The use of machine control in construction projects is becoming more widespread, with automation driving the industry forward. Automating machinery on job sites allows the work to be completed quicker, more accurately, with less fuel, and with fewer people.
Alongside the launch of new products for this industry, our experts explore machine control and the importance of automation in the future of the construction industry.
Content last updated: October 2025
Key Takeaways
- Improved accuracy and efficiency: Machine control uses 3D models and satellite data to guide machinery, reducing errors and saving time on construction sites.
- Automation reduces skill barriers: Automated machine control allows less experienced operators to achieve precise grading, boosting productivity and safety.
- Future-ready construction: As adoption grows, machine control is set to streamline entire workflows, from excavation to site-wide data management.
Understanding Machine Control
Machine control involves hardware and software solutions developed to determine a machine’s current position on the earth and compare it with the desired design surface.
The accurate positioning of machinery is achieved with data from satellites and 3D models. Satellites in the outer atmosphere triangulate with one another to generate a digital map of the construction site, sending a signal down to the site itself. Using multiple positioning sensors and a display, machine control gives operators a clear reference between the position of the machine bucket or blade and the design surface.
Without machine control, surveyors have to manually check the grade and position the machinery. This process is less accurate, time-consuming and has a higher safety risk due to the surveyor’s close proximity to the machine. Development first began with the introduction of 2D technology as it gave operators access to a simple visual guide.
Future of Automated Machine Control
Fast forward to the present day, and the construction industry is facing challenges, with a lack of new talent entering the industry forcing a focus and reliance on automated machine control.
Automated machine control goes beyond providing operators with a visual guide to bucket or blade positions, as it controls the blade to grade by communicating with the machine’s hydraulics. Accuracy and speed are solely dependent on the technology, allowing less skilled operators to operate the machinery.
Adoption of Machine Control
Research from Topcon reveals that contractors are in no way strangers to machine control, with 97% of respondents using automation in some capacity. However, just under half (46%) are using it on less than a quarter of their projects. This would suggest that for many, their experience and understanding of machine control is still in its infancy or confined to certain types of projects or applications.
But automation is just the first step. Looking further into the future, automated machine control will not only involve the angle and depth, but the entire excavation process – improving productivity across the entire construction workflow.
In October 2023, RDS MME launched three new products that save operators time, money, and fuel due to the technology’s improved accuracy and enhanced performance.
The MC-Max Dozer optimises your bulldozer, with rough and fine grading solutions in 2D and 3D. The MC-Max Excavator improves mass excavator productivity, allowing your excavator to be part surveyor, part operator and part grade checker. Finally, Sitelink3D v2 is a secure data centre providing site-wide data synchronisation between all sites’ machines and users on a pay-by-the-day basis.
Machine Control FAQs
1. What is machine control in construction?
Machine control is a technology that combines hardware and software to determine a machine’s position on a construction site and compare it with the desired design surface. It guides machinery accurately using 2D or 3D models and satellite positioning.
2. How does machine control work?
Machine control relies on satellite data and multiple sensors to track the position of machinery. Operators can see the exact location of a bucket or blade relative to the design surface, enabling precise grading and excavation.
3. What are the benefits of machine control?
- Increased accuracy in grading and excavation
- Faster project completion with fewer errors
- Reduced fuel consumption and operational costs
- Improved safety by minimising manual surveying near machinery
4. What is automated machine control?
Automated machine control not only provides visual guidance but also communicates with a machine’s hydraulics to control the blade or bucket automatically. This allows less experienced operators to achieve precise results with minimal supervision.
5. How widely is machine control adopted in the construction industry?
Research shows that 97% of contractors use automation in some capacity, though less than half apply it to more than a quarter of their projects. Adoption is growing as more companies recognise its efficiency and safety benefits.
You can contact the RDS MME team by calling 01249 479356 or sending a message to sales@rdsmme.co.uk.
