It goes without saying that excavators are among the most complex and dynamic machines.

As expected, the excavator operators are under a tremendous pressure to deliver an optimal performance while trying to achieve their productivity goals at the same time. That is why all kinds of help and improvements are more than welcome regarding increased accuracy and optimal production. As always, technology is the key.

GPS Excavator Control

GPS-based controls for excavators can significantly improve working orientation and positioning, which are essential for daily duties of excavator operators. Without a GPS machine control, it is hard to avoid a danger of over-excavating while performing mass excavation tasks. Additionally, excavator operators can focus on productive tasks, rather than to spend time on grade checking and surveying operations. Consequently, both personal and machine costs are seriously reduced.

The benefits of GPS usage on excavators include the following:

• Minimization of fuel costs, material usage, and site work delays;
• Improved mass excavation capacity (dams, highways, and similar);
• Grading (commercial sites, subdivisions, etc.);
• Waterways, dredging, seawall construction, and breakwater;
• Trenching such as finished works and ditches for various underground utilities;

Connected Site

Besides the direct and obvious benefits associated with the use of GPS on excavators, we should also mention the savings of time and resources achieved because of wireless data transfer between the excavators and the office. We are referring to the connected software solutions that are specially designed to reduce the time required for travelling and communication between the head office and all job sites. You can expect a significant reduction of human errors and rework scenarios because of an optimal use of these solutions.

Improved Safety

We shouldn’t neglect the safety implications of a productive symbiosis between GPS systems and excavators. The operators will certainly appreciate an opportunity to use on-board computers and in-cab displays for avoiding the unsafe working areas and a clearer overview of excavation assignments. The GPS systems on excavators can be associated with the invaluable real-time warning systems that provide both audio and on-screen alarms when a potentially hazardous situation threatens the operators. For instance, an early warning about the existence of underground utilities on the working site can represent a critical advantage for the safety of operators.

Greater Marketplace Acceptance

Finally, we should mention the impressive increase of the GPS adoption rate in the excavating industry. There are three main factors that are stimulating this promising increase:

• Significant enhancement of the excavator related products;
• Introduction and modernization of construction receivers and GPS signals that contribute to machines’ capability for an effective and error free mass excavation work.
• An awareness that much better results and ROI (return on investment) can be achieved with excavators, rather than dozers, graders, or other grade machines;

We are free to conclude without any exaggeration that excavators with the GPS controls can expect a bright future. Therefore, obtaining and using these systems on excavators should be an unquestionable priority.