Infrastructure boom must trigger earthworks technology and skills investment

Wed 23 Nov 2016

Infrastructure boom must trigger earthworks technology and skills investment

The announcement in today’s Autumn Statement of a £23bn investment fund for innovation and infrastructure, also incorporating a £1.1bn ‘shovel ready’ boost to transport network infrastructure, adds to the recent backing of HS2 and Hinkley Point C, a welcome and major boost for the construction sector. However, delivering all of these projects successfully at the same time will be extremely challenging. With HS2 and Hinkley Point C already highlighted as projects that will be a drain on skills, technology and new equipment, it is now more important than ever that the earthworks sector makes a concerted push into new technologies and skills development.

We all recognise that attracting new operators into the industry is very difficult, so we also need to look at how the existing operator base can be supported to deliver projects more efficiently. This comes down to how much focus both Highways England and Local Authorities will place on technology led earthworks and in-turn, how main contractors will manage, specify and subcontract these works. Fewer available operators, means fewer machines onsite, so naturally, each machine will need to be more productive, with minimal downtime. This is why the wider adoption of fleet health monitoring and productivity is so important. finning-infrastructure-adt-and-excavator-shot-1

finning-infrastructure-adt-and-excavator-shot-1

So we need to look at how data from connected technologies, like in-cab payload monitoring on excavators, wheel loaders and articulated trucks, can work together to help operators move material once and move it well. Equally, the industry needs to take advantage of ‘on machine’ factory fitted solutions, like grade control for dozers and excavators, that can support both experienced and novice operators achieve the right slopes and levels.

With Highways England projects already successfully integrating surveying, machine control and 3D BIM models, all using connected site technologies; the key to success is all about how a fleet is specified. For example, if payload monitoring is to work effectively, all earthmoving equipment in the fleet needs to have the systems that can be monitored through a central portal. Earthworks technology however is only successful if the whole team embraces it. This is why a greater focus on awareness and training is needed and why a team culture of sharing and celebrating success is key.

We have seen how this approach has worked successfully in the quarrying sector in particular and transferring this knowledge into the wider construction sector will definitely be important.

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