In control with Topcon

24 June 2022

Boosting work site efficiency and productivity can help contractors on the route to net zero, and adopting machine control technology can be one of the ways to achieve this.

That was the view of Andy Clifton, senior support engineer with Topcon Positioning (GB) Ltd, speaking at the recent Comit Project seminar entitled 'Here, Now and the Future’. The Comit (Construction, Operations, Maintenance through Innovative Technologies) organisation focuses on improving dialogue within the industry and the adoption of new technology. 

Andy suggested that productivity in construction had lagged behind other sectors such as agriculture over the past 20 years and that machine control systems such as Topcon’s Sitelink3D could be fitted to a wide range of plant and equipment to delivery significant improvements. 

Enhancing machine efficiency would reduce fuel usage, lower maintenance requirements, increase work rates and help the environment by decreasing emissions. 

Data from the system can show where machines are working, their movements and running times to suggest where improvements might be made, and project schedules could be updated immediately. 

Andy quoted a recent study where 77 litres of fuel were saved on a project installing two 120m pipe runs using equipment with a machine control system. Wear and tear was reduced because of greater efficiency and Health & Safety was enhanced as a worker did not have to be in the trench to check gradients. 

Machine movements can also be limited to avoid certain potential hazards like overhead cables, further enhancing site safety.