Brendan Walsh and his team at Ground Technique have been working on a 20-lot Tran Civil development in Diamond Creek, Victoria. This project is on a large sloping block that is very undulating and requires a substantial amount of cut and fill. To complete this project, Walsh installed the Topcon 3D GPS+ machine control from Aptella on his Hitachi Zaxis 13-ton excavator.

“The Topcon 3D GPS+ system has meant that we have no people on the ground for starters and I think we’ve saved ourselves up to maybe four blokes on the ground. It means we can use smaller excavators if required because we’re so much more efficient with what we do,” said Brendan Walsh, Director, Ground Technique.

“It also means there’s no human error. The only human error will come down to the surveyors and designers and you’re always going to have surveyors and designers involved. There’s a lot less material come out because you’re pulling out only the exact amount.”

Walsh also pointed out that using the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system increased safety on site because there were no workers around the machine.

“I believe it’s the way of the future and people who aren’t using it, I think, are really living in the past now,” said Walsh.

Why did Ground Techniques choose the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system?

For the Diamond Creek Project, the other option Walsh had considered was a rover on the ground but he was concerned about the downtime.

“Often blokes forget to charge batteries and what not on those things so there’s a lot of downtime,” said Walsh.

“Number two someone has to read the screen and interpret it and in the meantime the operator is sitting there waiting on that bloke on the ground.”

The Topcon 3D GPS+ machine control system from Aptella was appealing to Walsh because it reduces downtime and increases site safety and efficiency.

Walsh was also interested in a 3D system over a 2D system because the Topcon 3D GPS+ machine control system meant that Walsh and his team didn’t need to re-bench the equipment each time they moved the machine.

“The screen on the new system in particular is very big and easy to see and because it is 3D it’s plug-and-play essentially once the machines loaded,” said Walsh.

“There’s no recalibrating once the machines moves, with a convention 2D system every single time you move the machine you have to re-bench the machine.”

Benefits of implementing the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system

Prior to implementing the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system from Aptella, Ground Technique would have used the string line, lots of spray paint, lots of pegs, a surveyor on the ground, more people and a lot of interpreting plans. Walsh has found that implementing the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system has increased efficiency and site safety.

“Obviously, efficiency being the main one, minimising the people on the ground so it keeps things safe as well. Safety is a big one on these job sites and the lack of human error,” said Walsh.

Another benefit that Walsh has seen since implementing the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system is access to Tokara Link.

The benefits of using Tokara 

Tokara is an Australian-designed telematics solution created specifically to improve efficiency and productivity for earthworks and civil construction projects. Using a modem installed in the machine, Tokara Link connects your machines to the office, provides access to Aptella’ technical support and links you to any GPS network required for the job.

Walsh said Tokara Link was one of the reasons he went with the Topcon 3D GPS+ 3D machine control system from Aptella – the ability to continue keep working on the site while working on issues and problems was a strong selling point for him. He found using Tokara Link made training very fast.

“When I have the Tokara Link fired up on the GPS, I also have Bluetooth on my phone so when I’m talking to the support network down in Dandenong there, I can literally keep moving my digger and excavating while I talk to them over the phone, while I watch them play around on the screen that I’m looking at, all at the same time,” said Walsh.

“I can watch them, what they’re doing and they can talk me through what they’re doing so it makes training really efficient.”

The importance of service and support during purchasing and implementation

Having access to a local Aptella team member was important to Walsh during his decision-making process.

“Aptella has a very good reputation for support. That was a very big one for me. Even on this job in particular, I had started the job, Aptella came out and made sure the machine was calibrated, eastings and northings were set up properly and the buckets were calibrated and what not and they spoke to the surveyor just to make sure the files were readable in the machine,” said Walsh.

“Any questions from there on they’re on the blower from first thing in the morning to late afternoon. The ongoing support as well is awesome.”

About Ground Techniques

Ground Technique is an excavation company that specialises in detailed excavation: 3D GPS on the machine. Ground Technique operates around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Ground Technique has been in operation for approximately three years and is always growing.

Brendan Walsh is the Director of Ground Technique and focuses the majority of his time on Business Development, chasing new clients and getting the word out there. Walsh’s team is responsible for being up to date with the latest excavation techniques and OHS systems. They’re expected to know the basics of the construction industry.

“Having construction knowledge is a big part of what we do and they’ve got to make sure the job runs as safely and efficiently as possible,” Walsh said.