Human Factors Key in Digital Dirt Moving
J.E. Liesfeld moves more dirt more accurately with Leica Geosystems machine automation.
“Advances in equipment and grading technology are making ‘grade control systems’ a catch phrase in the industry,” says Dan Dykhuis, product marketing director for Leica Geosystems’ construction segment.
“From simple bolt-on/plug-in systems for some 2D applications to the full-blown 3D systems, these products take conventional methods of construction-site grading to the outer edge of the envelope by offering precision performance with efficiency levels previously unheard of. Proving once again that necessity is the mother of invention, products such as Leica’s ‘GradeStar’ grade control system are opening new windows of profit opportunity for contractors everywhere.”
 |
| Keep your company at the forefront of technology with high-precision GPS. |
J.E. Liesfeld Contractor Inc., one of the largest site preparation contractors in Richmond, VA, is realizing some of these new opportunities by recently implementing 3D machine automation to its dozer and motor grader fleet. After an extensive onsite evaluation of 3D machine automation systems, Liesfeld chose the Leica Geosystems GradeStar system. Liesfeld’s first fully automated machine was a Caterpillar D6N dozer. The dozer is utilizing Leica’s high-precision global positioning system (GPS) for guidance.
Following this successful installation, Loyola Spatial Systems, a Leica Geosystems dealer, installed Liesfeld’s second fully automated system on a Caterpillar 143H motor grader. Leica’s GradeStar package for motor graders provides an industry exclusive with the patented Side Shift function. It allows the operator to pick a polyline from the computer display from inside the cab. The moldboard moves in and out to maintain the polyline. The operator can also choose an offset from a selected polyline. Leica’s GradeStar system further provides a patented Hold Slope function. This unique feature allows the operator to work complex slopes without undesired elevation changes (i.e., GPS antenna crossing a crown in a roadway). Use of a mast tilt sensor on the grader enables the operator to pitch or roll the blade forward or back while maintaining accurate elevation. The system does not require the operator to “re-vertical” the mast.
GradeStar is fully compatible with all major machine manufacturers including Caterpillar, John Deere, Liebherr, and Komatsu. GradeStar V5.0 utilizes the Win XP operating system as well as the industry standard Controller Area Network technology integrated on most new machines today.
Kenny Liesfeld was interested in machine automation and GPS because he determined it would deliver a competitive edge by keeping his company at the forefront of technology in its field of expertise. In order to evaluate the systems on the market, he set up his machines with a variety of systems from different manufacturers and ran them in the field on actual jobs. In some instances he had multiple machines on the same project. Since most of the systems tested were priced similarly, cost of purchase was not a deciding factor, but performance and service were.
“Leica’s systems worked better in the field and appeared to be more user-friendly,” Liesfeld states. “More importantly, their customer service was there to support us along the way. Our biggest fear was that we would spend over $100,000 and have a bunch of machine automation and GPS equipment sitting in a closet gathering dust. Leica’s hands-on service approach kept us running whether we were building models or making required field changes.
 |
| GPS allows for efficient—and thus more profitable—operation. |
Liesfeld also indicated that the main challenge of incorporating a system such as GradeStar was the setup process. It requires AutoCAD experience to build the models for the machine.
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“With a digital file,” Liesfeld explains, “it often requires a lot of work to make it suitable for actual use. Leica helped us work through this phase. Setting the equipment up in the field also took a fair amount of training. Typically, the machine operators onsite aren’t computer people, so if something goes wrong they have a difficult time troubleshooting it.”
Liesfeld feels the GradeStar approach has benefited his company in several ways. The accuracy and precision with which his teams now operate combined with almost countless advantages realized in the most basic steps of production add up to more efficient operation and the potential for greater profits with each project.
Author's Bio: Author and photographer Rodney E. Garrett specializes in construction topics.
March-April 2007
Human Factors Key in Digital Dirt Moving
J.E. Liesfeld moves more dirt more accurately with Leica Geosystems machine automation.
“Advances in equipment and grading technology are making ‘grade control systems’ a catch phrase in the industry,” says Dan Dykhuis, product marketing director for Leica Geosystems’ construction segment.
“From simple bolt-on/plug-in systems for some 2D applications to the full-blown 3D systems, these products take conventional methods of construction-site grading to the outer edge of the envelope by offering precision performance with efficiency levels previously unheard of. Proving once again that necessity is the mother of invention, products such as Leica’s ‘GradeStar’ grade control system are opening new windows of profit opportunity for contractors everywhere.”
|
| Keep your company at the forefront of technology with high-precision GPS. |
J.E. Liesfeld Contractor Inc., one of the largest site preparation contractors in Richmond, VA, is realizing some of these new opportunities by recently implementing 3D machine automation to its dozer and motor grader fleet. After an extensive onsite evaluation of 3D machine automation systems, Liesfeld chose the Leica Geosystems GradeStar system. Liesfeld’s first fully automated machine was a Caterpillar D6N dozer. The dozer is utilizing Leica’s high-precision global positioning system (GPS) for guidance.
Following this successful installation, Loyola Spatial Systems, a Leica Geosystems dealer, installed Liesfeld’s second fully automated system on a Caterpillar 143H motor grader. Leica’s GradeStar package for motor graders provides an industry exclusive with the patented Side Shift function. It allows the operator to pick a polyline from the computer display from inside the cab. The moldboard moves in and out to maintain the polyline. The operator can also choose an offset from a selected polyline. Leica’s GradeStar system further provides a patented Hold Slope function. This unique feature allows the operator to work complex slopes without undesired elevation changes (i.e., GPS antenna crossing a crown in a roadway). Use of a mast tilt sensor on the grader enables the operator to pitch or roll the blade forward or back while maintaining accurate elevation. The system does not require the operator to “re-vertical” the mast.
GradeStar is fully compatible with all major machine manufacturers including Caterpillar, John Deere, Liebherr, and Komatsu. GradeStar V5.0 utilizes the Win XP operating system as well as the industry standard Controller Area Network technology integrated on most new machines today.
Kenny Liesfeld was interested in machine automation and GPS because he determined it would deliver a competitive edge by keeping his company at the forefront of technology in its field of expertise. In order to evaluate the systems on the market, he set up his machines with a variety of systems from different manufacturers and ran them in the field on actual jobs. In some instances he had multiple machines on the same project. Since most of the systems tested were priced similarly, cost of purchase was not a deciding factor, but performance and service were.
“Leica’s systems worked better in the field and appeared to be more user-friendly,” Liesfeld states. “More importantly, their customer service was there to support us along the way. Our biggest fear was that we would spend over $100,000 and have a bunch of machine automation and GPS equipment sitting in a closet gathering dust. Leica’s hands-on service approach kept us running whether we were building models or making required field changes.
|
| GPS allows for efficient—and thus more profitable—operation. |
Liesfeld also indicated that the main challenge of incorporating a system such as GradeStar was the setup process. It requires AutoCAD experience to build the models for the machine.
“With a digital file,” Liesfeld explains, “it often requires a lot of work to make it suitable for actual use. Leica helped us work through this phase. Setting the equipment up in the field also took a fair amount of training. Typically, the machine operators onsite aren’t computer people, so if something goes wrong they have a difficult time troubleshooting it.”
Liesfeld feels the GradeStar approach has benefited his company in several ways. The accuracy and precision with which his teams now operate combined with almost countless advantages realized in the most basic steps of production add up to more efficient operation and the potential for greater profits with each project.