Making profit from precision by positioning technology

When it comes to moving dirt, there are a few things that are certain: you only want to move it once; the faster you achieve final grade, the less fuel, machine wear and stress you’ll have; and it’s getting harder to find productive operators who can make the equipment work every day. 

Positioning technology is revolutionizing the landscaping industry. It’s not new, though; over the last 25 years, it has helped medium- and large-sized construction companies boost efficiency and productivity as they look to improve in an increasingly competitive marketplace. As the technology and market have evolved, smaller operations are realizing they don’t need a big budget to get the same big results. If you’re not using compact technology, you could be leaving money on the table. 

Compact technology 101

Compact technology is a combination of hardware and software that determines a machine’s current position and compares it with the desired design surface. Using positioning sensors and being programmed with a desired grade or slope, the technology allows machine operators to instantly and accurately understand (within the size of a golf ball or better) where their cutting edge is relative to a design grade.

The operator uses an intuitive display to understand what has been done and quantify what is remaining at all times. This increases an operator’s ability to plan ahead, gaining efficiencies while reducing downtime. How often have you wondered how many more trucks of import materiel you really need to get the job finished? Or had an accurate measure of what you’ve removed? All of this is possible at the touch of a button. Used in earthmoving equipment since the late 1990s, the technology allows you to make decisions based on data, rather than relying solely on the skill and experience of the operator. As a result, machine control effectively increases operators’ productivity and accuracy. 

It’s not just for big jobs, either; today’s technology is ideal for small- and medium-sized operations, including fine grading, custom landscapes, berms, swales and utility contracts. It allows you to perform a broad set of tasks for the execution phase, perfect for general earthmoving and excavation. There are solutions available for compact equipment – mini-excavators and compact track or skid steer loaders. This market represents the next frontier in adopting this technology in their operations, and this adoption is trending.

Do more with less

While it can be a challenge to implement new technology, particularly in smaller operations, there are a few industry trends that are inspiring contractors to seek out new solutions.

Job complexity and tolerances have increased dramatically. In the last decade, the increase in CAD designs for complex landscaping projects and even pools have driven smaller contractors to look for ways to keep up and stay ahead. Gone are the days of a design on the back of a napkin. With that comes new expectations of accuracy and repeatability  

Whether you’re importing topsoil to finish off a lawn, excavating contaminated soil, waiting for layout for a surveyor that will “get to you as soon as he can” or finishing a project ahead of schedule, less cost is more margin. To stay competitive in the face of inflation, you need to get more out of your equipment, employees and vendors. Technology checks those boxes.

Dan Hendriks, vice-president of sales, positioning technology at Brandt, says the software is easy to adopt on almost any job.

“Imagine a 3D laser that will give you the grades you need and also tell you where you are on the job,” he says.

One operator, three jobs

Digital plans are the industry norm for larger projects, but many small- to medium-size landscapers rely on third-party surveyors and engineers to provide design and layout. With compact technology, landscapers can easily do that themselves. 

“It’s a three-in-one solution that allows landscapers to measure, design and build,” Hendriks says. “You can create or update a project plan, stake out or measure key points and seamlessly move into the machine to begin construction in 3D as well as a validation tool for grade checking and as-builts. It saves landscapers time and resources and makes them less reliant on third parties, increasing their project portfolio and, ultimately, profits. The contractor with limited resources now can confidently self-perform much of the work. They can own the entire process.”

Projects designed with paper plans as a guide don’t always make it to the job prior to work start. Given the job site is also the office for many contractors, much of the planning is performed in the field. The tools they use for locating grade and position are typically rotating lasers and tape measures. This technology allows them to create plans digitally on the fly and easily get customer feedback and approval. Being able to work digitally increases the ability of the landscaper to develop new ideas and make modifications quickly, reducing delays in work or decision making.

The digital representations also allow landscapers to visualize the end result, providing a consistent advantage for better planning and resource management of people, material, equipment and time.

Easy to learn and use

When you’ve done work manually for years or even decades, learning new technology can feel intimidating. Compact technology is intuitive and easy to learn and use, even if you or your crew isn’t tech savvy. 

“Operators can simply take the mobile tablet and positioning sensor from the machine and use them to record existing conditions and, directly on the tablet, create a digital plan of the proposed project,” Hendriks says. “The digital plan can be used within the machine to accurately locate and construct the project features with limited need for outside assistance to locate critical items or getting out of the machine to check work that is completed. Right from the machine, the operator can see what has been completed and what is remaining.” 

Displays and other components are designed to be shared across numerous machines in owned or rental fleet environments and moved from the grade checking/layout rover pole to the machine and back. Compact technology systems are also available with GPS or 3D laser capabilities. The receivers and tablet can be easily moved from the machine and used to record existing conditions and create a digital plan of the proposed job.

Save time and money

Employing a compact technology system in your business doesn’t have to be costly. In fact, it can quickly deliver a return on investment. 

“In utility trenching, we’ve seen up to 51 per cent cost savings per trench in labour and material, including about five hours of time saved per job,” Hendriks says. “It pays for itself with productivity gains, leading to availability for additional projects.”

Get a competitive edge

Compact technology is an accessible, practical solution that levels the playing field for companies of all sizes. Whether you’re looking to reduce costs, improve accuracy, win more contracts or simply work smarter instead of harder, investing in compact technology is a strategic decision that delivers measurable results. 

Sabrina Cataldo is a freelance writer and editor, based in Regina.