Signal Energy Eliminates Staking and Increases Productivity

Signal Energy delivers utility-scale solar projects, as the EPC they are typically self performing majority of the trades including mechanical install. On projects including Big Muddy and Piedra in Texas, ground marking was traditionally a step they performed prior to shakeout . Daily output per skid steer remained strong at 500 to 650 piles, but sustaining that pace required a CivDot and an operator placing flags ahead of skid steers. Prior to CivDot it would have required 3 surveying crews. Shakeout production depended on that preparation work being completed before staging could move forward. When evaluating digital guidance systems for skid steers, Signal Energy recognized that any new solution had to integrate cleanly into field operations without slowing production. CivNav was implemented for pile staging and fit directly into the existing workflow. Output was maintained during deployment, and operational efficiency improved over time.

The Challenge: Labor-Dependent Staging at Utility Scale

At utility scale, shakeout is a logistics operation. Thousands of pile locations must be staged accurately and efficiently across hundreds of acres. Even though Signal Energy owns multiple CivDots that increased the layout productivity by 4X vs traditional surveying crews, they were excited to eliminate this step.The skid steer operators were hesitant at first to use CivNav, due to prior attempts with similar solutions from Trimble and Carlson which weren’t successful. Thanks to CivNav modularity, they immediately got the hang of it and most of their concerns were addressed. As an EPC building utility-scale solar farms, eliminating the need to pollute the ground with thousands of nails and flags made the decision to adopt CivNav straightforward.

“CivNav fits directly into our existing workflow. We eliminated staking, reduced our shakeout crew from three to one, and improved productivity without changing how the field operates.” Karl Schadlich, VP Strategic Solutions, Signal Energy

The Solution: Blueprint-Driven Shakeout Without Ground Marking

CivNav supported consistent daily production of 500 to 650 piles throughout implementation, ensuring no disruption to project schedules.

15% Productivity Improvement

With ground marking removed and increased machine utilization - more piles are being staged. Reduced search time and more efficient travel paths led to cumulative productivity gains approaching 15%. These improvements were driven by logistics optimization rather than increased equipment speed.

Reduced Environmental Impact

The shakeout process became cleaner and less invasive, reducing material waste and site disturbance.

Operational Visibility Through Reporting

CivNav’s weekly reports provided insight into machine utilization and driving distance. Supervisors gained clearer visibility into zone-level production and movement patterns, enabling ongoing refinement of staging strategy. As deployment expanded across projects, CivNav became part of Signal Energy’s standardized approach to pile staging.