Automating Data Extraction From GPS Files and Sound Pressure Level Sensors with Application in Cable Yarding Time and Motion Studies

Abstract

Finding ways to automate data processing activities represents a current challenge in most of the activity fields with obvious benefits that can be seen in the improvement of time management. In this study, we have developed a procedure able to extract time elements from GPS collected data with application in time and motion studies for cable yarding operations. Coupling GPS and sound pressure level sensors may prove to be very helpful in automating the procedures specific to time and motion studies implemented for cable yarding operations. For a given set of thresholds defined by the user in a computational algorithm, our results showed a ±2% agreement when comparing the moving and stopped states of the carriage as extracted from GPS files and sound pressure level sensors.