When your nearest major town is hundreds of kilometres away, mistakes are expensive. Rework means extra fuel, extra hours, extra accommodation and often a delay that ripples through the rest of the project.
That's why MDM Mining & Civil has invested in 3D GPS machine control across our earthmoving fleet. It allows our operators to build to design with accuracy that was once only possible with constant survey pegging and checking.
What is machine control?
Machine control uses GPS positioning, sensors and an onboard computer to show an operator exactly where their blade or bucket is relative to the design surface.
The design model created by engineers and our surveyors is loaded onto the machine. As the operator works, the in-cab display shows whether they're above or below design grade, often to within a few centimetres. On some machines, the system can also automatically control the blade.
Our fleet runs Trimble Earthworks 3D machine control, alongside our survey team's GPS rovers and drone survey. Our Cat machines are also connected through Cat VisionLink telematics, so we can track fuel burn, idle time, emissions and seatbelt use across the fleet.
Why it matters on remote sites
Fewer survey pegs, less waiting
Traditional earthworks rely on surveyors setting out pegs, operators working to them, and surveyors checking again. On a remote site with a small team, that can create bottlenecks. With machine control, the design is in the cab so work keeps moving.
Build it right the first time
On the Tanami Road upgrade for Main Roads WA, GPS guidance helped our operators work up to 40% faster than conventional methods. Accurate grades mean less over-excavation, less material imported to fill low spots and less rework. On large bulk earthworks, a few centimetres across thousands of square metres adds up to a lot of material.
Better drainage outcomes
Drainage depends on precise grades. Machine control helps us build drains, channels, pads and haul roads that shed water exactly as designed critical in the Kimberley wet season.
Safer sites
Fewer people on foot around operating machinery for set out and checking means less exposure to one of the biggest risks on any earthworks site.
Reliable reporting
Machine and survey data can be used to track progress, calculate volumes and provide as-built records. For clients, that means transparency; for rehabilitation projects, it means evidence that the final landform meets design.
Technology is only as good as the people using it
Machine control doesn't replace skilled operators it makes good operators even better. Our team combines years of hands-on experience with training on the latest systems. Many of our operators are local Kimberley people who've built their careers with MDM, and learning new technology is a big part of that pathway.
Where we use it
Machine control supports almost everything we do, including:
Mine site development — pads, haul roads and infrastructure
Drainage and water management structures
Tailings dam construction and raises
Mine rehabilitation and landform reshaping
Combined with our in-house surveying solutions, it gives clients a single, accountable team from design set-up to as-built sign-off.
Want to see it in action?
If you're planning earthworks in a remote location and want accuracy, efficiency and reliable data, talk to the MDM team.
Interested in operating modern, technology-equipped machinery? Check out our current opportunities.
