Inside Track3D: An Excavator Machine Guidance Walkthrough
Machine guidance is best understood from the operator’s perspective. What information is available inside the cab? How does the software position the machine in relation to the project design? And what tools can operators use while completing excavation work?
In this detailed walkthrough, Brendon from Guidemate takes viewers through Track3D operating on an excavator. The demonstration covers the complete operator workflow—from project setup and design-file imports to live GNSS information, alignment guidance and the creation of new site designs directly from the machine.
Watch the demonstration below for a practical look inside the Track3D interface.
Create and Configure a Track3D Project
The walkthrough begins with Brendon creating a new Track3D project and configuring its coordinate system.
Track3D provides access to commonly used and recently selected coordinate systems, including previously established site localisations. Operators can choose a predefined coordinate system or load an existing calibration file.
For this demonstration, Brendon selects GDA2020 before downloading and applying AusGeoid2020 directly through the software.
This establishes the project framework before the required site and design information is imported.
Import Design Data Into the Machine
Track3D allows operators to bring project information directly into the system, including surfaces, linework, alignments, points and CAD files.
Files can be accessed from local storage, a USB drive or supported cloud services. In the walkthrough, Brendon imports a DXF file and a design surface before displaying the available text, blocks and linework within the project.
An alignment is then selected as a navigation reference, allowing Track3D to display the excavator bucket’s position and offset in relation to the required line.
Work Accurately to a Trench Alignment
The demonstration provides a detailed look at the guidance tools available when working to an alignment.
Track3D displays the offset between the selected bucket focus point and the reference line. It also provides separate bucket-tip and boom offsets, helping the operator position the excavator squarely along the alignment.
Brendon demonstrates how these values can be used to line the excavator up with a trench while maintaining the correct relationship between the boom, bucket and design line.
Operators can also enter a required elevation offset and adjust it using smaller increments directly from the interface.
Monitor GNSS and Machine Sensors in Real Time
Track3D presents live positioning and machine information through a configurable display inside the cab.
The walkthrough explains how operators can monitor:
GNSS positioning status, including fixed, float, DGPS and standalone solutions
Estimated horizontal and vertical accuracy values
Machine-sensor status and live angle information
The number of satellites contributing to the RTK solution
RTK correction latency
Grid coordinates, latitude, longitude and ellipsoid height
Left, middle and right bucket focus points
Bucket and boom offsets to selected lines and surfaces
The bottom information bar can be configured by the operator. Individual values can be selected, rearranged and displayed according to the information required for the task.
As the excavator bucket moves, the guidance values update in real time within the Track3D interface.
Create a Pad Without an Existing Design File
Track3D also includes tools for creating practical site designs directly from the excavator.
Brendon demonstrates this by creating a new pad without importing an existing design file. The excavator boom is used to establish the direction, while the bucket provides the starting position and elevation.
The required grade can be entered as a percentage, rise over run or in degrees. Elevation offsets can then be applied and adjusted from within the software.
Once created, the new pad becomes an active design surface that the operator can work against immediately.
Build a Road Alignment and Cross-Section
The walkthrough then explores a more detailed on-site design workflow by creating a simple road.
Points measured with the excavator bucket are used to establish a horizontal alignment. Track3D then creates a vertical alignment from the measured points, which can be reviewed and modified within the software.
Brendon also creates a cross-section with a defined width, slope and shoulder before previewing the completed road design.
The Track3D display can be reconfigured to show bird’s-eye, front and side views, providing different perspectives of the bucket and its relationship to the new design surface.
Demonstrated on an Excavator
This video specifically demonstrates Track3D operating on an excavator. It provides a practical view of the software interface, GNSS and sensor information, alignment guidance and on-site design tools available within this configuration.
While the walkthrough focuses on excavation, Track3D forms part of Guidemate’s broader machine control platform. Guidemate also develops systems for graders, dozers, compact track loaders and specialised machinery.
Discover Guidemate Machine Control
Whether you are assessing Track3D for your own machinery or exploring Guidemate technology for your customers, this walkthrough provides a detailed view of how the software operates in the field.
Guidemate designs and develops Australian machine control technology for real operators, real machines and real job sites. From practical 2D guidance to advanced 3D positioning and bespoke machine control solutions, our team can help identify the right system for your machinery, application and project requirements.