Advanced GPS & Tele-Earthwork Systems in Construction

The assignment discusses the application of advanced technologies in construction, specifically focusing on the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Tele- Earth work system. The paper reviews a case study on the construction project at Mount Fugen volcano in southern Japan, where a tele-earth work system was used to remotely operate equipment and prevent collisions. The GPS technology is implemented to enhance the visualization of equipment operations and reduce potential hazards. The paper concludes that the use of these technologies can improve productivity and safety in construction projects, but notes that there are some limitations and potential weaknesses in applying these advancements.

Construction Equipment & Operations
EICM 642
Global positioning system
Omar Mloukhieh 1509027992

Advanced Technologies For Construction Equipment
1 Table of Contents
1 Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................1
2 Table of Figures.................................................................................................................................1
3 Global positioning system.................................................................................................................2
3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................2
3.2 Collision Detection Technique & Tele-Earth Work System..........................................................3
4 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................6
5 References..........................................................................................................................................7
2 Table of Figures
Figure 1 : Identifying equipment location via GPS (Pradhananga & Teizer, 2013).......................................2
Figure 2 : Fujita Tele-Earth work system (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003)...................................................................4
Figure 3 : System Architecture (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003)..................................................................................5
Figure 4 : Equipment distribution (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).............................................................................6
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3 Global positioning system
3.1 Introduction
Nowadays site construction and specially the mega projects are suffering from the
possibility of collision between equipment while performing different operations, such collision
will incur an additional cost, time impact, and injuries, therefore, one state-of-the-art
technological advancement is being incorporated in site construction equipment in order to
impede the opportunity for collision, this technology is Global positioning system “GPS” and
wireless communications (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).
In addition to the above addressed use of GPS for collision detection between
equipment in site, GPS is utilized for recording exact and sufficient data of these interactions of
all resources (labors, equipment, and materials) in construction project which cooperate
constantly, these recordings are fundamental for breaking down any development site
operation. In addition to the above, productivity examination and activities inspecting methods
have given better outcomes when monitoring and controlling the site construction equipment
by applying the GPS in projects, as well as, diminishing the possibility of theft of equipment
which result in time and cost impact (Pradhananga N. a., 2013) (see Figure 1).
Figure 1 : Identifying equipment location via GPS (Pradhananga & Teizer, 2013)
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3.2 Collision Detection Technique & Tele-Earth Work
System
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite that depends on the navigation system, GPS is
controlled by 24 satellites, these satellites transfer radio signals which will be detected by the
receiver, therefore, in accordance to the time taken by the signal which produced by the
satellite to travel from the satellite to the GPS receiver, the GPS receiver is capable to generate
full information about the distance and location. The receiver accuracy for determination of the
distance and location is directly affected by a natural miracles or mechanical breakdowns from
the equipment itself (Arlington, 1996).
For the collision detection purpose numerous technologies have been used, all of them can
be easily differentiated by their cost, size, response time as well as the accuracy and the
operational range, a few technologies to mention are ultrasonic, infrared, radar and vision.
Afterwards, GPS has been invented to surpass all of these technologies by the line-of-sight
dependency which was the major limitation of other tools (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).
Tele-Earth work system is a methodology which apply stereoscopic images, computer
graphics and several displays inside a control room placed in a location which is far-away from
the dangerous area to establish a sequence of remote operations for the earth-work operations
such as excavation or backfilling, loading the surplus excavation material on trucks and hauling
it for the designated residual collection concerned area. The core chronicle of the above
mentioned Tele-Earth work system along with radio controlled work, in which the control
chamber is situated 2 KM away, is that remote controlled equipment should be within a radius
of 1 KM from communication relay car; Tele earth work system is utilized in construction sector
for the following significant-well defined reasons:
 Workforce-diminishing
 Time and cost saving
 Enhancement in execution of HSE environment.
Tele-Earth work system is mainly used during earthwork in hazard area, restricted-confined
construction areas, garbage processing plant, nucleus pollution area. For example, in 1994,
Mount Fugen volcano, situated in southern Japan, erupted Lava movements from the volcano
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Advanced Technologies For Construction Equipment
flooded downhill intimidating the town of Shimabara. A project was established to construct
two canals to channel away future movements into the Sea of Japan (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).
The construction was executed under the high-possibility of having a volcanic-lava
movements. Therefore, in order to maintain a safe environment as well as increase the
equipment performance a Tele-Earth work system has been utilized. Otherwise, the operator of
the equipment he will never achieve a good performance due to the existing pressure-threaten
of lava flows (see Figure 2) (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).
Figure 2 : Fujita Tele-Earth work system (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003)
This system is established to manage not only single equipment, but remotely-operate a
fleet of equipment (dozers, excavators, trucks and other ancillary machineries) (Arlington,
1996).
Applying Tele-Earth work system could be efficient enough if the opportunity of
equipment collisions have been eliminated. Therefore, GPS technology will be implemented in
order to manage the true visualization for every single piece of equipment included in the
construction operation. Additionally, this technology has a well-defined weakness for
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construction operations that contribute activities in dirty environments, with huge numbers of
obstacles which prevent other vehicles or equipment to be detected by radar (Dana, 1995).
Tele-Earth work system researchers established system architecture in order to detect
and inform equipment to impede collisions resulting from lacking the dependence on sightline
to other auto-operated machineries (see Figure 3) (Dana, 1995).
Figure 3 : System Architecture (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003)
As demonstrated in Figure 4, that group of equipment for a specific scope of earth work
at construction site have been operated without relying on an operator, therefore, the remote
operators of vibrator, backhoe, dozer and dumpers equipment have been depending on the
attached cameras on each equipment and remotely controlled cameras placed at site-work
location which will display images from the above concerned cameras on screens which are
available at the control room. The suggested collision detection system (GPS) would have
significantly enhanced construction efficiency, and reduce operator overwork (Amr A.Oloufa,
2003).
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Figure 4 : Equipment distribution (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003)
4 Conclusion
This paper strives to demonstrate advanced technologies in construction field, therefore, a
clear definition has been identified in well-manner for both state-of-the-art technologies; one is
global position and the other is tele-earth work systems, as well as, figuring out the pros and
cons of utilizing the above captioned technologies in construction equipment (Amr A.Oloufa,
2003).
The strength of the reviewed material has been acknowledged by indicating the
development in construction-equipment operations while using these advancement
technologies, as it was shown that by applying tele-earth-work system, the equipment will be
remotely controlled from far distance from the hazard potential location, as well as, utilizing
the GPS will ensure a true visualization for equipment while they are operated by remote result
in less collision possibilities, leaving the site with better HSE standards, also, it briefly
emphasized on the strength of using GPS in construction-projects in order to generate better
results for both productivity analysis and activities scrutinizing methods (Amr A.Oloufa, 2003).
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This reviewed material are noticeably listing the GPS factors that mainly affect the site
construction in a clear and comprehensive approach using simple understandable figures and
Images, unfortunately, there were some weaknesses in proving these benefits by showing some
statistical methods surrounding productivity before and after using these advanced
technologies promoted by several diagrams or histograms. In addition to that, the stated case
study was implemented under a certain circumstances of a unique project in southern Japan,
therefore, it was impossible to guarantee the same sorted-out results to other projects in
different locations, site layouts and job conditions. I suggest to apply a simulation for every
single project earth work operation in order to find the optimum path for each equipment
contributed to manage this operation, therefore, by implementing this advancement a lean
automated equipment project will be achieved.
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5 References
Amr A.Oloufa, M. I. (2003). GPS-BASED WIRELESS COLLISION DETECTION OF CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT.
Arlington. (1996). Fundamentals of GPS .
Dana, P. H. (1995). Global Positioning System Overview.
Pradhananga, N. a. (2013). Automatic spatio-temporal analysis of construction site equipment
operations using GPS data.
Pradhananga, N., & Teizer, J. (2013). Automatic spatio-temporal analysis of construction site
equipment operations using. 16.
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