Graham Construction: Nearly a Century of Building Excellence

Established in 1926, Graham Construction has grown into a leading construction solutions partner with revenues exceeding $4 billion annually. As a 100% employee-owned company, Graham boasts over 2,700 employees and manages 500 active projects across North America. Their mission is to deliver lasting value through projects that enable people and communities to live, work, move, and grow in a rapidly changing world.

Empowering Teams Through Advanced Planning

We spoke with Pete Eytcheson, Construction Planning Specialist at Graham who started his career in the early 1980s and has spent the latter part of his career as a site superintendent and construction manager for civil construction projects involving earthworks and concrete. He is now focusing more on the digital delivery of projects.

"I live to set up teams for success. Great planning from the bid stage through execution on site is a key value at Graham"

- Pete Eytcheson - Construction Planning Specialist at Graham Construction

With the rapid pace of digital design delivery, Pete’s aspiration is to assimilate data and leverage it across multiple platforms for accurate quantification, planning, scheduling, and execution of top-quality work—safely and profitably.

In his projects, Pete pays particular attention to utilizing reality capture technologies to collect highly accurate existing conditions. By combining these with as-built records and planned designs in a mixed reality environment, they can mitigate issues before they occur.

We discussed two civil projects where cmBuilder and the general use of technology were of particular value for Pete and Graham Construction.

Project 1: Upgrading a Major Intersection

Graham Construction is currently undertaking a significant infrastructure project: upgrading a busy intersection by replacing a two-level interchange with a three-level interchange. This ambitious project involves the construction of eight new bridges while ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow in all directions—a critical requirement given that the road serves millions of commuters daily.

One of the primary challenges of this project is executing extensive construction and demolition work without disrupting a major arterial road that experiences virtually constant rush-hour conditions. Shutting down lanes for extended periods is not an option, as it would have substantial economic impacts and inconvenience countless commuters.

"The logistical challenge of performing new construction and demolishing old infrastructure while keeping a major artery fully operational is immense. Safety concerns and minimizing the impact on the local economy and businesses are paramount."

- Pete Eytcheson - Construction Planning Specialist at Graham Construction

Precision Planning with cmBuilder

To tackle these challenges, Graham's team turned to cmBuilder for advanced site logistics planning. The project's complexity required meticulous coordination, especially in orchestrating the delivery and installation of massive bridge components within tight timeframes. Traditional planning methods provided technical data like weights and radii but fell short in visualizing real-world conditions.

By integrating cmBuilder into their planning process, the team could overlay their crane plans onto detailed 3D models created from drone surveys. This integration allowed them to visualize the terrain accurately and identify potential pinch points and obstacles that weren't apparent in 2D plans.

"Using cmBuilder, we could see that navigating trucks carrying 150-foot-long girders—which are essentially the length of three semi-trailers end-to-end—was far more complex than it appeared on paper"

- Pete Eytcheson - Construction Planning Specialist at Graham Construction

Proactive Problem-Solving and Safety Enhancements

The 3D visualization capabilities of cmBuilder enabled the team to identify areas where the terrain needed modification before construction began. They realized that adjustments were necessary on both sides of the bridge to allow trucks to maneuver safely and efficiently. This proactive approach prevented potential delays and safety hazards that could have arisen if these issues were discovered later in the construction phase.

Leveraging Accurate Equipment Models

Another significant advantage of using cmBuilder was the ability to incorporate real equipment models with precise specifications into the planning process. The team used exact models of cranes, allowing them to accurately analyze reach, and spatial requirements, and lifting capacities.

"The accuracy of the equipment models in cmBuilder ensures that our plans are not just theoretically sound but practically feasible. We can see the swing radius, proximity to existing infrastructure, and required safety measures, which helps us solve problems before they occur."

- Pete Eytcheson - Construction Planning Specialist at Graham Construction

Achieving Seamless Coordination and Execution

By embracing cmBuilder's advanced planning tools, Graham Construction could effectively manage the complex logistics of delivering and installing massive bridge components in a constrained environment. The ability to visualize the entire operation in 3D ensured that all team members were on the same page, facilitating better communication and coordination among various stakeholders.

Project 2: Water Main Replacement

As part of an upcoming proposal, the team is developing a construction plan for replacing water mains in densely built-up areas with complex underground utilities.

Using cmBuilder, they are integrating standard mapping data with precise drone imagery and as-built records to evaluate spatial relationships, including the locations of power lines, curbs, and existing underground utilities. By modeling excavation sites and equipment placement in 3D, they are determining required shoring depths and planning traffic accommodations to ensure feasibility and efficiency.

Efficient Excavation Planning

cmBuilder's excavation feature allowed Graham to model work fronts, calculate excavation volumes instantly, and time-phase material handling with the project schedule. This provided immediate insights into how much material needed to be removed or replaced at each stage, optimizing resource allocation and reducing the time spent on planning.

"You get the bang for your buck with just the excavation module! The outputs are exceptional. You're replacing solutions that cost $10,000-$20,000 per user per year, and you don't have to be a specialist to use it."

- Pete Eytcheson - Construction Planning Specialist at Graham Construction

User-Friendly and Time-Saving

The team found cmBuilder significantly faster and more intuitive than legacy modeling and planning tools. With minimal training, they could accurately construct excavation and backfill operations, completing tasks in a tenth of the time it would take using other platforms.

Preventing Sequencing Errors and Reducing Risk

As part of their planning for the proposal, the team is leveraging cmBuilder to visualize the entire project, allowing them to plan the sequence of activities strategically to avoid landlocking areas or disrupting the movement of equipment and personnel. This proactive approach mitigates risks that could lead to delays or increased costs, ensuring essential services are restored promptly.

By leveraging cmBuilder's advanced excavation and planning features, Graham Construction is looking to efficiently manage the complexities of the infrastructure project. The ability to rapidly develop accurate, detailed plans will help with reducing risk, protecting the public, and delivering on their commitment to excellence.

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Graham Construction's use of advanced technologies like cmBuilder highlights their dedication to innovation and proactive problem-solving in construction. By integrating these tools into complex projects, they've significantly enhanced their ability to visualize challenges, optimize logistics, and ensure safety—all while adhering to tight schedules and budgets. This commitment not only addresses immediate project needs but also sets a higher standard for efficiency and excellence in the industry. Upholding their core values of commitment, integrity, and reliability, Graham continues to deliver lasting value through projects that enable communities to live, work, move, and grow in a rapidly changing world.

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