While drones, aerial mapping and digital cameras are widespread and capture the headlines, it’s the use of emerging autonomous tools that will help bring about the autonomous jobsite and make projects safer. Tools like laser scanners and GPS rovers see increased use for gather- ing data, making calculations, verifying quality control, and document- ing progress. Not surprisingly, these numerous applications lead to some critical project benefits. More than half of those who use these reality capture tools reported improved ability to track work progress, manage sched- ules and budget, and improve the quality of their projects. The autonomous jobsite gives additional peace of mind for civil engi- neers. Because when they know the jobsite is automated, they know the likelihood of human error is diminished. Autonomy enables seamless interaction between what civil engineers, planners, schedulers and contractors plan to do in an office environ - ment and what gets done on the job site. It’s all about confidence. What is seemingly lost so often in the conversation is the practical application of technology.
It’s not about rolling out technology because the industry can do so. Instead, it should be about deploying technology that makes jobs easier and safer. Intelligence and real-time data capture have their tentacles in nearly every aspect of the construction — from estimating and bidding to the construction itself to verification and completion. Feeding this intel to the job site to ensure it is completed according to plan and differenti- ates between what was planned and real world landscape. There is a high cost to errors and accidents, from the dollar cost to fix a mishap to the lost time to the potential for loss of life. We have the ability to have endless information at our fingertips; we should use it to make the world as safe of a place as possible. TROY DAHLIN serves as the vice president for the Heavy Construction Segment of Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, in North America. He is responsible for the growth of the business through increased sales and market share. Prior to joining Hexagon, Dahlin served in senior leadership roles with construction firms in the Northwest United States where he oversaw business plans, staff - ing, budgets, financial reporting, negotiations, and other business management activities. Dahlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Linfield College.
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DECEMBER 2021 csengineermag.com
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