The Digital Environment

The word Digital appears to be at the centre of everything at the moment and encompasses such a wide range of activities. We are at a unique point in time and the rapid increases in technological capability have been referred to as the Digital Revolution and compared to that of the Industrial Revolution.

The scale of efficiencies to be gained and the associated benefits are huge and full adoption of latest technologies will transform our industry beyond recognition, delivering tangible benefits at a machine and construction site/application level. At the 2019 CECE Congress there was a focus of attention on the DigiPlace project which is an EU funded programme to map a single European Digital Platform for Construction. This digital platform is aimed at integrating the different technologies, applications and services currently existing in digital construction whilst facilitating the development of further activities in this space.

Having recognised that this is happening around us, how do we benefit and what are some of the specific technologies available today and being developed for tomorrow?

EQUIPMENT DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE Equipment design focuses on delivering reliable quality products that enable efficient and productive operation whilst being cost effective and environmentally friendly. The basis of optimum cost manufacturing will obviously continue but is complimented by efficiency gains that can be achieved by optimum control management and having a fully integrated machine control system. Optimisation and management of individual components will give better performance, less fuel consumption and less peripheral waste of energy (hydraulics etc). Fully integrated Smart Machines will provide the necessary analytics that link to construction site management tools to attain the goal of a “Connected Workplace”.

CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT AND OPTIMISATION Having a smart site enables the possibility of managing and analysing all data from individual assets (equipment or fixed utilities) to provide

Paul Ross, a former President of the CEA and director of Caterpillar UK – and CEA director and representative of Ricardo, a leading strategic engineering consultancy, shares his thoughts on all things digital…

a fully integrated and Connected Workplace. These technologies will continue to develop and ultimately facilitate a Digital Twin of the site. In addition to the obvious benefits of asset tracking and management, new technologies will increase overall performance via machine learning and availabilities will be increased by prognostics and on-board diagnostics giving predictive failure data.

Further developments in Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Autonomous Operation will also transform the current Construction Site. In these areas the adoption of the technology is more likely to be limited by social and regulatory factors rather than the technology itself. We are all aware of autonomous mining trucks operating in a semisterile environment such as a mine site, but this is a different issue when the site is not as controlled.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

The combination of Smart Machines and Smart Sites automatically provides a better degree of protection for operators and site workers with additional technologies that enhance both safety and security. Proximity sensors and recognition systems fitted to equipment can detect personnel and provide a new degree of protection. The output signal from such devices can be used for a range of options from audible visual warning to shut-down or reduced performance of the equipment. Further enhancements such as e-fencing areas of high risk (live motorway lanes etc) are readily available now. Site security and machine operation can further be enhanced by creating safe zones when access is only permitted by recognition of individuals with the correct certification and authority and controlled by digital methods. In summary, Digital Technology helps improve asset and personnel communication, collaboration, content management, access to analytics data as well as improving business cohesion, equipment performance, and ultimately customer experience. As an industry the majority of manufacturers and customers are endorsing change and actively engaging to increase momentum in these areas. The benefits are huge and the results will position our individual businesses as part of a leading industry. ■