A pile driving control apparatus for a pile driving system includes a
hydraulic control system that controls a throttle of a pile driving
hammer, and thereby controls an impact velocity of the hammer with a
pile. A controller provides a control signal to the hydraulic control
system. Based on the control signal, the hydraulic control system
controls an impact velocity of the hammer during a subsequent hammer
stroke. The controller may determine one or more control parameters such
as sound pressure at a sound control location during a hammer stroke,
vibration at a vibration control location during a hammer stroke, an
impact force imparted to the pile during a hammer stroke, and/or actual
pile capacity of the pile, and provide to the hydraulic control system a
control signal based on the determined control parameter(s).