Mini blog – plant tracking and machine control
ON Tuesday I was called in to a meeting with the project director and Carillion’s head of “Survey and Drone research” – sounds cool but it’s definitely not. Apparently my experience of GPS within the military was my golden ticket in to this little shin-dig.
With regards to an exclusion zone on this site, the PD is keen to ensure that all plant be monitored and prevented from accessing areas they could cause damage to the tunnels below.
The suggested solution is to use the same GPS monitoring that is used on plant during road construction. A system that can control the plant as well as give feedback as to the position and angle of the blade etc. This is a brilliant system, but I fear it may be overkill and it is tres expensive (£30k per system plus £10k for a box on the roof to correct all the GPS readings). Rental prices are available, but for a 2 year programme, purchasing may be the way to go.
The actual customer requirements are:
- Warn operators when they are approaching an exclusion zone
- Ability to identify location of plant to confirm if issues in tunnel are plant related
- Maintain a record of locations for legal purposes (arse covering)
Problems:
- Demolition area is an exclusion zone to all non-essential personnel – ie operators only
- Physical barriers are likely to get covered in arisings or crushed any way
Has anyone experience of anything like this, or are there any suggestions for a different system?
I’ll update with the winning solution!
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Chris,
The system does seem like it could aid in providing the safety required in its intended use but, and it’s a big but, like any technological system, it’s only as good as the procedures and processes in place for its use. We all know GPS vary in their accuracy so my initial thought is you would require a robust process put in place to ensure that when a proximity alarm sounds there is enough time to react to it and that operators of said plant and supervisors know what to do; most likely foot on brake and reverse.
Is there not a better solution, something like having markers on the perimiter of the exclusion zone and sensors in the plant cab (like parking sensors in cars) that alarm when the plant gets too close?
Hi Fran,
We are currently using “SiteZone”, a system to warn operators when pedestrians get within a certain perimeter of plant. This vibrates on the pedestrian and also sets an audible alarm off in the cab. This system was considered for this – with the pedestrian units just put on the exclusion zone. However it wouldn’t record the location of the plant or allow us in the site office to rapidly assess plant locations if the alarms in the tunnel are triggered.
The accuracy of the GPS is corrected by the box on top of our site office. I think the system would work – but it might be like using a Formula 1 car when all you need is a “VolksWagen Up”.
Essentially I need to track the plant, record the movements and have a warning system in place – be that through GPS or proximity.
Chris,
I would avoid a VW set-up, unless you want your plant to be recalled that is 😉.
Sounds like the GPS you’ve indicated is your option then, all be it overkill. Does this mean you’ll be acting as Guard Commander and get to draw-up the stag list?
What is the monitoring system used, is it similar to air traffic control a bit more basic than that?
Fran.
That’s pretty much it. I’ll be responsible for making the call if the tunnel deflection breaches the trigger levels. I’ll use a website that links to all our plant and gives us situational awareness of what plant is where.
It’s a Leica system called iCon (intelligent Construction).
https://www.sccssurvey.co.uk/surveying-equipment-instruments/machine-control.html
Very glad someone is finally going to work with this – thought I’d have to wait for a big road project attachement! Militarily USACE have already done some good stuff with similar technology. There are all sorts of interesting potential applications and there is a fully ripened TMR or dissertation hanging low down on the tree!