AMS Contracting is using a Trimble® Siteworks Machine Guidance system supplied and supported by SITECH® UK & Ireland to carry out surveying, excavation, filling, grading and machine guidance on an attenuation pond for a sport pitch in Redhill.
The 2in1 system is helping the contractor assess work before material is moved, then complete excavation and grading to the digital design.
Established in 2011 by brothers Ashley and Myles Strange, AMS Contracting carries out earthworks, drainage, sports field construction, site clearance and other specialist activities. Its varied work requires equipment that can easily move between sites.
Siteworks uses a handheld GNSS receiver and tablet for surveying, which can then be easily mounted to the machine. The receiver records existing ground levels and helps build a digital model. This is then visualised on the excavator cab’s display to show the position of the bucket against the design, helping the operator control the machine to reach the required cm level precision.
On the Redhill project, AMS used the system to compare existing ground levels with the proposed finished surface. AMS could then calculate cut-and-fill quantities, assess material for reuse and identify where additional fill or removal was needed, allowing the company to more accurately price up the work.
Myles Strange, Director at AMS Contracting Ltd, said: “We get a much clearer view of a project before moving material. We can measure existing levels, understand the balance between cut and fill and use that information when preparing our price.
“Having the same information in the excavator means we can work from the design rather than rely on separate level checks. If something changes, we can see the effect on the job and adjust accordingly.”
SITECH installed the machine kit and wiring on a LiuGong 913FCR excavator. AMS had previously used 2D laser guidance, which required the laser to be moved and reset as the work area or grade changed.
Isaac Brown, Technical Sales Consultant at SITECH UK & Ireland, said: “GPS technology has proven to significantly improve AMS’s efficiency by eliminating the need to repeatedly reposition and reset laser equipment, while also removing the risk of human error and allowing the machine to work to more complicated designs
“AMS were seeking a solution that combined both survey and machine control capabilities. Siteworks machine guidance met these requirements, delivering both technologies within a single, integrated platform.
“It’s also significantly more affordable. A typical package for the 2in1 system costs around £16,500, compared with about £35,000 for an equivalent fully machine-mounted system. That gives smaller contractors a more affordable way to start using GNSS guidance.”
SITECH demonstrated the system before purchase, then supplied and configured the machine kit and provided training and technical support.
For more information on SITECH UK & Ireland’s construction technology solutions, please visit www.sitechukandireland.com.
