GPS surveying at CPCC's Mojave cement plant: real-time kinetic surveying-generating real-time savings

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite surveying has produced real savings in time and money for CPC's Mojave plant. The measurement of ore and raw material stockpile volumes, as well as the locations of quarry shots, utility lines or other features all require accurate surveys on a routine basis. The time required for surveying can be substantial; but, the advent of GPS surveying has significantly reduced this time requirement. This paper compares CPC's past experiences with conventional surveying, using a theodolite or total station instrument with a two-person survey crew, with our current one-person GPS surveying practices. There is a brief discussion of the basic surveying theory and procedures used by both methods, and an overview of the different types of surveying projects we perform using the GPS. The paper concludes by illustrating the cost and time savings the Mojave plant has realized through the use of GPS surveying over conventional surveying.