Success Story
“We were kind of in the Stone Age with CAD drafting within our group here,” said Zak Kuegler, Director of Engineering at Snyder Civil. “We did a lot of smaller sites, so we were able to get by with, quite honestly, just manually drawn contours." This labor-intensive process was becoming increasingly impractical as the company grew and project complexities increased.
Thomas Keser, who manages the records department within Snyder Civil’s water main division, added, "Going back 5-6 years, everyone who did CAD pretty much was using LT." This limited toolset was restricting the company's ability to tackle more complex projects efficiently.
Recognizing the need for change, Snyder Civil Engineering engaged Topcon Solutions Store for specialized Autodesk Civil 3D training. Autodesk Civil 3D is a design software that allows civil engineers to meet complex infrastructure challenges in a 3D model-based environment.
The partnership began organically, as Kuegler explained, "I think the genesis was that someone had reached out to us about buying software through them, and then they let us know that training was available, and we hopped on that."
What set this training apart was its customized nature. Kuegler said, "Being able to tailor the coursework to our specific needs, and the types of projects we're working on, as well as the challenges we're having with the software or things we want to learn in the software, has been really helpful to us."
"They liked that the instructor was able to cater towards the needs of the group," Keser added. This tailored approach ensured that the training was immediately applicable to Snyder Civil's specific projects and challenges.
The implementation of Civil 3D and the subsequent training have yielded significant benefits for Snyder Civil Engineering. The company has seen marked improvements in efficiency, with Kuegler noting, "We started to see the functionality that Civil 3D could provide to our group in allowing us to make changes to plans or prepare plans quicker, get better data out of the drawings in terms of doing surface comparisons."
This enhanced efficiency is complemented by increased versatility in handling diverse client needs. "We have to tailor our records to our clients' desires,” Keser explained. “Sometimes we're building profiles backwards... The power within Civil 3D just makes it easier for us." This flexibility has allowed Snyder Civil to adapt more readily to unique project requirements and client specifications.
The training has also played an important role in skill development across the organization, fostering a collaborative learning environment and creating a more cohesive and capable team. "We have different levels of skill in our group here,” Keser said. “We have more seasoned CAD people, and we are kind of geeky and like to come up with ways to make our jobs more efficient. And with the features in Civil 3D, we're able to do that."
Snyder Civil has also expanded its capabilities by integrating more advanced features into their workflow. "In the pipeline group, we've been developing styling, taking our pipe networks, pressure networks, developing label sets based on our standard," Keser said. This adoption of advanced features has not only streamlined their processes but also enhanced the quality and consistency of their project deliverables.
Looking ahead, Snyder Civil Engineering is excited about further leveraging technology to enhance their services. "Our surveyors have also begun to utilize drone technology,” Kuegler said. “So, using that for orthoimagery and getting some point clouds for topography, integrating that into our use of technologies, it's going to be great."
The company is also exploring ways to automate more processes. Kuegler mentioned, "One of the things we're looking at here is material take-off. Right now, it's a manual process, but we want to look into automating that based on what we've constructed in our design."
By providing tailored, on-site training, Topcon Solutions has helped Snyder Civil move from what Kuegler referred to as "the Stone Age," to the modern era of engineering workflow.
"I think one of our big goals is to embrace technology more,” Kuegler concluded. “So, continuing to use what Autodesk and Civil 3D has to offer... integrating that into our use of technologies, it's going to be great."
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