A communication system between a base station and a plurality of pieces of
construction equipment, the communication system including a transmitter
and receiver for transmitting measured operational information from the
plurality of pieces of construction equipment to the base station. Each
equipment piece includes an operational component that is susceptible to
damage. A computer based controller is utilized for measuring a plurality
of operational parameters of a respective equipment piece and
communicating derived measured operational information. A calculator is
used for calculating an amount of damage incurred by the component based
on the communicated measured operational information concerning the
respective equipment piece.