A laybox having a body formed from opposing first and second elongated sheets of steel defining an elongated chamber between them, a front end of the body configured to face a microtrencher cutting blade and a back end of the body opposing the first end; a microtrench plug installer; a cable guide disposed in the elongated chamber configured to guide an optical fiber cable and/or microduct/innerduct through the chamber, and a microtrench plug installer. A method of cutting a microtrench and installing optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench and securing the optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct with a microtrench plug.

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 shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, and a controller configured to control a projection device that projects light onto a ground surface. The controller is attached to the upper turning body, and is configured to control the projection device so as to enable visualization of the relationship between the current shape of the ground surface and the shape of a target surface.

A system and method is provided for enhancing the working end of a hydrovac boom hose having a longitudinal axis and a perimeter disposed transversely to the axis, the working end configured to vacuum earthy material from a digsite along the axis. A plurality of high pressure nozzles are disposable in spaced relation along the perimeter of the working end, and configured to emit high pressure fluid towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material. The nozzles are angularly actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis, and are rotationally actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the perimeter of the working end. The angular and rotatable actuation is independent of movement of the working end and/or of movement of the hydrovac boom hose.

In a method of controlling construction machinery, a bucket of a working device is moved along a first excavation trajectory to perform an excavation operation on the ground of a work area. A digging force exerted on the bucket during the excavation operation is calculated. A new second excavation trajectory is generated based on the calculated digging force. The bucket is moved along the second excavation trajectory.

Methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein for providing operational efficiency at a construction site through a connected system of on-board mobile computers.

A method of exposing a buried utility under a roadway by cutting an access hole in the roadway, vacuuming away dirt surrounding the buried utility, and spraying at least one of pressurized water or compressed air into the dirt to loosen the dirt. A vacuum device having a vacuum nozzle, a compressed air nozzle, and a pressurized water nozzle.

Disclosed is an integrated sensing device for determining information about a work site where earthmoving and excavation may be taking place. In one embodiment, the integrated sensing device includes optical sensors, variable range detection, and a position sensor. The sensing device may be mounted to an earth moving machine, and the methods for use include making measurements of excavated trenches, excavated soil volume, and location of potential worksite hazards. The data collected by the integrated sensing device can be synchronized with external databases. This allows for improved productivity tracking and worksite safety compliance at earth moving work sites.

An excavator system for locating an underground utility line, the system comprising: a signal transmitter installed on the excavator; a signal receiver installed on the excavator; a monitor; and a control unit, in communication with the receiver, wherein the control unit is adapted (a) to analyze a vicinity of the receiver from the underground utility line by an intensity of a received signal by the receiver, and (b) to display indication of the vicinity on the monitor.

A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, and a controller configured to control a projection device that projects light onto a ground surface. The controller is attached to the upper turning body, and is configured to control the projection device so as to enable visualization of the relationship between the current shape of the ground surface and the shape of a target surface.