GRADING SURFACES: WHAT ARE THEY? HOW DO THEY IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS?
GPS machine control can use over 20 satellites at the same time
Are you wondering how a surface model will work with your heavy equipment? Although it can seem complex, it is simpler than you may think. Some machines already come equipped with the technology and others can be retrofitted with aftermarket technology systems. Either way, the most important thing to understand is that they run off GPS. GPS for machine control is just a much more precise application of the technology found in the navigation app of your smartphone. Your phone uses at least 4 satellites to provide the location and elevation of the phone. Instead of showing your location on a map, GPS machine control uses GPS data to show your location on a surface model of your job site. GPS machine control can use over 20 satellites at the same time to give a location an elevation accuracy of less than one inch.
Bad Models Result in More Problems
Heavy equipment being guided by GPS machine control improves grading results
Not all 3D surface models are created equal. Well designed, 3D surface models provide excellent and precise machine guidance. When models are poorly constructed, they often result in problems. It’s impressive to watch a dozer or digger being guided by GPS. They read everything that exists in the surface model very precisely. When operators are less experienced, they may not realize how sensitive it is. Problems can be compounded if there are machine calibration issues, valve issues, or control box issues, making it harder to troubleshoot. A contour plan is a graphical representation of the lay of the land. It shows the degree of slope on a site and is one of the most important plans for machine control.
Well Designed Models Result in Accurate Grading
The critical components of creating an excellent 3D machine control model are a contour plan, profiles, cross-sections, typicals, and superelevation tables. Looking at a superelevation table can be cumbersome; therefore, these are usually left out of the model when created by a non-expert.
A superior model results from using all of those variables, not just a subset of them. You may get a decent model if you use a couple of these pieces of information, but it won’t be the highest quality model. A virtual construction engineer will take all of the parts of information from a road plan and lay them on top of each other, which allows for verifying that the data is correct and ensures that all the pieces line up. The value of having errors, issues, and conflicts identified before construction outweighs the cost of the model creation.
ECI Technologies’ process includes a quality assurance/quality control review. This review is done on every project before it is sent to the client. It includes analyzing the model using 1/10th interval contours, utilizing profiles in various 3D views, checking water runoff functions, and having a multi-engineer review of the model. This additional layer of service is not typical of every service provider. Sometimes your in-house person is overwhelmed with the number of projects they’re working on or might appreciate a second review by another person. Whether you already have someone in-house that creates models or not, a partnership with ECI could benefit your business. Call us, contact us through our website, social media, or email us. We’re ready to work with your team!