A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably attached to the lower traveling body, an actuator mounted on the lower traveling body or the upper turning body, and a controller configured to set a prohibited area for an obstacle located in a work area and restrict movement of the actuator. The controller determines whether the shovel has entered the prohibited area, and slows or stops movement of the shovel in response to determining that the shovel enters the prohibited area.

Provided is a microtrench fill comprising cement, a polymer, and a colorant. Also provided is a method of using the microtrench fill to fill a microtrench in a roadway.

Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.

Systems and methods are disclosed for preventing damage to underground assets caused by earth work or construction equipment and vehicles. The system includes a central data system, which has access to asset location and map data, and a GPS enabled tracking device provided in the vehicle. The system operates by comparing the real-time vehicle location to the stored asset locations, displaying the map, asset information and vehicle location to the vehicle operator and generating alerts when the vehicle breaches a perimeter around an asset. Preferably, both the central data system and the tracking unit are configured to operate together and in parallel, thereby improving the reliability of the system. In addition, the system is also specifically configured to implement various approaches for using and displaying asset location data during monitoring operations while preserving the confidentiality and security of sensitive information.

An excavation system that is configured to utilize water pressure and vacuum to provide removal of terrain from an area wherein the excavation system is further configured to provide detection and alert of subterranean objects in the excavation area. The excavation system includes a digging wand that is operably coupled to a water source. The digging wand includes a plurality of water jets that are configured to emit water. The digging wand further includes in the nozzle thereof a plurality of detection transceivers. The detection transceivers are configured to provide detection of subterranean objects proximate the nozzle of the digging wand during the excavation process. The controller of the present invention includes a screen that provides image data of the area proximate the nozzle. The controller further provides at least two operational modes wherein one of the operational modes provides reduction of water pressure upon detection of a subterranean object.

Images, which are captured by an image capture device on a ground disturbing work machine, and that are taken from different perspectives, and are received. A machine learned image identification model identifies items of interest in the images. A three-dimensional representation is generated based on the set of images. The three-dimensional representation identifies a depth at which the recognized items lie beneath the surface of the soil being excavated. A map request is received which identifies a location and depth for which image data is to be provided. A three-dimensional representation of the location and depth are provided in response to the request.

Provided is electrical protection apparatus for operative fitment to a portion of the machinery operable near an electrical conductor and to generate a signal via electromagnetic induction. Also included is a signal isolator configured to electrically isolate the sensor. Also included is a controller arranged in signal communication with the isolator. The controller is configured to monitor the signal and to: i) record a log of movement commands executed by the control system; ii) if the signal reaches a predetermined threshold, override the control system so that the portion of the machinery is only manoeuvrable to reduce the signal below the predetermined threshold; iii) if the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, override the control system and execute the most recent movement commands in reverse to automatically manoeuvre the portion of the machinery away from the conductor; and iv) if the signal reaches and/or exceeds the predetermined threshold, activate the indicator.

A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body, an attachment including a boom, an arm, and an end attachment, a boom state detector configured to detect the state of the boom, an arm state detector configured to detect the state of the arm, an end attachment state detector configured to detect the state of the end attachment, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor is configured to obtain information on the position of the end attachment based on the respective outputs of the detectors, correlate the information on the position of the end attachment with information on the position of an underground object obtained based on the output of an underground object detector, and calculate the distance between the end attachment and the underground object. The hardware processor is further configured to control the shovel such that the distance is prevented from falling below a predetermined value.

A method of using a fill mask to prevent overfill and/or spillage of a fill material from bonding to the roadway surface or staining the roadway surface during filling of a microtrench.

Systems and methods for trenchless placement of an underground protective network of intertwined cables for protecting buried assets from accidental damage are disclosed. The system includes an apparatus for towing behind a vehicle and laying a plurality of continuous cables directly underground and interweaving the cables to form a cable network. The apparatus includes a plurality of soil rippers mounted at respective radial positions to a rotating carrier. The rotating carrier rotates about an axis that is at least partially normal to the ground surface. The rippers plow through the ground in the direction of vehicle travel and include a cable-feeding guide for directly and continuously feeding cable out underground during operation. In operation, the combined movement of the soil rippers from rotating the carrier and movement in the direction of travel serves to intertwine the cables deposited by respective rippers forming the protective network of intertwined cables.