Remote Vegetation Clearance Solution for MPPEH Contaminated Terrain - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Remote Vegetation Clearance Solution for MPPEH Contaminated Terrain

06.14.2018 Chris ten Braak

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• PROBLEM: S

: Site d draina nage d ditche hes w were o

• vergrown w

n with v h vegetation, w n, whi hich h caused d ditche hes t to o

• verflo

low w with w h water a and nd b become me i imp mpassable le; t ; the he property c y custodian c n could ld no not s safely ke ly keep d ditche hes c cutback a k and nd ma maint ntaine ned due t to p presenc nce o

• f mu

muni nitions ns

• TASK: P

: Parsons ns t taske ked w with s h surface M MPPEH r remo moval a l and nd v vegetation n remo moval ( l (to i inc nclu lude s subsurface r remo moval o l of r root b balls lls f for b brush a h and nd s sma mall ll trees) trees)

• CHALLENGES:

:

• Du

Due t to t thi hick v k vegetation, b n, brush, a h, and nd p presenc nce o

• f mu

muni nitions ns, c , could ld no not safely c ly cond nduct s stand ndard hu huma man-o n-operated v vegetation c n cle learanc nce

• Needed a

a w way t y to s safely c ly cle lear b brush s h so mu muni nitions ns c could ld b be r remo moved a and nd ditche hes w were c cle leared o

• f d

debris

Parsons Required Task

Parsons Required Task

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Road d dama mage c caused b by y ine neffective d draina nage Muni nitions ns e enc ncount ntered during ng b brush r h remo moval l

Parsons Required Task

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Roadside d draina nage d ditch h fille lled i in w n with S h Sweet Gu Gum m sapli ling ngs ( (no note s stand nding ng water a and nd i impeded f flo low) Enc ncroachme hment nt o

• f b

bushe

• hes. If

. If unc nche hecked, w , will c ll cont ntinu nue t to “creep” t towards t the he r road (no note s stand nding ng w water)

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Remote Technology Solutions

• Required Task : To remove

vegetation and munitions in MPPEH contaminated drainage ditches

• Remote Technology Options
• Why we chose the Green

Climber

• Field Results
• Lessons learned/ Problems

encountered

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How to Perform Vegetation Removal in MPPEH Contaminated Areas

Surface clearance ahead of vegetation removal is challenging in thick vegetation

• High probability of missing a

potential item

• Standard vegetation clearance not

an option

• Robotic Vegetation Removal was

determined to be the safest option

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• Robotic H

Heavy E y Equipme ment nt S Subcont ntractor

• Bobcat S

Ski kid S Steer w with R h Remo mote C Conf nfiguration n

• Gr

Green C n Cli limb mber L LV600 b by M y MDB DB

Remote Technology Options

Image From Green Climber web site

Remote Technology Options

• Ta

Task: : Remove vegetation and brush (up to 2” thick) from ditches with varying degrees of slope (0 - 60%) and grub 2-3 inches below ground surface to remove brush and small tree roots

• Option 1 – Subcontract a Robotics Company to perform work

Pros: Have high performance equipment with professional operators

Cons: Cost was significantly higher, equipment could not handle the steeper slopes

• Option 2 – Bobcat Skid Steer with Remote Control Configuration

Pros: Cost less than Option 1, Option to self perform Cons: Unresponsive to inquiries, remote configurations had to be purchased and retrofitted separately, could not handle steeper slopes

• Option 3 – Green Climber LV600 by MDB

Pros: Lowest cost, responsive to inquiries, extremely versatile machine that can handle the steep slopes Cons: Relatively unknown machine at time of consideration

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Winner: Option 3 - Green Climber LV600

Unit Cost $10,000 per month

• A long range remote controlled machine that can endure dangerous

environments since the driver is out of harms way (>k18 of 47 feet)

• Hydraulic side shifting attachments, expandable (up to 16”)

undercarriage tracks that together with its low center of gravity, allows Green Climber to work along 60° slopes in total safety.

• Unit can be easily hauled with pickup from location to location within the

work areas.

• Available to rent or purchase
• Easy to learn and operate

9 Image From Green Climber web site

Green Climber LV600 Attachments

Forestry H y Head ( ($4,5 ,500 p per mo mont nth) h)

• Designed for dense vegetation and trees

up to 3” diameter.

• Mulches debris into 1-3” pieces
• Grubs the top 1-3” of soil in the right

conditions.

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Stand ndard F Fla lail H l Head (inc

• nc. w

w/ma machi hine ne r rent ntal) l)

• Versatile head that

works well on thick grass, light to medium brush (up to 2” thick), and steep slopes

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• Bla

last S Shi hield ld

• Operation

n

• Stand

ndard F Fla lail l

• Forestry H

y Head

Field Results

• In order to operate the Green Climber the operator needed to stay within

the HFD of 450 ft – this meant the team had to be behind a blast shield

§ Built a blast shield on a trailer that could be towed behind a truck while operating. § The blast shield was constructed based on DDESB specifications for an unintentional

blast.

• Material used included:

§ 1.5 inch A36 Steel Plate (6’ x 4’) § Two 3” thick plexiglass (18” x 24”) § 16’ trailer § Square and angle iron to build the

frame

§ Welding equipment and operator

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Blast Shield Construction

Green Climber Field Results

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Blast Shield Construction

Green Climber Field Results

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Blast Shield Construction

Green Climber Field Results

Bla last s shi hield ld o

• n t

n traile ler Looki king ng t thr hrough 6 h 6” ple lexi-g

• gla

lass

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Operation

Green Climber Field Results

Image From Green Climber web site Image From Green Climber web site

Cont ntrols ls

• Tutorial and training provided when

machine was delivered.

• The controls are user friendly and

well labeled.

• Our operators were comfortable

with the machine after the first day.

Maint ntena nanc nce

• Teeth are easy to replace when

worn out.

• Ran entire day on full tank of

diesel.

• Customer service was excellent

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Standard Flail

Green Climber Field Results

Before After

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Standard Flail

Green Climber Field Results

Before After

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Forestry Head

Green Climber Field Results

Before After

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• Operation Di

n Distanc nce

• Operation i

n in M n Muddy C y Cond nditions ns

• Forestry H

y Head Gr Grubbing ng i in M n Muddy C y Cond nditions ns

• Exposed F

Fuel F l Filt lter

Lessons Learned

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Operation Distance

Lessons Learned

• Proble

lem:

§ The range of the remote control operational range was significantly reduced when

• perating it from behind the 1.5” steel blast shield.
• Solu

lution: n:

§ Add an external antennae to the top of the blast shield.

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Operation in Muddy Conditions

Lessons Learned

• Proble

lem:

§ With the Green Climber have such a wide base and tracks,

we thought it would have little difficulty with muddy conditions but on steeper slopes the unit would slide laterally and get stuck in the bottom of the ditch

• Solu

lution: n:

§ As the operators gained experience, they learned what the

Green Climber could and could not handle; also extending tracks out an additional 16-inches extra helped.

§ Green Climber does have a handy tow hook on the back to

help get it out when it is stuck

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Forestry Head Grubbing in the Mud

Lessons Learned

• Proble

lem:

§ The forestry head did not excel in muddy conditions; it would beat down the mud and

smear up the terrain more than grubbing it and removing roots

• Solu

lution: n:

§ As operators gained experience, they learned when ground was too wet to use the

forestry head

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Exposed Fuel Filter

Lessons Learned

• Proble

lem:

§ The location of the fuel filter left it exposed to branches and sticks; one filter was

punctured and caused a production delay

• Solu

lution: n:

§ Our team created a shield to protect fuel filter; Green Climber working on an

engineering solution

Conclusion

• We have safely cleared 40 miles of roadside ditches
• The robotic vegetation removal results in ~1 mile of removal per day
• Cost-effective approach

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Questions?