1. A data acquisition and control system for an excavator, the excavator including propulsion means and excavation means for respectively propelling the excavator and excavating along a predetermined excavation route, the system comprising: geologic imaging means for acquiring geological information along the predetermined excavation route; position determining means for determining a position of the excavator along the predetermined excavation route; excavator control means for coordinating the operation of the propulsion means and the excavating means; a main user interface for receiving input commands from an operator of the excavator and for displaying information to the operator; and a main controller for receiving the acquired geological information from the geologic imaging means, for receiving position information from the position determining means, and for receiving operational information from the excavator control means; wherein the main controller includes means for estimating excavator performance parameters in response to the received geological, position, and operational information, and the excavator control means includes means for modifying the operation of the propulsion means and excavating means in response to the estimated excavator performance parameters.