Machine guidance is used in the waste management industry to optimise compaction and give waste facility managers real time data to ensure fill plans are being followed safely and to design.

Used widely in large metro waste management facilities, machine guidance adoption rates for landfill operations is increasing steadily with council and privately- operated sites realising the productivity gains that can be achieved with this simple yet valuable tool.

One such progressive facility is managed by Toowoomba Regional Council to the west of Brisbane in South East Queensland. The waste facility services a population of around 130,000 people and manages 50,000 tonnes per year.

“Safe and efficient use of our council waste facility is important to ensure its longevity and optimise capacity,” said Water and Waste Portfolio Leader Bill Cahill. “Adopting innovative technology is one way to maximise productivity and proactively implement best practice waste management.”

A little over a year ago, the council invested in machine guidance systems for the landfill site’s 37-tonne compactor and CAT 963 drott. Carlson’s LandfillGrade solution utilises precise GPS technology with an easy to follow design displayed in the cab of the machine that gives the operator a clear visual display of the machine’s position relative to compaction design.

A simple colour code of green for optimal compaction and blue for over compaction gives a quick visual reference throughout the working day.

Real time information for the operators enables accurate loading and compacting while minimising air space, with the ability to see how much more is needed on a lift-by-lift basis.

With the operators’ increased ability to work to design without external survey checks, rework is reduced and there is improved safety as batters are graded to design and not made too steep.

For management, machine guidance for waste management applications gives accurate and timely reporting capabilities along with certainty that staff and machine operators are working to the latest fill plans.

Aptella distributes and supports Carlson Landfill machine guidance technology throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. The company has branches in every state and territory of Australia and prides itself on training, support and services for the technology to ensure operators and managers are maximising productivity gains.

Learn about how Enviro NZ enhances operations and reporting with landfill machine guidance technology