Every other day, we see a variety of construction happening all around us, sometimes hotels, buildings, villas, roads, or IT parks. These all have distinctive designs and construction structures. In every construction, different types of instruments are used for different tasks, called construction equipment. This construction equipment forms the backbone of any modern infrastructure project, allowing the construction industry to thrive and flourish.
Let’s delve into the world of construction equipment, exploring its types, innovations, and the pivotal role it plays in shaping our built environment.
How Does Construction Equipment Make the Impossible Possible?
Construction equipment is known by several names such as construction machinery, heavy machinery, and engineering equipment and all this requires the involvement of various heavy machinery.
These heavy machines are used for material to load and unload, driving tools in and out of the site, moving from one location to another, feeding into a machine for processing, retrieving from a machine for processing, handling raw materials by transporting them to another location for other processing, cutting down trees or other vegetation, and so on.
Given below for the types of heavy construction equipment used in the construction industry.
- Earth Moving Equipment
- Construction VehiclesMaterial
- Handling Equipment
- OtherConstruction Equipment
What’s Next In The Horizon For Construction Equipment Technology?
Recent innovations in construction equipment can furnish new capabilities to contractors while complying to improve safety and productivity.
Industry inventions may encourage contractors to incorporate new equipment-related technologies to achieve work automation, energy efficiency, and safety on construction sites.
Following innovations in construction equipment are impacting business operations at today’s construction site:
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) holds an annual competition to honor products with excellent technologies and innovation ahead of CES. In the ‘CES 2023 Innovation Awards‘, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Group won the award for invention in construction equipment.
Automation and Driverless Capabilities
Mainstream manufacturers are incorporating automated and driverless technology into new machinery. Some tech companies are converting existing machines into autonomous equipment because the demand for autonomous equipment has risen unexpectedly. Instead of buying new machinery, converting existing equipment into automated ones can lower costs.
Construction businesses and contractors are taking notice for the sake of worker’s safety. Automation may make work safer by eliminating individuals from high-risk jobs. And, because human error is frequently listed as the cause of job site accidents, automated equipment eliminates this factor.
While it is still not the norm, automated equipment has the potential to serve at construction sites in the future. Among the applications of the automated device at construction are:
- Drones: On the construction site, drones are used to analyze worksites, monitor construction projects, and display potential hazards.
- Rollers and soil compactors: Automated rollers and soil compactors naturally come with sensors. These sensors detect machinery, workers, and other obstacles to maintain a safer environment. They are intended to move within a certain perimeter to maximize precision and efficiency.
GPS Advancement for Productivity and Theft Prevention
Global positioning systems (GPS) integration in heavy machinery can lead to less manual work, faster job completion, and increased work and machinery safety.
GPS (global positioning system) technology assists owners in tracking expensive construction machines such as cranes, excavators, and wheel loaders. With the use of separate tracking devices, GPS technology can aid in the reduction of theft. Once the manager files the police report, GPS tracking devices get activated and detect the machine’s exact location.
Furthermore, GPS technology combined with machinery helps in the process of dispatching drivers to work, tracking construction vehicles, and fleet management in general. These features, when combined, can also help to reduce property risk due to the possibility of fewer accidents.
GPS technology can help improve operator accuracy by providing superior guiding and control systems, resulting in increased productivity and operator safety. Some GPS tracking systems even include elements for predictive and preventive maintenance. These can help reduce downtime for construction equipment.
Mobile Devices For Durability
In various ways, mobile technology has transformed the construction sector. One of the most significant advancements for contractors has been in keeping track of construction equipment via mobile. Additionally, all parties involved in the construction project can use it to collaborate utilizing the same consolidated information sources via smartphones and tablets, assuring that no one is left out of the loop, no matter where they are.
Through various mobile tracking applications or sync cameras, a person or say a manager can keep track of expensive machinery.
Real-time analytics in construction has also been made possible by mobile devices. Instead of writing a report at the end of the day, foremen may keep track of performance, conditions, and costs throughout the day using reporting tools. Project managers can use mobile business analytics to predict necessary modifications, allowing them to act quickly to keep things on track and within budget. Furthermore, reporting apps enable all stakeholders to gain access to analytic findings, whether on-site or in the office.
Built-in Safety Technology
Construction is one of the most risky sectors in which to work. New safety technologies directly built into equipment can help to improve worker safety tracking. Below are the types of equipment with in-build safety technologies:
- In-cab monitoring systems can detect signs of distraction or fatigue by tracking an operator’s head and eye movements.
- Proximity-detection devices can help alert operators to proximity and limit the risks provided by blind spots.
- Collision-avoidance devices may lower the chances of accidents and equipment damage.
Hyundai Doosan Infracore, HHI’s construction equipment manufacturer affiliate, has developed a construction site safety management platform technology called XiteSafety. This is in-built technology for construction machinery that prevents equipment and worker collisions. And they were honored for this innovative technology in the ‘CES Innovation Awards in 2023.
Robotic Total Stations (RTS)
Today, in conventional construction, theodolite and other precision equipment are used for calculating angles and finding connection spots for things like cable trays and pipework.
However, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, with a large margin for error that can result in serious consequences, wasting time, money, and materials. To avoid this, Robotic Total Stations (RTS) are used.
Robotic Total Stations (RTS) is an electronic theodolite combined with an electronic distance measurement that can be controlled remotely from a distance. The layout can be achieved by a single person by using a tablet equipped with the relevant software, with RTS assuring greater efficiency, improved precision, rarer mistakes, less paperwork, and reduced labor costs.
Looking into the Future of Construction Equipment
These emerging innovative technologies have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by improving efficiency, lowering costs, and increasing safety. As technology advances in construction equipment and overcomes current hurdles, it is anticipated to play a critical role in the creation of tomorrow’s cities, allowing the construction sector to satisfy the growing demand for sustainable urbanization.
Construction businesses can gain a competitive advantage in the industry by embracing GPS, AI, automated systems, and robotics. Also, it can contribute to the building of smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities for future generations.