How to prevent 30000 utility strikes in Australia

“With over 30,000 utility strikes in Australia a year, we have to do things differently. And now we have the tools and technology to show clients how to change the way Australian earthworks and civils are delivered.

These are the words of Geordie McGrath, Director and founder of Abletech Underground Group in Queensland, Australia, when Peter Haddock recently caught up with him at his head office. 

It has become the first business in the country to combine the latest ground penetrating radar and 3D Machine Control from @leica geosystems with 3D collision avoidance from XWatch Safety solutions.

It’s all part of an Olympic focused investment which is already paying off as the business grows and captures work for the infrastructure being built for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

Geordie: “Why are we called AbleTech? It's because we are able and tech focused. We have great people and are always looking to be the first to adopt the latest technologies that can help them do the job.

“Our role is all about giving contractors confidence before the first bucket goes in the ground. By accurately locating underground services, with our new StreamDP we can remove the risk of utility strikes, which protects crews and keeps projects moving.”

“And now we can build 3D earthworks models using this data, adding in 3D avoidance zones. This means our new Hitachi 85-USB, which is fitted with Leica Geosystems MC1 and the Xwatch safety solution, will automatically prevent the operator from striking underground utilities. 

“Working with the Leica dealer C.R. Kennedy we’ve also setup our own demonstration area in our yard for clients to see how the technology works.

“This has already led to new opportunities, and with the training provided, our experienced operators and myself have picked it up really quickly.”