Applications of GPS in Road Constructions

Kerry Ainsworth
2 min readJan 18, 2017

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People normally thought that GPS is only for driving directions and providing location services for Smartphone users. But, the same GPS technology is extensively applied for road construction. In the past several years, the contractors have been in use of GPS technology to assist in guiding heavy machine operators and some others engaged in the formation of roadways.

The usage of GPS technology has controlled and guided our earth-moving machineries like Dozers, excavators and motor graders and it has quickly been common in highway formation since it speeds up project delivery and lessens the costs. The productivity of this kind of equipment has been approximated to double the conventional machinery. When taking into consideration the application of GPS, a requirement needed in this engine guidance is a 3D terrain model called as the DTM or a digital terrain model. The present design practice says that highways and some other road facilities are styled in 2D using conventional computerized style programs. The GPS machine guidance equipment needs that these plans, then converted to 3D illustration before they may be applied. The conversion is normally finished by the contractor of construction, which added time and cost. Completing DTMs all throughout the design period is the upcoming logical development and begins to create the procedures more efficient.

When GPS initially arrived to the forefront in the road construction, the head in general contracting and in extreme highway construction, has been prepared to harness with this latest technology and place it in use for the road building business. There had been explanations that incorporate GPS with their machineries that come up with much savings. The traditional means of building roads are just equal to the amount of fitting out the machineries with GPS, training with the operators, and arranging 3D plans and after that, there is the amount of the savings sky-rocket, the covering repairs and updating the costs too. There had been statement that says all of fresh Caterpillar earth-moving machineries are now comes able with GPS. Even thought GPS recipient on the earth-moving machineries can talk straight with the satellites, it has determined that placing up a base position for every project cuts down the transmission fault. The base post is the straight link to the outpost and it provides clear signals for the operators on its jobsite. It is only a time table plan before all transportations group can be able to create a 3D model and the Primera is always ready to help.

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