Appreciation post: Switching from paper maps to Google Maps on construction sites

I used to print out huge paper blueprints and mark them up with highlighters for every job site in Austin. Took me like 20 minutes per site and I'd lose them in my truck all the time. About 6 months ago I started using a tablet with Google Maps layered on top of my project files, and now I can check traffic, see the site layout, and share updates with my crew in real time. It cut my setup time down to maybe 5 minutes per location. Has anyone else made a switch like this that actually stuck?

2 comments

2 Comments

willowr9618d ago

Honestly I don't know how I survived the old way. Carrying around giant paper maps that got wet or torn was such a pain. Google Maps + tablet setup is just way smarter for site work. You can zoom in on utility lines and street details way faster than flipping through pages. Plus not having to dig through your truck for the right map is a game changer.

wader7117d ago

Yeah I made the switch about a year ago and it was a total game changer... though I will say the first week I kept trying to zoom in on the tablet by tapping it with a highlighter like some kind of cave man. Felt real dumb when I looked up and saw my crew watching me do it. The tablet got so much smudge from my grubby fingers I had to wipe it down every 15 minutes. But now I can't imagine going back to soggy paper maps crammed in my glovebox. Plus I got pretty good at pretending I know where I'm going when Google recalculates mid drive.