Utilization Of GPS Machine Control Files For Construction Work

By Mayra Pierce


GPS or Global Positioning System has now been included in the earthmoving industries. Heavy equipment manufacturers are now applying this technology in their procedures. These are for land grading, roads, causeways, railway beds, levees, dams, berms, and canals.

Due to demands for cost effective production in most industries, a lot of the production has developed advances and innovation in order to meet these demands. GPS machine control files is being utilized in the earthmoving industry in order to spend less for resources. It would also make work easier and faster.

Late 1990s was the beginning of heavy equipment corporations to innovate this technology while dominating the market sector for this type of procedure as well as advancing the process even further. This simply works by comparing the positions of the blade with the current location of the graders. It gives the difference while making it able to automatically adjust itself. Making these place holders for location is the use of the GPS.

3D and 2D software are now being utilized, developed, and being upgraded even further to help with this sort of procedure. The topography map of the area is imported to these software for it to let the operator have a better visualization for the whole area. Leading companies are actually making their own software and constantly making revisions and upgrades to give higher accuracy in the process.

Two types of system are being utilized for the earthmoving procedure in heavy equipment industries. They can be distinguished as either Fully Automatic or Indicate Only. The two of them are systems that can either use one or two receivers. With only one receiver, the guidance system is very limited on the position of the machine. But with two receivers, it allows two points which can also give the angle as well.

In order for accuracy with this use, there should be an accurate site design as well. The design file that came from an engineering firm can be imported into the GPS display. Some guidance systems will also allow the user to define the grade elevation and angle without the specifics of the original design.

Examples of heavy equipment that can be installed with a guidance system are Motor Graders, Hydraulic Excavators, Scrapers, and Compactors. It would help greatly for these machines in accuracy, efficiency, time, and cost effectivity. It also provides less on site manual management by field workers.

A machine installed with this system can cost to around one hundred million dollars. When used to the full potential, it can give back to more or less thirty percent of the productivity compared to that from traditional methods. Because of its high accuracy, a lot of projects are requiring the use of GPS in order for them to have lesser expenses.

There are a few limitations but these are not as bad as they are but should still be considered. Since the system uses satellite signals, obstructions in the environment of the project site may cause it to not function properly. Dead zones may be created due to the roofs of buildings and other establishments nearby. But even if this is true, the use of Global Positioning System is still a standard for advanced Earthmoving.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment