A Comparative Analysis of Automated Machine Guidance and Control Systems for Trench Excavation

Excavators are essential equipment in construction sites, and machine guidance (MG) and machine control (MC) systems are employed in excavators to improve their earthwork performance. MG and MC systems provide the equipment operator with critical information, such as the excavation depth and slope angle required for earthwork operations, thus minimizing the assistance of a surveyor. In this study, we analyzed the performance improvement offered by MG and MC systems in earthworks compared to conventional excavation methods. We conducted performance analyses from two perspectives: productivity and accuracy. Productivity represents the quantity of earthwork in terms of time units, and accuracy reflects any deviations from the designed earthwork drawing. The analyses were conducted at a domestic trench experimental site, and the results show a highly reliable 81.12% improvement in productivity and an accuracy of ±2.1 m2 compared to traditional methods.