Page 50 - CO_Feb_2023

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

hazards, improving safety. Other companies use drones to monitor Autonomous heavy machinery
work sites throughout the construction process, providing real-time Recent advances have made autonomous heavy machinery a
updates to stakeholders. In 2019, researchers at the University viable option for construction teams. Today, Caterpillar has the
of Michigan revealed an autonomous drone that can nail roof world’s largest autonomous fleet of haul trucks – now numbering
shingles. Since falls are among the most common injury sources more than 500 machines. In fact, as per the latest news, Caterpillar
on construction sites, this could revolutionize job site safety. haul trucks equipped with Cat MineStar Command for hauling
In one of his research papers, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Geimer, Head have autonomously moved more than 5 billion tons of material.
– Mobile Machinery section, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology According to VTT Research, autonomous vehicles and machinery
(KIT), stated that in mining site and construction site, there is a are perfect for monotonous tasks that humans resent. Machines
high demand for the highly automated and coordinated fleet are also not restricted by working hours acts or rough weather
management from both economic and safety views. Furthermore, conditions. They can work with hazardous or toxic materials and
since the machines usually operate in a closed area at slower in environments harmful to humans. A good example is a mine
speeds and untrained pedestrians are already kept out of the right after explosives have been used. Using autonomous vehicles
construction site, it is easier and safer to automate their driving. and machinery in situations like this can turn previously unprofitable
The unmanned construction and mining site brings enormous ventures into profitable projects. The coexistence of autonomous
benefits regarding safety, productivity, and labor perspective. vehicles with humans is the next step in automation. Once we
Currently, because of a lack of cooperation between individual can safely remove the fences that currently separate humans and
machines, heavy machines waste a lot of time waiting for each autonomous machines, automation becomes more affordable,
other, resulting in low overall productivity. With the smart working and maintenance is easier. Enabling human workers to focus on
site, the whole fleet is managed and dispatched without jams or more value-adding tasks instead of driving is the future. This, in turn,
collisions, and construction productivity is improved holistically. The should improve employee well-being and satisfaction.
enhanced productivity does contribute to reducing construction
time and has remarkable economic benefits, e.g., to reduce the Emissions Or Electric
leasing cost of construction machines and the loan interest paid An IDTechEx research had revealed some startling stats…
due to shorter rental contract. Construction machines are responsible for around 400 Mt of CO2
Talking about labor safety, he elaborated that since drivers are emission annually, which is around 1.1% of global CO2 emission.
asked to relocate to remote locations and know how to drive on Decarbonisation of the construction industry will be a key element
difficult terrains on construction sites, there are high training and of countries meeting their Paris agreement commitments, and
labor costs for skilled drivers. Unmanned construction and mining electric construction vehicles will play an important role in this. While
sites can further reduce the labor cost. the off-road electric construction vehicle market is at a much earlier

50 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|FEBRUARY 2023