AlphaGeo ALPHA DG1 GNSS Excavator Guidance System

Real-Time Excavator Guidance for More Controlled Earthworks

The AlphaGeo ALPHA DG1 GNSS Excavator Guidance System gives excavator operators a live visual reference between the bucket and the required construction surface. Instead of working only from stakes, string lines or repeated measurements from a surveyor, the operator can see the target elevation, depth, line or slope directly inside the cab.

The system is intended for contractors carrying out building construction, roadworks, utility installation, drainage, bridge works and other earthmoving projects. It supports common tasks including bulk excavation, formation work, pad preparation, trenching, batter construction and final surface trimming.

Know the Bucket Position While You Work

The DG1 combines GNSS positioning with machine-mounted sensing to calculate the working position of the excavator. SmartSite software then presents the relevant guidance information to the operator in a practical visual format.

This allows the operator to compare the current bucket position with the project target during each pass. When digging a foundation, for example, the display helps indicate whether the bucket is above, below or approaching the required level. During trenching or slope work, it helps the operator follow the specified alignment and profile more consistently.

Reduce Repeated Grade Checks and Manual Staking

Traditional excavation often requires a surveyor or site engineer to place stakes, mark offsets and return regularly to check the finished level. These checks remain important for project control, but real-time machine guidance can reduce how often the excavator must stop while waiting for routine measurements.

With the design information available in the cab, operators can work more independently between formal quality checks. This helps keep the machine productive and reduces interruptions for the survey or engineering team. It is particularly useful on long trenches, large pads and variable surfaces where a limited number of physical markers may not provide enough information across the entire working area.

Better Control of Cut and Fill

Over-excavation creates extra work. Material must be removed, transported and often replaced with approved fill before the area can be brought back to level. Digging too little also adds extra machine passes and can delay the next construction activity.

The ALPHA DG1 provides continuous guidance so the operator can approach the design surface in a more controlled way. This supports more consistent cut depths, cleaner trench profiles and improved material management. The practical benefit is not that the excavator works automatically, but that the operator receives better information while controlling the machine.

Levelling and Formation Work

For pads, foundations and general site preparation, the system provides bucket-elevation guidance relative to a defined level or project surface. Operators can use this information while cutting high areas and filling low areas, helping them create a more uniform formation before final verification or compaction.

This is useful during building-platform preparation, road subgrade construction, landscaping and other work where maintaining a consistent level across a wider area is difficult using visual judgement alone.

Guidance for Straight and Consistent Trenches

The DG1 supports trenching and ditching workflows for utilities, drainage systems and pipelines. It helps the operator follow the required direction and depth while progressing along the trench.

Continuous guidance is especially valuable where the trench invert changes along its length. Rather than relying solely on isolated depth marks, the operator can use the on-screen information to follow the intended profile between control points.

Slope and Batter Construction

For embankments, cuttings, drainage banks and other inclined surfaces, the system provides guidance relative to the required slope. This helps operators control the bucket while rough cutting or trimming an angled surface.

A clearer reference to the target slope can reduce excessive cutting and the number of correction passes required. It also makes it easier to maintain a repeatable profile over a longer section of work.

Support for Lines, Points and Complex Surfaces

Not every excavation task requires a complete three-dimensional model. SmartSite can support work based on basic points and lines as well as more detailed variable surfaces. This means the system can be used for straightforward site layouts and more complex designs.

Supported project-file formats include DXF, XML and SJW. File preparation and compatibility should be confirmed as part of the project setup because the information required depends on the design software, coordinate system and intended guidance workflow.

Multi-Constellation RTK GNSS Positioning

The DG1 GNSS receiver has 1408 channels and tracks signals from GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS. It also supports BeiDou B2b PPP and Galileo E6b High Accuracy Service signals.

Using several satellite constellations gives the system access to more satellites across the sky. On an open construction site, this can improve satellite geometry and help the receiver maintain a stable position as the excavator moves and rotates. Buildings, trees, bridges, deep excavations and other obstructions can still affect GNSS availability, so the installation and working environment must be considered.

Centimetre-Level RTK Performance

The receiver’s published RTK specification is 8 mm + 1 ppm RMS horizontally and 15 mm + 1 ppm RMS vertically under suitable operating conditions. RTK initialization is specified at under 10 seconds, with signal reacquisition below one second and positioning output from 1 to 20Hz.

Actual machine-guidance performance also depends on the correction source, machine calibration, sensor installation, satellite visibility, design data and the mechanical condition of the excavator. The system should therefore be correctly installed and calibrated for each machine rather than treated as a universal plug-in measurement device.

High-Rate Tilt and Machine-Movement Sensing

The system’s tilt compensation operates through a range of up to 120° with a 400Hz update rate. The separate core sensor measures pitch and roll, with a stated tilt accuracy of 0.2° and resolution of 0.0055°.

For excavator guidance, fast sensor updates are important because the boom, arm and bucket continually change position. The sensor data helps the system follow these movements and update the guidance display while the operator works.

The core sensor is specified for shock loads up to 20,000g. This is relevant for equipment installed on an excavator, where vibration, impact and sudden machine movements are part of normal site operation.

SmartSite Software for Operators and Site Teams

SmartSite brings the machine-guidance, project and measurement functions together in one interface. Operators can choose guidance modes for levelling, trenching, slopes, lines and surfaces while monitoring the status of the GNSS receiver and sensors.

The software also supports field measurement using a pole-mounted GNSS receiver. This can give site teams a more connected workflow for guidance, data collection and project execution, depending on the selected configuration and accessories.

Flexible Correction and Data Communication

The GNSS receiver supports multi-band 4G communication, dual-mode Bluetooth and USB Type-C. An integrated UHF option operates between 410 and 470MHz with selectable 0.5W or 1.5W output and support for several common radio protocols.

This allows the system to receive RTK corrections through a mobile internet service, a compatible local base station or an appropriate radio link. The best correction method depends on network coverage, regional radio rules and the existing GNSS equipment used on the site.

Rugged Receiver for Construction Environments

The compact GNSS receiver measures 82 × 82 × 89.3mm and weighs approximately 430g. Its enclosure is rated IP67 for resistance to dust and temporary water immersion, and the specified operating range is -40°C to +75°C.

The internal 7.4V 3500mAh battery provides more than 12 hours in data-collector internet mode, more than 10 hours in device internet mode and more than nine hours when using the internal UHF radio. Operating time in a complete excavator installation will depend on the system configuration and available machine power.

Typical ALPHA DG1 Applications

• Building pads, foundations and site levelling
• Road formation, subgrade and drainage work
• Utility, cable, pipe and sewer trenching
• Slopes, batters, embankments and cuttings
• Bridge and infrastructure earthworks
• Variable-depth and complex-surface excavation

Who Uses the ALPHA DG1?

The system is designed for excavator operators, earthmoving contractors, site engineers, surveyors and construction managers who need closer control over excavation work. It is relevant to both experienced operators and crews moving from traditional grade control towards digital construction workflows.

Surveyors and engineers remain responsible for establishing reliable site control, checking design data and verifying completed work. The DG1 helps transfer that project information to the machine operator so routine excavation decisions can be made with clearer positional guidance.

System Configuration and Professional Support

A standard configuration may include the GNSS receiver, core sensor, SmartSite software, mounting accessories, connection and installation components, and a protective transport case. The final equipment package can vary according to the excavator, correction method and project requirements.

Global GPS Systems can help determine the appropriate system configuration, correction source, mounting arrangement and data workflow for a particular machine or construction project. Professional installation and machine calibration are essential because the accuracy of the guidance display depends on correctly measured machine dimensions, sensor alignment and project coordinates.