Construction Plant Control by Kinematic GPS and GLONASS

The applications of kinematic GPS and GPS/GLONASS are increasing all the time. One such application is the control and guidance of construction plant. Such machinery currently can be controlled through laser guidance systems, but only in height. Although useful, the uses of laser levelling systems are limited. The use of kinematic GPS and GPS/GLONASS has the added benefit of providing a 3-D coordinate in real time rather than only height.
Trials have recently been carried out by the IESSG whereby kinematic GPS and GPS/GLONASS were used upon a bulldozer. The GPS and GPS/GLONASS antennas were located at strategic points on the bulldozer, including the blade and the cab. A laser levelling system, whose results were compared to the resulting GPS and GPS/GLONASS positions, controlled the bulldozer. The GPS and GPS/GLONASS results were also compared to other surveying techniques as well as to each other.
The results demonstrate the millimetric precision obtained, allowing the bulldozer's 3-D coordinate to be established at a rate of 5 HZ.