GPS controlled graders deliver a smooth surface

Birse has used two machine control systems on the A14 project in the UK, one GPS-controlled to provide excavators with a +/-30mm accuracy and a second system which used a Trimble UTS as control on a grader to achieve +/- 5mm - well within the Highway Agency's sub-base tolerance of +10/-30mm. This meant that when it came to the asphalt surface, Birse agreed a thickness and Lafarge, the blacktop contractor, let the paving machine run instead of the operators constantly making manual adjustments. At the end of
July 12, 2012 Read time: 1 min
1486 Birse has used two machine control systems on the A14 project in the UK, one GPS-controlled to provide excavators with a +/-30mm accuracy and a second system which used a 2122 Trimble UTS as control on a grader to achieve +/- 5mm - well within the Highway Agency's sub-base tolerance of +10/-30mm. This meant that when it came to the asphalt surface, Birse agreed a thickness and 3180 Lafarge, the blacktop contractor, let the paving machine run instead of the operators constantly making manual adjustments. At the end of the job, one of Birse's engineers looked at a 1km section of type 1 sub-base in detail. The average surface deviation on this tested carriageway was zero and local users of the A14 have even been phoning and emailing their approval of the smooth finish.
Connected Construction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The Road Ahead
    August 5, 2020
    According to recent figures, there are over 560,000 potholes that pose a risk of damage to vehicles in the UK alone, and the situation is similar in countries across the globe.
    Read More
  • High production paving
    February 28, 2012
    In Germany a high production paving operation has been achieved using the largest machine available on the market. This project is all the more notable as the operation has been carried out in a continuous process, without joints. The Vögele SUPER 3000-2 paver was able to advance continuously at a rate of almost 4m/min. The machine was preceded by a bustle of activity, for no fewer than 24 feed lorries were needed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of mix to the paver, which placed an even asphalt surfacing
    Read More
  • Hot-to-hot paving upgrades Bremen City Airport runway
    September 30, 2013
    A new high quality runway surface has been laid at Bremen City Airport. This has provided a much-needed replacement at the airport as the old runway was laid over 20 years ago and was suffering from cracking and potholes. Laying the new surface required the airport to be closed, with the work having to be carried out in a tight time schedule. Contractor Heitkamp Erd- und Straßenbau was brought in to carry out the work as the firm had experience in runway rehabilitation projects having carried out pavemen
    Read More
  • Machine guidance and asset management aid fleet utilisation
    July 16, 2012
    Integrating Caterpillar's latest machine guidance and asset management tools offers efficiency gains for contractors in a competitive market. Mike Woof reports Caterpillar has been a leader in the development of GPS machine control systems through its partnership with Trimble. The manufacturer has rolled out a series of AccuGrade packages for various machines in its line-up, starting with the dozers and graders and then spreading to other machines such as scrapers, excavators and soil compactors. Caterpilla
    Read More

Highlighted Content