Cambridge (NZ) based contractor C&R Developments recently benefitted from a free drone survey – a service offered as part of Komatsu’s SMARTCONSTRUCTION concept – won by surveyor Steve Ross during the Intelligent Machine Control launch in the Hunter Valley in November last year.
Komatsu NZ took a small team of customers across to the iMC launch in Australia – where Steve won a closest-to-pin golf challenge, with the free drone survey as the prize.
The survey was carried out at Winstone’s Flat Top Quarry, at Silverdale north of Auckland, where C&R is undertaking overburden removal and rock selection.
Scott Jamiesen, Komatsu’s SMARTCONSTRUCTION Support Centre Manager, New Equipment Construction & Utility, came out from Australia and carried out the survey on Tuesday August 8.
According to Steve, the survey data provided by Komatsu’s SMARTCONSTRUCTION capabilities will be used for volume calculations and future design work.
“The point cloud data we have received is obviously a lot more dense than our typical GPS rover survey, which makes it a lot more accurate.
“In addition, the field work was completed in around 15 minutes ¬– compared with several hours using a rover, so there are obviously many advantages using Komatsu’s drone technology,” he said.
C&R has been working at Flatop for the past two years, carrying out overburden removal works and assisting with day-to-day quarry operations.
The company is one of New Zealand’s leading civil earthworks and bulk earthmoving contracting companies, established in 1998 and continuing as a family-owned business.
Its management team has over 60 years’ experience and expertise across all earthworks and plant management fields.
C&R owns and operate a large selection of medium to heavy plant able to undertake the most demanding projects under the most stringent environmental standards. Plant can be hired to suit a range of applications, specifications and timelines.
It currently has 94 Komatsu machines in its fleet, including 49 rigid dump trucks, 11 articulated dump trucks, and 23 excavators, along with various other types of equipment.
“I was very lucky to actually win the drone survey, as my golf game is usually rubbish!” said Steve.
“However, it was very interesting to see this new technology in use; it makes traditional methods look highly obsolete in terms of safety and efficiency.
“I would also like to say a big thank you to Scott, Reimerd Mostert (KNZ’s Technology Solutions Expert), Elle Schutte (KNZ’s National Aftermarket Marketing Manager) and Komatsu for going out of their way to come and do this for us. We really appreciate it,” he said.