The idea of an autonomous jobsite has been a must-discussed — and almost theoretical — concept for years. But the recent proliferation of technology on the jobsite coupled with other market pressures has put the modern jobsite on the cusp of full autonomy. Large parts of manufacturing operations are automated for increas- ingly specified and repetitive tasks. This contrasts with the average construction site, where working conditions change daily, but the cur- rent technology available is helping to change that. While some industries, such as mining, have gravitated toward the autonomous jobsite more quickly, automation is no longer limited to a hypothetical possibility. And this shift toward a fully autonomous jobsite is happening at near breakneck speed. Intelligence and the collection of data are the foundation for a fully au- tonomous worksite. As the job progresses, the data that workers collect makes the jobsite a high-performing and intelligent one and is crucial to ensuring jobs are completed as designed. However, an autonomous, connected ecosystem in construction can- not focus solely on productivity and efficiency gains. Autonomous operations must be pressure-checked for the safety of personnel and collision risks and the longer-term safety of a project’s construction. As industries shift into massively adopting new technologies, we often see a reconfiguration of the value chain, the required talent and the location of resources. It is also possible that operators will increasingly interact with autonomous machines, allowing for the completion of more complex work. But more than anything, the technology helping usher in the autonomous worksite is also helping make a safer jobsite a reality. Reduce the risk of human error. When it comes to a more autonomous jobsite, there are benefits for everyone involved. Those on the civil side often look at automation as an antidote to help them overcome the labor shortage and rising material costs. Automa- tion can help coordinate people, products, and precious resources and help increase productivity on the jobsite. But an equally significant— or perhaps a more significant — benefit The autonomous site of the future is closer than we realize; the time to embrace it is now By Troy Dahlin
is the ability of automation to exponentially reduce the likelihood of human error. Consider as a real-life application the collection and reporting of survey data. Traditionally, this has been a cumbersome process, and information was either hand-written or collected via cell phone photos. The collected data was then manually entered into the software in use. New, automated solutions have long been needed by the indus- try, and the use of digital as-builts in the construction inspection process has endless potential to enhance safety and quality and save time and money. The construction inspection process is a necessary part of quality con- trol validation and contract management. So, why not make it a more Technology enables field inspectors to complete their daily work reports (DWR) faster and more accurately. By employing rovers and other automated tools to collect data, inspectors automatically associ- ate that information with survey data collected during an inspection. Additionally, inspectors don’t need to verify the data another surveyor collects, as they have confidence knowing it is accurate. The result is information that is no longer left in silos. Instead, it is integrated seamlessly, reducing the potential risk of human error when data is collected and entered into a system manually. The biggest hurdle is the user. At the moment, the biggest hurdle in achieving a fully autonomous workplace may be the user. Because so much of the construction process has traditionally been paper-intensive, it’s been a slow tran- sition to the wider use of technology — perhaps even more so than other industries. In part, that’s because some legacy operators have been resistant to embrace new technology. But this will change as the industry evolves and a new generation of workers join the workforce. But technology civil engineering competencies are here: robots, ma - chinery, and equipment working hand in hand with humans. Easy-to- use applications such as automating an excavator or fully autonomous mobile reality capture are helping workers to embrace technology and the autonomous revolution it enables. Automation offers needed peace of mind. The latest issue of The Civil Quarterly (TCQ) from Dodge Data & Analytics, based on a quarterly survey of civil contractors, engineers, and owners, reveals a wide range of reality capture tools employed on civil jobsites. streamlined process? Eliminate the silos. Even before the pandemic, the adoption and deployment of technology onsite has been growing for many contractors. The wider use of onsite technology is significant because of its positive impact on many ele - ments of the jobsite, from productivity to safety.
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csengineermag.com
DECEMBER 2021
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