RDO Equipment is helping with a four-week college course designed to provide engineering students with hands-on training in machine control technologies. Working with Montana State University, RDO is using Topcon and Deere technology to give students opportunities to experience the tech in real-world applications.
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“Universities sometimes focus just on theory, but MSU aims to provide authentic exposure to job site experiences whenever possible,” said Bret Martin, an associate professor in MSU’s civil engineering department, in a statement. “This four-week course with RDO provides practical skills students will use on a daily basis besides raising their awareness of tech solutions, so they’ll be better decision-makers in their future roles.”
Jake Michels, RDO’s technology solutions manager and MSU alum, first connected with Martin nearly eight years ago and presents a construction technology talk to senior-level civil engineering students nearly every year. Last fall, Michels and Martin came up with the idea to develop a course module focused on practical, hands-on training using Topcon Positioning Systems.
MSU and RDO are members of Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub, a consortium of leaders in industry, education, and state government. Michels and Martin recognized this course as an organic opportunity to deliver not only the latest surveying equipment but also the training and experience to the next generation of leaders on Montana contractors’ job sites.
RDO customer job sites as classrooms
“Topcon made a significant equipment donation to be used during this and future semesters,” Michels said. “Once we knew we would be able to deliver surveying equipment, we then went to customers like Williams Civil and several others to request job site visits.”
Michels, along with Rob Andrew, a construction technology specialist at RDO, provided a complete overview of surveying and grading solutions to set up machine control for various machines like John Deere’s excavator. RDO team members provided presentations and training for the following tasks:
- Job site layout and setup
- Machine control training on job sites
- Practical job setup at Williams Civil’s quarry site near Bozeman
“In the second week, we partnered with Williams Civil in Bozeman to simulate a job site setup,” Andrew said. “Students learned how to set up a base station, localize the project, and stake out lines and points—tasks they’ll likely perform as field engineers.”
When RDO brought John Deere’s SmartGrade equipped machines, students transferred data from sensors to machines, then, with guidance from Andrew and Michels, students operated several Deere machines to move dirt to its accurate grade.
On several job sites, Martin tested students on their grade control set up, where they had to localize and transfer a project file into the machine control system to engage the 3D SmartGrade, which uses GPS to create the designs features.
“At almost every job site, many students asked if they could stay later and RDO team members like Andrew and Michels were often obliged to stay until the sun went down,” Martin said. “These students were energized from these job site trainings, saying it was the best class they’ve taken.”
Michels and Martin plan to build off this machine control module, possibly offering a two-credit standalone course in future semesters so students can take a deeper dive into machine control training to potentially receive professional certifications.
