—augmented and virtual reality experiences at home or day-to-day environments.

LiDAR and Transportation Asset Management

The Transportation Asset Management industry regularly uses LiDAR technology to maintain the integrity of transportation assets. It’s a critical tool for keeping an up-to-date understanding of the condition of roads, bridges, tunnels, rails, and more. But the process of collecting and using that data extends far beyond a single smartphone camera designed to collect data at walking speed. Although there may be some specialty use that can come from smartphones, this is limited due to the lack of large-scale data that is able to be collected.

At PILLAR, our imagery scanning technology powers data collection at highway speeds to give you an impressive and detailed understanding at the street level. Our technology includes:

• 360-degree spherical
• 6 – 5MP cameras – 30MP
• Drone aerial collection
• Faster data collection: laser collection at posted speed limits enables the ability to scale.
• Street-level imagery: snapshots of roadways during data collection.
• Global view of infrastructure assets

Not only that, but we are the only company to offer a true, fully automated feature extraction solution by pairing our mobile LiDAR with AFES^TM to process the data we collect.  Without AFES^TM you could spend hours formatting your data, scrolling through overlapping photos, and linking assets. When you work with PILLAR, you can have reliable, immediately usable data so you can act and plan for the future.

Invest in Professional LiDAR

The stakes are high when it comes to having accurate data because deteriorating assets can lead to injury and death. When accuracy is paramount, using LiDAR-enabled smartphones to capture asset data isn’t a realistic way to get the job done. These cameras can only capture environments up to 5 meters away and at walking speed. The user must manually collect a 360 view. Contrast that with PILLAR’s six 360-degree cameras that can collect images at highway speeds.

In addition, asset management requires more than just data collection, you need data you can use. Between processing time, feature extraction, and access to reliable data, it’s much more cost effective to invest in a LiDAR professional.

Contact Us

At PILLAR, our multidisciplined professionals have decades of experience to keep your assets in a state of good repair. From boots on the ground to points in the cloud, PILLAR has you covered. Contact us to discuss your needs and questions.

[1] https://www.britannica.com/technology/lidar

Is your job controlling you? With the overwhelming work it takes to keep up with operating and maintaining your transportation infrastructure, it’s easy to feel like you’re not in the driver’s seat. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  

The Problem

You may be tempted to think that the problem is the size of the job. It’s true, asset management is complex, challenging and not for the faint of heart. But often the problem lies with the tools and systems you have in place to do the job. If you don’t have a comprehensive approach that integrates data-collection technology with systematic planning and management, you’ll be stuck reacting to crisis after crisis.

Another important aspect of efficient workflow is data integration. Without proper integration your tools can’t talk with each other, leaving you with data that’s hard to interpret. Working with unusable data makes executing a proactive management plan impossible. You might face:

• Being unsure of which skilled workers you need to complete a job
• Difficulty understanding the location of the task
• Not knowing what equipment is required for the work at hand
• Contractors who are unable to do their work efficiently and on time

Add to that the ever-growing skill gap between retiring employees and new hires and it can seem impossible to ever get control of maintaining and operating your transportation infrastructure.

The Solution

Asset managers report that 80% of the job is dealing with crisis and only 20% is devoted to planning. PILLAR can help you reverse that ratio because we understand that a big job requires a global perspective. We specialize in data collection, assessment, planning and execution through our proven CAPE method. You can have powerful data to create a systematic planning and management program, be intentional about your asset management, and take control.

Collection

We help you harness the power of your mobile LiDAR data. PILLAR’s collection process combines cutting-edge technology with time-proven approaches. We will collect all existing and new data an normalize it with the tools you’re already using.

Assessment

Gain certainty about the condition of your assets and proactively manage risk. PILLAR uses a combination of modern technology and hands-on field experience to accurately evaluate the condition of your assets.

Planning

Harness your data and take control. Unlike other firms, PILLAR offers expert asset management planning. Our data-driven strategies clearly address your assets maintenance needs. With PILLAR you can secure necessary funding and close the skill gap for your company.

Execution

PILLAR’s execution process uses the best-equipped Operations and Maintenance managers to help reduce skill gaps, address public concerns, handle financial adversity, manage and monitor contractors, inspect jobs, and adjust existing plans.

Contact Us Today

Responding to unforeseen events is part of the job, but you can reduce reactivity with solid planning and execution. Book a discovery meeting with PILLAR to learn more about how we can help you develop a systematic solution for your transportation infrastructure.

Mismanaging assets can have huge consequences to your bottom line. If you’re not using your resources and tools efficiently, you could be losing time and money. Luckily, many of these issues can be avoided with knowledge and planning. To help, we’ve put together a list of four common problems in transportation asset management and how to solve them.

Unknown Data Streams for Infrastructure Assets

You know that quality data is essential to managing your assets. However, most transportation departments collect data using different technologies that don’t communicate with each other.  On top of that, many are siloed and unaware of all the asset data their department owns.  This lack of internal communication can make it difficult for you to get a full picture of your data, much less use it effectively.

PILLAR can solve this problem. We aggregate and normalize data from many different sources (from paper to pdf to complex databases) and departments, giving your organization far greater flexibility and eliminating the need for costly recollection of data you already have.

Inability to Read Data

All data is not created equally. Agencies often use their own naming structures and report differently than other inventory technology. These reporting discrepancies can cause confusion and inaccurate data interpretation. 

PILLAR has focused our entire agency on creating a clean, streamlined system for collecting, normalizing, and assessing data.  When you work with us, you’ll never have to guess about the quality of your data.

Work Schedules & Ticket Management

Trying to get ahead can be tough when you have a long list of work tickets and a continuously aging infrastructure. How can you possibly get ahead? PILLAR helps save time by logging all assets and mapping out their exact locations.  We also document asset conditions using our high-quality data and assessment processes.

Many agencies use on-site assessment and realize too late that they need a larger crew and specialized equipment.  With PILLAR, you avoid expensive delays and show up to the right location with the right crew, with the right equipment, at the right time.

Insufficient Funds

It’s impossible to manage your assets without proper funding.  If you’re like most agencies, your funding is dependent on state/municipal budgets. Having pristine data, a streamlined plan, and stellar communication will help you communicate your needs to state/municipal officials. 

PILLAR can help you get the budget you need to maintain and operate your aging infrastructure. Our bottom-up estimating forecasts your costs almost exactly, helping you justify program costs and secure funding.

Let PILLAR Help You Streamline Your O&M

There are a lot of details to track when it comes to maintaining resources and machinery. Having a streamlined system can go a long way in establishing high levels of productivity. Our entire agency is focused on maximizing the lifecycles of your assets through inventory collection, assessment, planning, and execution.  Contact us today to start streamlining your operations and management.

You know from experience that operating and maintaining transportation infrastructure is complex. It can be difficult to predict the condition of assets and accurately plan for repairs. Agencies often rely on reactive maintenance schedules and repairs motivated by public outcry, or worse, asset failure.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Get a handle on your asset management with Pillar’s predictive maintenance model.

PILLAR is an infrastructure asset management firm. And we are solely dedicated to maximizing the lifecycles of your transportation infrastructure. We specialize in:

• collecting and assessing data
• using that data to plan improvements and repairs
• executing the planned repairs

Switch to a predictive maintenance model with PILLAR

How would your agency or department change if you felt sure about the condition of your assets? That’s not an impossible dream. That’s a predictive maintenance model. Advances in technology can use data to predict the condition of assets so you can make informed decisions about repairs. Here’s how it works:

Asset Collection and Normalization of Data

Data collection is the first step in replacing a reactive maintenance model with a predictive one. We collect your existing geospatial data. Next, we use Mobile LiDAR to collect new data and strengthen the inventory of your digital assets. Then we organize your data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity.

Asset Condition Assessment

We can use data collected via the Internet of Things (IoT), or machines with sensors connected to the internet, to understand your assets. Through IoT, we can gather data on thousands of assets like yours to predict the repair needs and lifespan of the assets you own. This mitigates your risk and allows you to budget for repair and replacement.

Maintenance, Operations, & Budgeting Plan

Our quality data will help you secure proper funding, meet performance requirements, and achieve goals. Using a data-driven approach, we’ll make a predictive plan that prioritizes your most urgent tasks. Not only that, but we’re prepared to put the plan into action for you. Our seasoned O&M managers are ready to leverage their skills for your business. We combine our elite data with hundreds of years of combined experience to reduce risk and make roads safer.

Management & Monitoring of Work Flow

You save money, stay on schedule, and meet your goals when you have an effective plan. We help you stay on track by providing crew and contractor supervision, supplement work and equipment forces, specialized expertise, and backlog planning.

Would you like the know the condition of your assets? We can help you make data-driven decisions about repairs, replacement, and maintenance. Increase your efficiency and gain peace of mind with a predictive maintenance model. Call us today.

Cut Confusion and Utilize Your Mobile LiDAR Data With CONFIDENCE

You’ve worked hard to collect data on your transportation assets and now it’s time to put that data to effective use in managing your transportation assets.  But how can you be sure your data is used in the most effective way possible?  We know this can feel confusing, especially if your mobile LiDAR data comes from different sources, techniques and technology and your data may be formatted differently. 

PILLAR can solve this problem. We aggregate and normalize data from many different sources (from paper to pdf to complex databases) and departments, giving your organization far greater flexibility and eliminating the need for costly recollection of data you already have.

Turn Mobile LiDAR Data Into INSIGHT

PILLAR has access to “Big DATA” that helps us utilize patterns and Artificial Intelligence to identify priorities and plans.  PILLAR will gather all the data files you have already collected, identify what technology generated the data, then audit it and identify a storage solution for optimal visualization for the end-user. We determine goals and help create visualization tools that provide decision-makers with accessible information at their fingertips.

What’s more, we format your data in such a way that allows your organization to analyze and compare it to other information sources. The resulting enhanced database will allow you to make more informed decisions based on more complete and interconnected information.

Turn Mobile LiDAR Insight Into ACTION

Now that you have your data in digestible and actionable form, how do you make it equally relevant to all your stakeholders? One common challenge agencies face is the Planner-Operator gap—and PILLAR can help!  We understand that planners and O&M field personnel rely on the same data to meet their objectives.  Our staff of professionals have been involved with Asset Management AND Maintenance Operations for decades and deeply understand how Planners and operators are interconnected through quality field data.

We bridge the gap between planners and operations by combining our engineering background with our practical field experience.  When we collect, assess, analyze and prioritize data, we employ well-defined objectives to ensure that data is easily actionable for all stakeholders.  With our help, planners and operators can work together seamlessly—saving you time and money. Feel confident that you are utilizing your mobile LiDAR data in the most effective way possible.  Contact us today!