ForConstructionPros.com

When it comes to fine grading, automated grade control systems have certainly commanded a lot of attention - and for good reason. They can enhance efficiency, reduce rework and enable even less experienced operators to achieve grade more quickly. Yet, finish work typically encompasses only a small portion of a dozer's hours on a project.

"It depends a lot on the application, but you will spend probably 90% of the time doing what I would call 'material balancing' and rough grading to get things generally laid out according to the finished design plan," says Bruce Unger, New Technology Black Belt, Heavy Construction and Mining Division, Caterpillar Inc. "It's really when you only have the last couple inches left that you put it into automatic mode and make that final pass to get to that final spec."

For the largest percentage of a dozer's time on the job, it's up to the operator to take control. Thankfully, this has become much easier given the added "brains" incorporated into today's dozer designs, which enable these heavyweights to do some of the thinking for themselves.

An electronic shift
With the introduction of stricter emissions requirements, engine suppliers have been required to incorporate more sophisticated electronics into engine control systems. A side benefit is these electronics tend to facilitate better communication between various operating systems of the machine.

"The electronics are mandated to a point where it's impossible to meet emission levels at certain horsepower levels without fully electronically controlled engines," says Bernard Winker, manager of marketing and engineering services, Dressta North America. Depending on the powertrain system, this also means the engine and powertrain are able to communicate more effectively to control other machine functions.