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CROES NV pioneers digital transformation in major project at Liege Airport

A major infrastructure project to create 350,000 m2 of warehousing space has showcased the power of digital tool adoption across earthmoving. 

CROES NV, an earthworks contractor, was tasked with coordinating detailed groundworks at the site adjacent to Liege Airport in Belgium.

Due to the scale of the project, CROES faced unique challenges, including surveyors being spread across multiple sites, which made it difficult to regularly visit each location. 

The team also had to manage timely data collection, meaning traditional progress tracking methods and material calculating proved to be inefficient. Additionally, conflicting designs from the client and the landowner heightened the risk of costly delays and rework.

By integrating intelligent machinery on site, including the innovative PC360LCi excavator from Komatsu, CROES engaged with Smart Construction, the digital arm of the Japanese manufacturer, to elevate job site efficiency even further.

Komatsu Smart Construction supported CROES with advanced simulations that allowed the team to evaluate three tailored scenarios aimed at optimising key zones and soil transportation routes. 

Through this data-driven approach, the team were able to identify the most efficient option, although weather conditions posed a challenge for articulated dump trucks traversing muddy terrain.

Smart Construction’s experts evaluated two practical alternatives, one of which enhanced workflow efficiency by four percent, a key priority for CROES. 

Given the project complexity, situated directly beneath an active flight path in close proximity to Liège Airport, the CROES team engaged a drone pilot for 3D data collection of the site pre-construction. 

The high-resolution point cloud data collected by the drone was seamlessly integrated into the Smart Construction Dashboard. This data served as a detailed preconstruction survey, setting the stage for thorough data analysis. Additionally, as-built data from a D61PXi bulldozer was incorporated, offering CROES an invaluable real-time representation of site activities.

Joeri Croes, Managing Director at CROES said: “By connecting our Komatsu machinery to the Smart Construction Dashboard solution, we were able to automatically obtain daily as-built information, revolutionising the way data is collected. This innovative platform has allowed our site team to gather data quickly, providing a comprehensive visualisation of the job site and enabling virtual management.

“The ability to virtually manage a job site has drastically reduced the need for frequent on-site visits, allowing management and surveyors to save hundreds of kilometres of travel each month.”

Historically, CROES relied on surveyors using GNSS rovers to perform volume calculations across job sites, a method that required measuring as close to the month’s end as possible to avoid inaccuracies. This traditional approach often led to reporting discrepancies and inefficiencies.

For this project, CROES instead utilised Smart Construction’s Dashboard tool to effectively measure and compare cut and fill volumes from the latest measurements against the previous month's data, ensuring accurate and efficient invoicing.

The contractor can now generate volume reports and invoices with precision and ease, eliminating the need for comprehensive surveys of the entire 350,000 m² job site or consultation with operators about past activities. All necessary figures are now accessible directly from a computer, streamlining operations and improving overall efficiency.

 Bart Vingerhoets, Senior Commercial Manager at Komatsu Smart Construction, said: “This project demonstrates how our unique suite of digital tools can transform complex job sites into efficient, profitable and connected operations. Smart Construction tools not only provide real-time data and insights but also facilitate better decision-making, allowing construction teams such as CROES to navigate challenges with greater agility.”

“Digital innovation and efficiency are driving the industry forward; the construction and earthmoving sector must embrace digital transformation now more than ever to experience significant cost and time-saving benefits, as well as gain a competitive advantage.”

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