Features

Latest software packages from Bentley Systems will help optimise project design and construction efficiency – Mike Woof reports Software systems have come a long way in helping optimise construction projects from design through construction to delivery. And the latest software from Bentley Systems offers additional capabilities for road design applications. Bentley Systems is offering the V8i (SELECTseries 3) versions of its InRoads, GEOPAK, and MXROAD products. All of the products now share the

The use of sophisticated machine control technology has helped halve the schedule required for a road contract – Jeff Winke. By using the latest machine control systems on the equipment fleet, a US contractor has managed to halve worker hours, machine time and overall costs. “We chopped 50% off the contract schedule,” said Jim Swenson, licensed professional land surveyor for Oregon Mainline Paving based in McMinnville, Oregon. “The project was completed a year ahead of the two-year schedule,” he explained.

Highway technology and services company Yotta DCL has announced new features for Horizons. The web-based platform integrates GIS, pavement and asset management for highways authorities and agencies to use in a visualised asset management system. The new version 2.3 adds features and functionality across three modules: Explorer, Analysis and Management. Explorer allows users to view, load and visualise a range of datasets, including base network data, their condition in fine detail, plus relevant asset or co

A quick look at various software development in highways – Adrian Greeman. Software for BIM processes, internet cloud based computing to link site and office, and the use of laser scan point-cloud data continue to be the central themes for major software suppliers in the road design area. Developments go hand in hand with the recent strategic agreements that firms like Autodesk and Bentley Systems have made with major survey companies, Topcon and Trimble respectively. The tie-ups, along with acquisitions, m

More efficient construction operations should be the benefit of the new technology from Leica Geosystems. The firm is introducing its latest Leica iCON telematics package, which is said to offer increased efficiency for machine control operations on site and remote machinery fleet management. The Leica iCON telematics package is a web-based suite of tools that allows contractors to increase the efficiency of machine control operations on site and manage machinery fleets. This is a key component in iCONnect,

More than 3,500 visitors from 80 countries attending Trimble Dimensions 2012 gained a vital insight into how information technology is revolutionising working practises in, among other fields, heavy civil construction, building construction, surveying, mapping and GIS, and transport and logistics Guy Woodford was among those attending the three-day event at The Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, USA Themed Transform the Way the World Works, Trimble Dimensions 2012 had new hardware and software launches aplenty, as

The historic city of Raleigh in North Carolina is one of the few cities in the US that was planned and built specifically to serve as a state capital and its population and traffic volume have grown enormously in recent years An indicator of Raleigh's growth has been the need for an expanded roadway system to serve Wake County. As early as the 1970s there were plans for a Western Wake Expressway. This developed into a 112km, interstate-grade beltway, known as the Raleigh Outer Loop, which will encompass Ral

UK-based Macleod Simmonds Ltd (MSL) has launched a GPR (Ground Probing Radar) consultancy providing both a survey service and software package which, the firm says, takes the output from multi-antenna surveys to a “whole new dimension”. The firm says it can now provide survey capability for almost any type of terrain, application or location that end users might require. For the existing roadway or smooth surface terrain survey location, MSL has a Carriageway System based on a multi-antenna set up from Ital

One of the interesting developments at the recent Hillhead quarry show in the UK, was of a rather more compact machine than usually seen at the exhibition. A UK equipment rental firm, CLS Selfdrive, revealed a US-manufactured compact grader equipped with machine control equipment. This is of note seeing that such machine control technologies are usually fitted to much larger machines. The increasing proliferation of the systems and the reduction in costs in real terms however means that this technology is n

The rapid increase in information availability is transforming the construction sector. Conventional methods used for sourcing geographic data based on maps and localised sampling meant that there was often a lack of accurate information relating to ground conditions at specific areas where work was planned, often resulting in unwelcome surprises for construction companies along with additional costs for projects.

Competition is increasing in the earthmoving sectors, and for some companies market share is improving The wheeled loader market is becoming more competitive, with a number of firms now challenging the leading players, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Volvo. In other earthmoving product sectors such as excavators, companies such as Case, Doosan, Hyundai, JCB, Liebherr and Volvo are becoming more aggressive in terms of sales and are capturing market share. Case is gearing up its operations in Western Europe, Eastern

In the drilling and hydraulic attachment sectors too, firms are offering novel solutions for the customer. Atlas Copco continues to develop its comprehensive range of drilling solutions in the shape of its latest down-the-hole (DTH) and SmartRig variants, as well as adding new compact rigs and new consumables to the line-up. The firm's latest Roc L630 DTH rig benefits from a new feed as well as improved cooling. The new aluminium feed is said to improve hole straightness and hole quality. It also allows the

Greater GPS accuracy suggests closer tolerances for surveying and machine control functions What happens in the future for GPS surveying and machine control could depend on satellite choice and signals. Right now there are around 30 satellites in orbit, largely built by the US, but by 2012 that could rise to 120 as Europe, China, India and Russia fully enter the market. A chequered history has faced the European's Galileo system. At long last, the finance appears to be in place and the European Commission a

Aerial survey specialist Bluesky is funding research into the development and use of a new system to map the UK’s cities and towns at night. Bluesky has teamed up with the University of Leicester to look at solutions using new high sensitivity camera sensor technology. Mounted on survey aircraft, the new system can record the location of street lights, illuminated road signs and other night-time sources of light. This can deliver an accurate resource for asset inventories, light pollution assessment and ene

New software and GIS innovations will help boost construction efficiency - Mike Woof reports Major software suppliers continue to develop their technology and offer new products to the market. Major developments from leading firms will help improve operations for contractors in many segments of the construction industry, from initial design and planning through to maintenance. Version 8 of the well-known ARCADY program for assessment of roundabout capacity is just released by UK transport research and soft