The Natural Regrade with GeoFluv™ computerized landform design can further improve operational efficiency by interfacing with computerized machine guidance software. The GeoFluv™ landform design can literally be sent from the designer’s computer screen to the machine operator’s guidance screen by radio transmission and the designs can be implemented “on the fly”. Design editing can also be done expeditiously. For example, if unforeseen conditions emerge, such as shallow bedrock near the edge of disturbance that hinders a dozer cut, the designer can keep the operator working elsewhere, adjust the channel’s and related subwatershed design during the shift, and return the operator to work on the revised design.
Additional efficiency can be achieved by integrating the computerized landform design with software, such as Carlson Software’s Productivity Tools, that provide real-time equipment monitoring and data capture during construction. This software determines material movement volumes and distances over time for associated equipment. The information that this software provides to decision makers was previously not available and can help them identify the most efficient operational methods for maximum cost savings. Carlson Telescope and Starnet are two office monitoring products that allow for viewing heavy equipment in real-time, as well as enabling two-way real-time file transfer.
GPS guidance and machine control software can virtually
eliminate the need for survey stakeout in the field and greatly
enhance production efficiency. The machine operators can follow the
project design and complete it to grade on their own as they work.
Carlson Software makes Carlson
Dig for excavators and shovels, Carlson TruckPro for
haul trucks, Carlson Autograde for dozers, loaders,
compactors, motorgraders, scrapers, foreman trucks, etc.,
Carlson Drillstar for drills, and Carlson Grade that
allows cross-platform, multi-equipment functionality.
The link to the RIVERMorph two-dimensional data collection and channel design software allows for near instantaneous conversion of the RIVERMorph user's design into a three-dimensional design. The RIVERMorph two-dimensional software follows natural channel design methods, as developed and taught by Dave Rosgen. The user can render and view the three-dimensional channel design made in Natural Regrade with all the Carlson capabilities, rotating, tilting, quick volume calculations of earthwork or pools, etc. The RIVERMorph designs are made into .tin files by default and can be also be made into .flt or grid file formats. The .flt and .tin file formats are commonly used by machine control software, so the Natural Regrade design is ready to load into machine control equipment; construction can begin without additional surveying or staking! The RIVERMorph designs can be inserted into any GeoFluvTM design to produce an integrated natural river and upland landform design.