Remote Vegetation Clearance Solution for MPPEH Contaminated Terrain Chris ten Braak 06.14.2018
Parsons Required Task • PROBLEM : S : Site d draina nage d ditche hes w were o overgrown w n with v h vegetation, w n, whi hich h caused d ditche hes t to o overflo 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 of 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 of 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 of d debris 2
Parsons Required Task Muni nitions ns e enc ncount ntered Road d dama mage c caused b by y during ng b brush r h remo moval l ine neffective d draina nage 3
Parsons Required Task Enc ncroachme hment nt o of b bushe hes. If . If Roadside d draina nage d ditch h unc nche hecked, w , will c ll cont ntinu nue t to fille lled i in w n with S h Sweet Gu Gum m “creep” t towards t the he r road sapli ling ngs ( (no note s stand nding ng (no note s stand nding ng w water) water a and nd i impeded f flo low) 4
• Required Task : To remove vegetation and munitions in MPPEH contaminated drainage ditches Remote • Remote Technology Options • Why we chose the Green Technology Climber Solutions • Field Results • Lessons learned/ Problems encountered 5
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 6
Remote Technology Options • 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 Image From Green Climber web site 7
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 8
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 Image From Green Climber web site 9
Green Climber LV600 Attachments 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 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. 10
Field Results • Bla last S Shi hield ld • Operation n • Stand ndard F Fla lail l • Forestry H y Head 11
Green Climber Field Results Blast Shield Construction • 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 12
Green Climber Field Results Blast Shield Construction 13
Green Climber Field Results Blast Shield Construction Bla last s shi hield ld o on t n traile ler Looki king ng t thr hrough 6 h 6” ple lexi-g -gla lass 14
Green Climber Field Results Operation 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. Image From Green Climber web site Maint ntena nanc nce • Teeth are easy to replace when worn out. • Ran entire day on full tank of diesel. • Customer service was excellent Image From Green Climber web site 15
Green Climber Field Results Standard Flail After Before 16
Green Climber Field Results Standard Flail Before After 17
Green Climber Field Results Forestry Head Before After 18
Lessons Learned • 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 19
Lessons Learned Operation Distance • Proble lem: § The range of the remote control operational range was significantly reduced when operating it from behind the 1.5” steel blast shield. • Solu lution: n: § Add an external antennae to the top of the blast shield. 20
Lessons Learned Operation in Muddy Conditions • 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 21
Lessons Learned Forestry Head Grubbing in the Mud • 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 22
Lessons Learned Exposed Fuel Filter • 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 23
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 24
Questions? 25
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