Machine Control

Drawing up models for machine control is certainly an enjoyable element of my job. From interpreting drawings to using AutoCAD and n4ce to create machine control models, each and every task brings its insights and challenges along the way.

Machine control for service trenches

A fantastic use of machine control is to draw up models for long service trenches. A chat to the driver to explain the polylines and a bucket calibration check and they're off.

Machine control for remote swale works

I was tasked to design and create a model for a 500m swale that started on one side of a field to the next. I had to do an initial land survey to determine levels. I later drew the swale on AutoCAD and took the fields' levels into consideration when determining depths and swale widths.

Machine control for plot foundations

Here's a finished foundation dig for a plot I drew up for machine control. A couple days later I paid site a visit to check the dig lined up with my total station and signed off the foundation to be concreted.

Machine control for cut & fill

This was more of a cut and fill exercise as the budget only allowed a set quantity of material to be used on site and a set quantity to be taken away. The plan was to cut the existing bank to a depth and slope determined by the cut and fill quants specified by the client.

Machine control for earth works

The task was simple, strip the existing ground to formation, calculate stone quantities and set up a model for the dozers to grade to.

Machine control for drainage works

I set up a model for the attentuation tank dig and placed offsets for the gravel layer. The excavator would place the gravel at an approximate level and later fine tuned by the lads with the rotating laser.