Customer Spotlight: Cody Phillips Preserves Utility History with High-Accuracy GNSS

As a Construction Foreman at Ellingson Companies, Cody Phillips often works on utility systems built in the early to mid-1900s. These century-old systems were built using steam-powered equipment, hard manual labor, and sheer determination. However, due to the limited technology of the time, many older utility systems were poorly documented. Using the technology of today, Cody now ensures these systems are modernized and mapped accurately to support future needs and streamline repairs and maintenance.

Cody’s work isn’t just about maintaining systems — it’s also about preserving history and honoring the hard work and craftsmanship of the people who came before him. Read on to learn how Cody achieves this in part by using Eos GNSS receivers and ArcGIS^® Field Maps.

1. Why are you passionate about your job?

I have a deep appreciation for being immersed in nature — whether it’s witnessing the sunrise during my drive to a site or taking in the sunset after a productive day’s work. One of the aspects I value most about my role is the opportunity to investigate and uncover the work of past generations, now enhanced by the efficiency of modern hydraulic machinery.

While it may seem like “just pipe in the ground,” the importance of this infrastructure cannot be overstated. A single malfunctioning water pipe can lead to flooding across hundreds of acres of crops or disrupt an entire renewable energy project. Much of this infrastructure, including drainage tiles and ditches, was constructed in the mid-1900s using steam-powered draglines and grueling manual labor. Back then, work crews would camp out in the fields until their task was complete.

Over time, these systems have often been poorly documented on hand-drawn, imprecise maps — or, in many cases, the records have been lost entirely. My role involves investigating these systems to determine which assets require replacement and which remain functional, as well as ensuring every detail is thoroughly documented. With imagery, remote sensing, and precise location technology like the Eos GNSS receivers, I create accurate and reliable records that will serve as invaluable resources for future generations of “explorers” in this field.

2. How did you first find out about Eos Positioning Systems’ GNSS products?

I first learned about Eos products from Damon Nelton, the manager of our mapping team. We had a challenging project involving a narrow construction right-of-way (ROW) for a large wind-farm installation that crossed an expansive tile-drainage system. Normally, we’d start construction at the lower elevations and work our way upward, but in this case, we were confined to the narrow ROW, which made things tricky.

We were collecting large amounts of point data, but it became difficult to determine if everything was resolved. Damon suggested using the Arrow 100^® and Arrow Gold^® GNSS receivers to improve accuracy, and boy he was right! With the Arrow receivers, we could capture accurate heading and route data for drainage tiles. This detailed, precise information has been invaluable for our clients, customers, and landowners — both now and in the future.

3. What do you use Eos GNSS products for?

I use Eos GNSS products to field-verify the locations of existing drainage systems and to build mitigation plans tailored to the specific needs of each project. In other words, I get to document history and compile it all into one map to show the bigger/complete story.

4. Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your projects with Eos hardware?

One of the aspects I value most about my work is the seamless communication and collaboration made possible through the use of ArcGIS Field Maps paired with an Arrow GNSS receiver. The real-time data collected by the crew using the Arrow GNSS units provides precise, up-to-date information, enabling both office and field teams to stay aligned. This ensures we can effectively analyze past or current situations, allocate resources strategically, and resolve issues with efficiency and clarity.

5. Do you have a favorite feature of Eos GNSS receivers?

Absolutely! I love revisiting older projects. Sometimes over five years after initial mapping, I use the Arrow receivers with ArcGIS Field Maps to flag and excavate within two feet of previously mapped drainage tiles. It’s amazing how far technology has come and how much it’s improved our efficiency.

6. Is there anything we didn’t ask you that you’d like to share with us?

I’d just like to emphasize how transformative this technology has been for our work. It’s not just about improving efficiency, but also preserving and documenting the hard work our past generations did to benefit the future generations.