EquipmentWorld.com | August 2016
39
B
ulldozers were the fi rst
machines to begin operat-
ing using GPS satellite data
to guide the operator and
position the blade. Today
these systems have evolved to
become more productive and user
friendly, but you don't just jump on
one and go.
To get the accuracy these systems
are capable of, you need to accu-
rately dial in the site, calibrate your
rovers and machines to the site, and
occasionally calibrate the machine
to itself. It's a bit like a machin-
ist setting up the tooling on a drill
press or lathe to fabricate a per-
fectly dimensioned machine part,
except that the part you're machin-
ing is a plot of ground, often many
acres in size, and the tool you're
using is a 70-ton dozer.
We asked Tim Houchens, inte-
grated solutions manager for Flint
Construction and Forestry Division,
a Deere dealer in Atlanta, to show
us how to set up and run GPS
dozing operations effi ciently and
accurately, and how to avoid some
of the common mistakes contractors
sometimes make.
There are currently three OEMs
offering factory-ready GPS dozers
(Caterpillar, Deere and Komatsu)
and three companies that make af-
termarket kits that can be set up on
most any dozer (Leica, Topcon and
Trimble). There are small differ-
ences in every system, and you will
need manufacturer-specifi c training
GPS/GNSS 101
|
by Tom Jackson
|
TJackson@randallreilly.com
Part 3 of a 4-part series
Tim Houchens, integrated solutions
manager for Flint Construction and
Forestry Division; Atlanta, Georgia.
HOW TO SET UP AND OPERATE A
DOZER USING GPS BLADE CONTROL
