Construction Automation A Six Year Plan in Development Ron Singh Chief of Surveys Geometronics Manager Design to Dozer August, 2010

Design to Dozer – Ron Singh 2 Engineering Automation Key Concepts for a 25 Year Time Horizon

3 Disruptive Technologies A disruptive technology is one that requires changes to long standing established processes. Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

4 Reactive Project-centric Approach Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

5 Proactive Data-centric Approach Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

6 Engineering Automation Design Automation Construction Automation Survey Automation Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

7 Engineering Automation Survey Automation Design Automation Construction Automation Todays Topics… Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

8 Engineering Automation Survey Automation Design Automation Construction Automation Inspection Site Monitoring Machine Automation Material Certification Surveying Positioning Todays Topics… Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

9 Major Components of Construction Automation Inspection Tools Enhanced use of GPS Material Delivery and Certification Remote Construction Site Monitoring Connected Site Machine Automation Post Construction Surveys Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

10 Engineering Automation Design Automation Construction Automation Survey Automation Inspection Site Monitoring Machine Automation Material Certification Surveying Positioning Machine Control and Guidance Systems Moving On… Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

11 For The Purpose of This Presentation… A Machine Guidance system will be considered to be one that uses automation to provide the equipment operator a visual indicator of the position of the cutting edge (blade, bucket, screed, etc) relative to the design surface being constructed. Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

12 For The Purpose Of This Presentation… A Machine Control system will be one where the cutting edge of the equipment is fully controlled by automation. The system is connected to and controls the hydraulics while the operator simply drives the equipment and manages the automation. Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

13 3 Components of Machine Control 1.The Design and Resulting Data 2.The Machine w/Computer, Sensors, Hydraulic Control, and Radio 3.The Positioning System – GPS, TPS, Laser, or combination Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

14 Provides the interface between engineering design and the machine operator Guidance Systems Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

15 Types of Guidance Systems Stakes String Lines Sonic Sensors Lasers GPS Total Stations GPS w/Lasers Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

16 GPS based machine guidance GPS provides near exact position of vehicle in real time Cab mounted display indicates position of machine relative to design anywhere on the surface Equipment operator controls cutting edge Guidance By GPS Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

17 Typical Display Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

18 GPS provides near exact position of vehicle in real time Position of the cutting edge is computed The hydraulics moves the cutting edge accordingly to match the design surface Control By GPS Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

19 Final Surface Original Surface GPS Grading +/- 30 mm or 0.1 Generally Not By GPS Guidance/Control by GPS Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

20 GPS (RTK) derived elevations are: Somewhat erratic Dependant upon a variety of factors such as satellite geometry, local deflection of the vertical, etc. Limited to an accuracy of a few centimeters Control by Laser Augmented GPS Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

21 Laser augmented GPS systems delivers a few millimeters of vertical accuracy using conventional lasers capable of working on an inclined plane Control by Laser Augmented GPS Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

22 Final Surface Original Surface Total Station Grading +/- 5mm or 0.02 Control by Total Station Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

23 Control by Total Station Started in the early 1990s with robotic motorized total stations that could track a prism mounted on a machine Could position the prism to high accuracy - equivalent to string lines and lasers Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

24 Control by Total Station Information from the prism position could be sent to the machine, which would adjust the hydraulics accordingly. Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

25 The Ultimate System: No stakes required No grade checker required Records data for quality control Records data for volume computation Data could be transmitted to engineer, inspector, or surveyor for real time checks Machine Control Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

26 Bulk Excavating – Scrapers/Dozers Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

27 Bulk Excavating – Dozers Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

28 Concrete Paving Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

29 Trimming Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

30 Excavating – Shaping & Compacting Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

31 Underwater – Riprap Placement Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

32 Grading Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

33 Grading Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

34 Trench Excavation Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

35 Milling Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

36 Asphalt Paving Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

37 Barrier Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

38 Curbs and Sidewalks Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

39 The Emerging Role of Operating Engineers Requires education/training relating to new systems Pre-qualification or certification Clearly defined role in project specifications Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

40 The Role of the Design Engineer 3D coordinate correct designs Build-able and not just bid-able plans Complete, reliable, and construct-able digital data – less reliance on on the grade design Available on very short notice for design changes Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

41 The Role of the Surveyor Establishment of horizontal and vertical project control Data management Acquiring and validating design DTM Converting DTM to exchange format Providing exchange format data to contractor Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

42 The Role of the Surveyor Quality assurance Validating TIN produced by exchange format data Re-measure or validate grade No longer available for design changes Post Construction Surveys Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

43 The Role of the Inspector Will continue as today… With less support from surveyors With diminished ability to check constructed elements for grade, alignment, or width Will need additional technology to check stake-less construction Design to Dozer – Ron Singh

44 Stay Tuned… Design to Dozer – Ron Singh