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GPS Technology at Work

By Sherri Pettigrew - 3/11/2008

Milestone scraper with GPS

As we've seen the progression of the new Honda plant take shape, it was only a matter of time before the plans for a new I-74 interchange and road developments around Greensburg shifted into high gear.

Milestone , as a partner with Poindexter Excavating was responsible for a lot of work at the Honda plant site. They placed and graded 250,000 tons of aggregate for parking areas, equating to about 9-10,000 tons a day (sometimes as much as 14,000 tons in one day). They used three Caterpillar motor graders and a D6NXL dozer all equipped with GPS grade control systems to spread and grade the stone. One motor grader with the GPS grade control system was keeping up with 30 tri-axle trucks while placing the aggregate to grade.

As Milestone was certainly instrumental in meeting Honda's fast paced plans, it was no surprise they won the contract to pave and develop the roads and interchanges surrounding the plant and nearby areas. Meantime, Milestone has earned 5 smoothness paving awards on large projects all in the last 3 years. This recognition and their quality of work, in addition to their participation in Greensburg's vast development in the area already, certainly would seem to be a natural decision for them to continue their work in the area.

The I-74 interchange project began August 3, 2007 with twenty- two pieces of CAT equipment being delivered from MacAllister in two days. "For a job of this size, getting all the equipment when you need it is typically the most difficult task. Getting the equipment when we did certainly put a jump start on the project," Brad Byford, Milestone project manager stated.

When moving 450,000 yards of dirt, 80,000 tons of stone, and paving four miles of new road the efficiency of GPS technology is advantageous in many ways. MacAllister installed GPS grade control on D6R, D6N, D6K dozers, and 140H motor graders before they were put to work.

Milestone dozer with GPS

"GPS technology shines on many different levels and is good for even smaller jobs. There is some initial capital investment, but once it is set up it is extremely beneficial, and you continue to find more uses for it" Byford said. It allows labor savings, cost and time savings throughout the entire job. GPS eliminates the necessity of continual staking for reference points. This allows the contractor to proceed at his own pace. Most of the time a surveyor will have multiple crews and take several days, increasing costs.

"We're comfortable staking with use of a GPS rover, without a surveyor. In turn, we have a higher confidence level without directly relying on a surveyor for staking." The rover is a hand-held device used in GPS systems. It is advantageous for a few reasons. One being, you can quickly check grade and reference points, which is a big production help. It also allows better cost savings to the bid.

Milestone partnered with Schneider Engineering to do their initial surveying and data prep. With use of GPS grade control systems if there is a change in the data plan an update can be emailed very easily. Because it is wireless, there is much less paperwork and redoing of prints. This allows for improved efficiency and additional cost savings.

With GPS, since you use the same base station and same data card with multiple contractors, it saves time, eliminates confusion and mistakes, and frees up equipment. Byford stated, " GPS helped our whole process run about 15-20% faster pace. It makes sense even on smaller jobs increasing amount of GPS jobs while getting more production out of our equipment and doing the job faster." When we know MacAllister can supply a needed piece of machinery with GPS on it, it helps us know exactly what equipment we need to have on the site so it doesn't slow us down.

GPS is also easy to learn. Milestone has some experienced operators retiring. With new, less experienced operators coming in, they seem to be comfortable with using GPS in 2-3 days. Byford said, "They just have to trust the system and realizing it is right."

Milestone grader with GPS

Milestone recently finished the Fairland Road project using GPS grade control and received a smoothness award bonus of 94% from the State. On roads that traffic will run over 45 mph, they run a profileograph on the pavement when complete. You can get penalized or receive a bonus based upon the smoothness. They use a 16' straight edge that digitally records bumps and dips in the pavement. There is a small tolerance the contractor must meet to receive bonuses on the finished project. The 2-1/2 mile project included pavement removal, rebuilding and widening all done stakeless using only a dozer, a grader, excavator and a roller for prepping.

Byford said, "By the State installing open base stations and setting new regulations, the whole process as we formerly knew in the construction industry is advancing." The State DOT is requiring GPS be used on some projects, so we are seeing this already.

GPS is currently available on about anything you can set to grade; on dirt compaction equipment: backhoes, excavators, dozers, scrapers, graders, and soon on asphalt pavers.

GPS technology has certainly changed the way in which site preparation is done by improving production, saving time, reducing errors, and allowing cost savings. It has taken off and has even caused the State to refine job parameter requirements. In all aspects, it certainly seems advantageous for any who invest and expand the uses. Companies that have gotten on board early with GPS have certainly reaped the benefits of this technology. And hopefully it will help our roads remain in better condition longer as well!