DirtMate’s success story is a testament to the power of listening to your customers. In 2019, we got an email from a customer asking a seemingly simple question: “Can we use AeroPoint technology on machines?” We heard, “machine mapping is a need.”
That idea eventually snowballed into a modular, versatile tool that construction teams around the world rely on for progress tracking and brand-agnostic equipment monitoring.
In this article, we’ll pull back the curtain and reveal how DirtMate evolved from an interesting concept to an essential tool.
2019-2020: DirtMate is born
“We love AeroPoints and use them everywhere. Can we put one on a machine?”
This question sparked a realization: Propeller’s GNSS hardware, which had steadily earned a reputation for reliability and accuracy, still had untapped potential. Now, that simple question, “What else could we do with GNSS hardware?” soon joined forces with another concept: GIS.
In its simplest terms, GIS can be boiled down to the concept of “dots on maps,” or generating geospatial data to represent discrete objects like machines or other points of interest. Machine mapping in it’s most simple form.
Out of this intersection between GNSS hardware and evolving ways to use worksite maps, DirtMate was born.
The original DirtMate was a bit rough around the edges:
- Hardware: Essentially an AeroPoint encased in foam
- Software: Introduced surface mapping and “snail trails” to track machine locations and routes
What we tackled next: While the earliest DirtMate could map surfaces, we didn’t yet have a way to integrate non-drone geospatial data into the platform. Propeller wasn’t equipped to fully realize the vision of “dots on a map”. . . Yet.
2021–2022: DirtMate 1.0 – “One size fits most”
Over the next few years, DirtMate evolved from basic machine tracking into a comprehensive production data hub. Where tracking data from equipment manufacturers is siloed in proprietary systems, we unified machine tracking data in one place to provide a holistic view of worksite operations.
What made DirtMate different:
- Drone integration: DirtMate filled in the gaps between drone surveys, enabling continuous progress tracking
- Surface “true-up”: Customers could use drones to reset their site’s “baseline” topo, then supplement that data with DirtMate for daily updates
- Hardware: DirtMate’s hardware got an upgrade with durable plastic enclosures, waterproof solar panels, and an increasingly rugged design to ensure reliable performance in harsh conditions
- Software: A field-focused interface, the DirtMate Dashboard, gave users quick access to runtime data, surface changes, and machine trails
What we tackled next: Now that they could use equipment data and drone data within the same software ecosystem, machine trails and runtime weren’t enough. Propeller customers wanted progress and productivity metrics such as cycle and load counts.
2023–2024: DirtMate 1.5 – Evolution
In direct response to user feedback, we started working on a modular system designed to tailor DirtMate to diverse use cases:
Here’s what changed:
Hardware:
- Sensor “brain”: We made DirtMate’s central sensor separate from its removable batteries and other elements
- Climate adaptability: DirtMate can withstand a wide range of temperature, moisture, and light conditions, meeting the needs of our customers around the globe
- Custom mounting options: DirtMate isn’t just for machines; we wanted to make it versatile enough to be mounted anywhere, including buoyant platforms for measuring water levels
Software:
- Together at last: Field teams wanted to view DirtMate data within the main Propeller app, without having to visit a separate dashboard
2025: DirtMate 2.0 – “Many sizes fit all”
Today, DirtMate has matured into a fully modular and intuitive tool that adapts to a wide range of use cases.
- Position tracking: Monitor the real-time location of any machine, object, or structure
- Machine productivity: Manage your people and machines with real-time telematics
- Progress tracking: Get daily production volumes, plus real-time surfaces and cut-fill heatmaps
Hardware:
- Better climate resilience and power solutions for consistent performance
- Expanded mounts, cables, and other options so you can use DirtMate anywhere
Software:
- DirtMate’s data is now fully integrated within Propeller’s cloud-based dashboard and mobile app
DirtMate key features:
- Survey-grade GNSS (absolute ±0.03ft)
- Built-in wifi and cellular
- 7600mAH battery
- Auto on/off
- 1k+ hours data storage
- Onboard IMU
Built with your worksite in mind
At every stage, DirtMate’s story has been written by direct customer input and real-world use cases where machine mapping was crucial to project success. By working together with our users, we’ve designed DirtMate to be the ideal solution to their progress-tracking challenges.
As we look ahead to DirtMate’s next chapter, we’ll keep looking for ways to deliver actionable insights with site data that helps teams work smarter, safer, and more efficiently.
Ready to learn More about DirtMate? Request a demo today.
