Advanced technology is preventing erosion and protecting water quality one dig at a time.
By Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated and The Landscape Guide.
Earthmoving machines have always been necessary for land clearing, but they have not prioritized the environment well. Construction teams interested in advancing green technologies can get GPS excavation systems to improve that shortfall. This technology may chart a more sustainable future for the industry.
How Is Precision Earthmoving Involved in Construction?
Precision earthmoving is the upgraded version of clearing land. Traditional earthmoving requires big machines that harm the environment by generating substantial carbon emissions, even if they do not affect surrounding plants.
Precision earthmoving addresses those concerns by improving team accuracy with the latest GPS units. Industry experts minimize the risk of miscalculated digging by excavating natural materials with greater precision.
Benefits of Precise Excavation
Changing workflows in high-demand operations is challenging. Construction teams are still making the effort because precision earthmoving has numerous benefits for the planet.
1. It Reduces Soil Erosion
Construction experts map out where they are going to dig based on factors like where the biome can retain its complex makeup. The region needs to maintain soil stability before and after excavation. Otherwise, removing loose soil or tree roots holding materials together could cause significant erosion, which prevents plants from thriving because the nutrients disappear with the dirt. The local food chain benefits when necessary plants can grow, regardless of construction needs.
Soil erosion may also harm finished construction projects. If the ground continuously moves away from a home’s foundation after every rainstorm, the structure could experience foundation cracks or shifting. The owners would not get the investment experience they paid for, which would affect the builder’s reputation.
2. Teams Can Minimize Stormwater Runoff
GPS excavation systems may also reduce stormwater runoff on worksites by identifying where to use less intense digging techniques. Construction professionals can switch their equipment to help the local biome retain its natural structure while maintaining accurate sloping away from new structures. They may use large excavator cabs that can rotate a full 360 degrees and opt for handheld tools that place less pressure on the ground.
More data will also make the gradient slope better for the ecosystem. Teams that effectively move soil can precisely reposition it to direct rainwater runoff into local waterways. The existing ecosystem will handle the excess water better than if new builds flooded at-risk biomes or surrounding properties.
3. Sediment Encounters Less Pollution
Soil has a complex balance of microorganisms and nutrients. Upsetting that balance affects the pollinators that plants attract, disrupting the food chain. Surrounding farms could also lose viable crops. Root systems that absorb chemical runoff from nearby construction sites could harm people who eat the produce.
Precise excavation prevents soil pollution by minimizing how far construction teams need to dig for each project. Localizing activity leaves much of the surrounding biome untouched. Directing water or roadway runoff with better earthmoving strategies will prevent that pollution from reaching healthy soil.
The advanced machinery can also indicate specific soil needs. A plot of land may require targeted technology that better handles unstable sand or gravel. High-tech machinery would alert a team to switch tools without getting off schedule.
Why Is Watershed Protection Important on Construction Sites?
People benefit from greater watershed protection on construction sites because it keeps pollutants from nearby waterways. Precise digging and better sediment management prevent materials from flowing into streams and rivers. Drinking water sources will be safe because construction teams manage their sites better with GPS-enabled tools.
Protecting safe drinking water sources helps people and animals in the surrounding biome. Plants can also thrive around unpolluted bodies of water, further supporting the food chain.
Ways GPS-Guided Equipment Improves Company Management
Using GPS tools to improve precision earthmoving standards could help construction companies remain competitive. There are numerous businesswide benefits to updating excavation workflows if teams want better ways to support the environment.
1. Workers Save Time
Traditional excavating takes time before digging ever begins. Teams must stake out the area and use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to understand what is below their feet. The data informs how they will preserve soil filtration and structure, which can fall apart without equally accurate digging techniques. Investing in a GPS for excavators saves time.
Operators can move quickly by mapping where they will excavate before reaching the site. The GPS digging equipment will follow the data points to ensure that no one clears land outside of their designated areas. Teams that prefer to stake the site can arrive with the points already mapped.
Managers can also monitor earthmoving in real time without being there. They can track their team’s progress with the GPS unit’s dashboard to see where everyone is working and communicate as needed to improve workflows.
2. Machinery Creates Fewer Carbon Emissions
While large, powerful tools are necessary for construction, they also create carbon emissions. Teams that have to rework a site burn more fossil fuels than intended. GPS-guided machines make earthmoving more accurate and save time. Using excavating equipment less often will reduce the amount of gas a team needs to clear land.
3. Sites Align With Environmental Regulations
Some projects have to abide by state and local regulations that differ from those in other regions. Teams starting a project in a new county may be legally required to recycle materials like glass. It may become a supplement for concrete aggregate at nearby processing facilities if local regulations require it. Software programs that connect with a GPS unit for earthmoving purposes could help companies meet those requirements.
The software can provide updates on localized regulations and compare them with new project data, based on the site’s address or coordinates. Construction crew members will not have to worry about missing a legal requirement if they have smart technology.
4. Every Movement Becomes Precise
Some construction team members have more experience than others. Everyone can conduct the same quality of work if they have access to excavator GPS systems. People operating heavy machinery will follow the directions and monitor the dig while creating the same output as any other skilled worker. Construction crews may avoid common mistakes, regardless of who is working any given shift.
5. Everyone Stays Safer
Precision keeps people safe. Given how 68% of the global population will likely live in urban areas by 2050, construction leaders should feel confident about protecting their teams as schedules become busier. People working near heavy equipment may feel more comfortable if they know a GPS unit is preventing human-error excavation injuries.
Site managers remotely tracking the GPS excavators also provide another layer of security. They can give real-time feedback when someone is not using the equipment correctly or respond faster in an emergency.
6. Teams Save Accurate Data
Software systems collect continuous data. Teams may review it within their GPS-guided software to reflect on their successes. The platform could log details like hours spent excavating and fuel used during any given month. The documentation provides reasons to celebrate achievements and shines a light on areas for improvement. People learn better when they have accurate information showcasing their efficiency.
7. Workflows Align With Eco-Friendly Consumers
Businesses do not always advertise when they upgrade their internal tools, but construction companies appealing to green consumers may want to shine a light on their upgrades. People with a sustainable mindset will appreciate that there is a local option they can contact for their upcoming projects.
Brands may grow more successfully by investing in technologies like GPS earthmoving machinery and ensuring that consumers know how their upgrade helps the planet. NielsenIQ found that 69% of 2023 consumers valued sustainability more than they did two years previously. As more people live green lifestyles, they will likely want to work with like-minded companies.
What Machinery Can Use GPS Guidance Technology?
Excavator and backhoe loaders may be compatible with GPS software. Outdated models may not have the necessary wiring to connect with software-enabled tablets. Interested industry professionals can contact their machine’s manufacturer to ask for specific information. Otherwise, they may need to rent GPS earthmoving equipment or upgrade their fleet.
Team Members Will Require Training
Any construction crew members who will use the latest GPS unit should undergo training to utilize it correctly. The time allotted for education depends on what managers decide is best for their team. Annual refresher courses could also help everyone use the tools effectively, which may fit into the time reserved for existing safety training.
Potential Future Improvements
Future iterations of GPS-guided equipment may use artificial intelligence to sort moved materials. The advancement would reduce crew member stress and ensure better organization on-site. People may perform their work better and avoid overtime because they will not need to relocate various soil piles into one place.
Some GPS-equipped machinery may eventually feature GPR systems. Teams could use these built-in tools to identify what they are standing on and continue digs when site surveys accidentally miss parts of the property.
Explore Investing in a GPS for Excavators
Companies interested in green construction should look for advancements in GPS excavators. The evolving technology benefits professionals in numerous ways and also protects the environment, making it a worthwhile investment.
About the Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and has been writing in the construction, landscaping and sustainable building sectors for over six years. She’s most passionate about improving environments, reducing carbon footprints and incorporating resourceful methods to promote well-being in the planet. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter and connect on LinkedIn.