The transportation of massive amounts of dirt is much the same as it has been since the beginning of the industrial age when steam shovels were used. And it is much the same on Pandora as on Earth. The power source may be more efficient than in the past, but the units still use treads or huge tires to get a grasp on the land, and then jam a scoop shovel into the soil to plow through or remove it. (Read more)
The wheel loaders are simply exponentially larger, more powerful steam shovels. But the speed and volume of the soil moved is greater than the last generation of wheel loaders. The work is carried out by two operators wearing sensor helmets that give a head-up display of the the unit's function and effectiveness, including such items as dirt density, power plant temperature, and status of the hydraulic joints.
The wheel loaders are dispatched (and usually operated), in a line to maximize the width of the trench. The operators have been trained in simultaneous maneuvers but also can break away from each other to tackle more unique digging requirements.
