What is machine control? An Introduction To Machine Control

What is machine control? Machine control systems allow contractors to maintain tight tolerances which led to great material savings and the cost reduction cost of earthmoving operations. All of this added to the contractor’s bottom line. Machine control technology is quickly becoming standard and contractors are realising that they need to implement this technology simply to stay competitive. Bidding a job now without factoring in the productivity gains from machine control is becoming increasingly difficult. We hope this information will serve to educate the reader and assist those who are contemplating investing in machine control in making an informed decision. For those who are already using this technology, we will explore ways to maximise the utilisation and productivity

Improving the vertical accuracy of 3D Machine control

GPS/GNSS-based 3D grade control systems have made a major impact on how heavy construction is done, but they still have limitations when it comes to achieving very tight vertical accuracies. This is true regardless of which brand you use. While multi-constellation (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and more recently Beidou) grade control systems are able to work in more places and under more adverse conditions, these systems are still subject to various orbital errors and environmental factors, which can degrade the vertical accuracy. Many contractors use GNSS-based 3D grade control exclusively for earthmoving tasks and even finishing. However, the manufacturers of these systems will confirm they cannot guarantee that the vertical accuracy will be good enough for finishing. The various