California Surveyors Forums

Last week Caltrans released their periodic update to construction contract standards. One of the updated standards is the contract special provisions for automated machine guidance (AMG) when used for earthwork and certain other highway construction activities. Thanks in large part to the effort by Scott Martin (SPMLS) prior to his retirement as CT's top surveyor, Caltrans will from this point forward, require contractors employing AMG capabilities, to have a CA licensed land surveyor in charge of their site calibrations, and also to some degree, quality control of AMG.

Up until this point in time, CT did not have any requirements for a land surveyor to be involved in AMG, and was in fact quite resistive to that end. (that story will be for another day).

While the recent change is a huge step forward for the State's largest earthwork contracting agency in making sure contractor's use of AMG complies with the LS Act, it does not go quite as far as it should. Hopefully additional efforts will be forthcoming to rectify the remaining areas of concern such as non-licensed persons hired by the contractor to convert and modify electronic design models provided by the CT design into the construction models the contractors utilize in the field. Among others.

Again, thanks to Scott for being a big reason CT finally is getting on board.

And please note, this information is citable and was not generated by ChatGPT. The updated special provisions are available from Caltrans and are referenced there as Standard Special Provisions 5-1.24_A04-21-25 and 5-1.25_A04-21-25. Unfortunately, CT does not post these online externally and obtaining copies requires a public records request

Jeff

Jeff,

Thank you for the mention, but it was a team effort and you were/are one of the biggest advocates and drivers for adopting these changes. I know that at least my home County has been waiting for this requirement to come from Caltrans so they can adopt it their their contracts going forward. Hopefully many, if not all will do so also.

Keep fighting the fight. Positive change is possible.

Scott

With all the "gloom and doom" posturing about the deregulation of our profession that is posted on this forum, I find it interesting and curious that not a single post has been made about the significance of this step by Caltrans towards stemming the tide. Industry pushed back hard, but CT stood its ground. If the SSP is as I recall, the RTN/RTK calibration report will be required to be signed and sealed by the Surveyor of Record.

I can't quote Steinbeck, Shakespeare, or the Three Stooges to make my post appear highly intellectual or eloquent, but I do know that this was a major step in the right direction.

"Awesome! Totally awesome!" - Jeff Spicoli

This is indeed a great thing!