Last year, after we published the results from our first survey on machine control, I received quite a few e-mails from readers. Many expressed appreciation to Site Prep for publishing the report, which is the only one we are aware of that offers details about machine control usage across the country. The response was encouraging, and we knew we had to continue to provide this research to our readers.

This year’s report can be accessed here, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s even better the second time around because we were able to trend the data to 2008.

The new data was fielded in January and February of this year, so it represents participants’ responses in the current economic climate. It fascinates me to see what changed in 2009 as well as what remained the same.

It’s not surprising—especially in this poor economy—that survey participants’ biggest complaint about machine control technology is still its high price tag. In spite of this, the majority of respondents who are currently using machine control systems still reported plans to purchase more of this equipment within the next year. That makes a bold case—especially in this recession—for how valuable the technology is becoming to contractors.

More than two-thirds of respondents also reported that machine control technology has increased their bidding opportunities. (This table is posted in the online version of the report.) This is good news—and certainly helps to explain why people are planning to buy more machine control technology for their fleets.

But I wonder how much longer this trend will be sustained. If more and more contractors adopt machine control, how long will it be before the technology is essential to remaining competitive in the bid process?

After you review the 2009 report, I invite you to shoot an e-mail to jensenk@bnpmedia and share your observations or questions. Let’s continue the conversation.