From the cab: Why our team is split on GPS grade control systems

On this grading project, half the operators swear by the new GPS auto-grade for precision and reducing rework... The other half insist it makes you complacent and that manual skill with lasers and eyes on the grade is irreplaceable. I'm caught between embracing the tech and fearing we'll lose the art of reading the land. How do you all balance automation with hands-on expertise?

4 comments

4 Comments

kim.zara9h ago

My friend's GPS failed, but his skill in 'reading the land' saved the grade from costly errors.

anna_owens3614h ago

That fear of losing the art of reading the land... I actually find GPS adds to it. You still need the instinct to interpret what the tech is telling you, it just cuts out the guesswork.

cora3754h ago

Totally get that perspective

robinson.hannah12h ago

During a weeklong trek in Colorado, GPS waypoints revealed hidden trails I'd missed on paper maps. It forced me to correlate the digital path with actual landmarks like creek junctions and sun exposure. Now I see tech as a partner to traditional navigation, not a replacement!