Case Study: Kunming New International Airport achieves time and cost savings with Trimble machine control and site positioning

Trimble Helps Contractor Save Time and Money on Kunming Airport Project

Trimble supported contractors on the Kunming New International Airport, a ¥23.1 billion (USD $3.6B) expansion to handle up to 38 million passengers with two 4,000 m runways and extensive earthworks. The scale and precision required for grading, paving and compaction — plus the need for around‑the‑clock operations and minimized rework on critical airfield surfaces — presented a major accuracy, productivity and reporting challenge.

Trimble established an “Airport Digital Construction Site” using Site Positioning Systems (four GNSS base stations), the SPS930 total station, GCS900 grade control, PCS900 paving, CCS900 compaction and Trimble Business Center - HCE software. Converting 2D designs to 3D and delivering machine‑guidance in the cab enabled centimeter‑level grading, paving accuracy to about 5 mm, continuous compaction control on 20 rollers, faster detection of weak areas, and streamlined reporting — reducing rework, saving time, materials and overall project costs.