Replies

1. 
   roc | Sep 02, 2009 06:20am | #1

   Interesting use for the winding sticks method !

   Thanks

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   Jfrostjr | Sep 02, 2009 04:23pm | #2

   I watched a CSX crew work past a local crossing a couple of years ago. Very interesting. They have really mechanized the entire operation.

   Frosty

   "I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

3. 
   DonfromUtah | Sep 03, 2009 02:30am | #3

   The equipment uses lasers and computers rather than eyeballs to determine level.  In addition to leveling track, it can accurately set superelevation on curves.

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Sep 03, 2009 05:15am | #4

   Don,

   The construction crews capping the local landfill use GPS systems that have the engineers site plans to follow.  The GPS tells the operator exactly where he is in relation to the proper elevation, slope, etc. according the plans.  Cool stuff.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 03, 2009 06:41am | #5

   When we had our indoor arena resurfaced this spring, the Efficient Arena owner used a huge tractor with laser operated box scraper in the back -- laser on each end of the box, so the left/right ends operate independently of each other, scraped that arena floor down to purrrrrfect level (within 1/8")  before putting the new sand/rubber footing end.

   Part of what made it fascinating was how big the tractor was compared to the relatively small size of the indoor arena.  I'm used to seeing laser-controlled stuff out in 1,000 acre farm parcels.

   I guess the outfit was a nightmare to set up at first, hydraulics and laser didn't play nice with each other, and very, very temperature sensitive.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Jfrostjr | Sep 03, 2009 04:18pm | #6

   Our oldest son sells the GPS controllers for construction equipment. The equipment has to "see" about six satellites to get the Z coordinate to the fine accuracy mentioned - thus when under trees, there is a problem.I first saw the equipment about 25 years ago. A contractor was bidding on a school athletic field; as he input the data to his computer, he discovered that if the 'base level' of the field was raised, the amount of earth to be moved was greatly reduced. The computer program had calculated and balanced the cuts and fills to determine an ideal elevation for the field.But - the operator will always be needed: if the GPS calls for a six foot cut, the bulldozer won't be able to handle it. The material has to be moved in bite-sized chunks. A similar problem arrises if the dozer blade is directed to a spot two feet up in the air. Can't move much dirt that way.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922