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Year: 1999
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Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive DSpace Repository Theses and Dissertations 1. Thesis and Dissertation Collection, all items 1999 Laser technologies application to construction Shepard, Glenn A. Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/8610 This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States. Downloaded from NPS Archive: Calhoun
DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY "GRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA 93-943-5101 NA\
LASER TECHNOLOGIES APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCTION By GLENN A. SHEPHARD A Report Presented to the Graduate Committee of the Department Civil Engineering in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Civil Engineering University of Florida Summer 1999
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naK£N0X UBR ysrsssg** Abs tract ' Discovery on technology control, looked to main the field office project cost between focused subject this construction information - flow and program management. improve computer and more the Hypermedia), New research and machine collection objective data office (via and element, finite applied on focus importantly, control by applying portable laser technologies at the project site and linking collected computer data between work center supervisor/foreman. managers to concentration at project the linked to Global Positioning System real-time, for picture/modeling. applied devices cuts/grading, and Resultant site. technology allows (GPS) construction equipment increases productivity site (3-D) measuring laser data control and permits (bcy/hr) , exact saves labor, and when combined with night vision technology allows night operations. Limited the productivity optimal three-dimensional Further, to office This real time data allows realize immediately areas field the cost-benefit ratio for research shows a relatively low initial investment can produce gains up to 9 times during the short-term financial gain, of this technology first the improves year. In addition to the reliance and consistent use the firm that employs such and effort. competitive edge for any
Table of Contents List of Figures iii Introduction 1 Issue Identification 2 COMPUTERS AND LASER SCANNERS 4 Technology Gateway 4 Construction Productivity 8 Cost Benefit 11 The Future 14 LASERS 17 Background 17 Surveying and Global Positioning System 20 Concrete/Paving Screeds and Finishing 23 Construction Machinery and Equipment 27 NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY 32 Night Vision Goggles 32 Earthwork at Night 35 VIRTUAL REALITY 37 CONCLUSION 38 RECOMMENDATIONS 39 BIBLIOGRAPHY 41
List of Figures Figure 1. Most prevalent CPU seed for specified years 4 Figure 2. Most prevalent CD-ROM speed for specified years 5 Figure 3. Most prevalent modem data transfer speed for specified years 5 Figure 4. Construction project information flow chart 9 Figure 5. Laser type to construction application matrix 19 Figure 6. Typical laser surveying equipment 20 Figure 7. Hand screeded floor profile 24 Figure 8. Laser screeded floor profile 24 Figure 9. Laser actuated leveling concrete screed 25 Figure 10. Fully automatic laser controlled excavator 28 Figure 11. Fully automatic laser controlled bulldozer 29 Figure 12. Manual laser grader control system Figure 13. Small arms night firefight in 30 35
s . Introduction the construction industry has been the brunt of For years, The latest edition of "The jokes among the general public. Jobs Rated Almanac" 247 tr out of 250 job career possible and lumberjacks fishermen, the ranks construction worker as ahead choices, field oil of only This laborers. negative perception may be from the construction industry' inability dynamic to nature collection of the excessive reputation, varied effectively and and data often plan forecast, involved processes and costs, management late are results that due the to in completion. difficult activities unique react and poor Data the to comprise each project Generalizing, construction management tends to mainly focus on data collection processes and data management between the main construction office and the project field office. And, what remains is an informal and most often verbal exchange between the work face to and from the project field office; thus, critical information project misinterpretation several times over. is This subject to research will demonstrate the use of current technology by which objective data is transferred between the work face and field office. The current research will focus on laser technology natural harmony with computer and night vision technology. 1 in
Issue Identification Applying the latest laser and computer technologies to data collection from and data management field the processes, office optimizes wasted reduces from work the objectivity the and effort, face reduces to and of the excessive The objective is to improve the competitive edge for costs. construction firms. Now, technological the potential is Hypertext. beginning optimization this Hypertext driven data systems are This particular advancement is what drives the everywhere. This process allows the user easy surfing of the Internet. to for navigate by clicking on colored text which is linked particular data base hand-held personal or interactive computers (PCs) computing power of a basic desktop PC. widely used today control, Lasers from point sale of Portable databases. are a prevalent with the Laser scanners are (POS) , inventory to and to graphical scanning. applied cuts/grading, labor cost. to construction increases equipment productivity permits (bcy/hr) , precise and saves Combining night vision technology, specifically Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) , with laser controlled machines will allow for productive night operations without the need for temporary lighting or portable light plants. It's time
s that combination of construction jobsite. these three items apply to today'
COMPUTER AND LASER SCANNERS Technology Gateway Computers have enjoyed tremendous growth in this industry is best growth since The 1980. illustrated by graphs showing exponential performance growth of critical computer Below (Figures hardware system components. graphical vs. representations illustrating: Time, Average CD-ROM Maximum Speed vs. 1-3) are three Average CPU Speed Time, and Average Modem Transfer Speed vs. Time. AVERAGE CPU SPEED 1980 1982 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Time - Years Figure 1. Most prevalent CPU speed for the specified year (Pen Computing, 1998)
AVERAGE CD-ROM SPEED 1998 1990 1980 Time - Years Figure 2. Most CD-ROM prevalent indicated year (Pen Computing, speed (max.) for the 1998) AVERAGE MODEM TRANSFER SPEED 60000 * 50000 D 40000 0) 30000 a. 20000 10000 -+- 1 980 1982 1986 1988 1990 Time Figure 3. - 1992 1994 1996 1998 Years Most prevalent modem data specified year (Pen Computing, 1998) transfer speeds for
. At issue with today' computer s will industry; performance growth in hardware continue? industry consumption computer the growth, hardware aforementioned As a consequence physical This trends. and power with the size consummately deceased have exponential comparison will be A specific development to come out of the discussed later. rise of the computer age was Hypertext. hypertext In 1991, was defined as a "database system of text and graphics that allowed the reader to jump from idea to idea depending on one's interest" which is linear (Williams - vice 1991), beginning to end. traditional Before the reading Internet, hypertext was used as an interactive data access tool. By 1993, Hypertext technology had changed dramatically. example, the Evaluation United (T&E) States contracted Navy scope and methods for Navy received a categorized and the upcoming T&E of their prototype Modular Elevated Causeway System The Test for For hypertext (ELCAS-M) program that enveloped plans and specifications with the Navy's specified performance requirements. 1995, During the actual T&E in April, an inspector assigned to the tractor trailer turntable located at the end of the constructed causeway with pier sat in a driving storm accessing, from his laptop, plans, specifications, inspection forms and photos of the turntable components. The inspector placed additional digital
pictures inspection completed on to document The inspector forms performance of the components. Clearly, Navy received objective data. the He did not carry voluminous only took some reference notes. specifications and drawing sheets, documents. Further, or Navy test requirement the data from the T&E was analyzed and easily downloaded into the completed with staff of four "a remarkable productivity advance a months after the test - final report. and ready The report was for review two from a process that typically took a year with a similar T&E effort." (NSWC, Carderock 1995) From here, computer we and will laser make a scanning construction productivity. transition technology effects of improvement on into
Construction Productivity Project Manager Ginger Evans, Airport, School and the described a Airport Fort-Worth the in with (DIA) Airport (DFW) the "information construction same time access in information and productivity made was coordination, workers communication completion, chain DIA construction, communication, 10,000 of filtered on site down to at command was every 20 of prior. years years. or verbal level. possible a to successive by (Evans 1998) many through With construction output, task communicating task and resource and The was And, and scheduling problems. peak the critical flow suffered workers non-completion, at speech in representing - improvements made to computer capability." During a construction completed 20 doubled construction productivity rate accelerated Florida of which was twice the size of DFW, stated that DIA, completed University Construction, Rinker E. She compared the construction of the Denver International She M. similar productivity increase during November 1998. Dallas Denver International Distinguished Lecturer, 1998 Building of the for problems therefore DIA the up subjective management project computer systems focused on obtaining construction data at an intermediate level system, the data was (project field office) . Once in the considered to be objective, but that
. data changed many was Below field office. times (Figure over 4) from is worker the to the typical large project a information flow chart: Resource Management Computer Input - Operations Considered an objective data delivery system Verbal - Highly subjective Figure Information 4. flow chart distinguishing between objective data input sources/users and subjective data input sources/users Driving users is out the subjectivity subjective data optimizing is greatly sources goal. helped This by and subjective goal to applying computing assets into the work face arena. drive data out portable
Today, 13-pound laptop computers of have given way to 6 a ounce hand-held PCs. couple of years And, a ago decrease in computer component power consumption coupled with lithiumion battery technology has contributed to increased computer smaller hand-held computer capability and to the abundance of portable micro-computing sizes. technology, With the construction industry can optimize objectivity and minimize wasted effort, additional information. work face effort were initial investment back call i.e. for clarification or The cost-benefits of this objective researched to be up to over first the year. 9 This return on investment discussed in the next section. 10 times the expected
Cost-Benefit revealed Research for $250,000 construction project report this that according to goals. could he his for uncertainties he The total everything control; within plan; lumber, For all material project where a cost The project manager did not realize any totaled $150,000. problems completed recently a schedule and proceeded cost control he ordered about 5% extra quantity categorized as "waste and shrinkage." lumber cost was $80,000. $4,000 worth of Thus, lumber was ordered above what was required. The project manager introduced a bar code laser scanner and mandated the uncut lumber storage area scanned once The collected data lumber ($4000) was lumber saw his 90% his of walking off the and noticed thereafter. week, was $400. for 15 area) The storage The equaled $3600. the a steep total and only 10% was unsecured and located 20 area drop The cost of cost of project minutes each week . additionally ordered job; feet from a busy city thoroughfare. area week. The project manager looked out his window actually waste. and showed a potential (time savings in He secured the lumber unaccounted the bar lumber laser scanner code time was one person's to scan the were 90% each time lumber storage of $4000, which That potential savings represented 1.44% of project cost. Finally, 11 the Cost/Benefit ratio
for this particular effort was 9. objective how data revealed a This example illustrates problem that easily was mitigated, and provided opportunity to achieve up to times 9 return on the initial investment. The above cost-benefit example involved materials, noted here that motivation and it is optimizing the project was for not self-actuated by the project manager (PM) - the PM was told of this savings potential. The following example examines the benefit from objectively reported productivity on in Puerto Rico. asset quantities Due island setting, the to were linearly scheduled paving project a The fixed. pothole replacement then set completion date was consisted 3^-inch overlay over a wide existing highway for project 8 miles. equipment the a of foot- 40 While the politically obtainable at the beginning of the project, two weeks of rain at start up required the schedule to be compressed. Initially, per day. to a the recorded overlay production rate was workday change from 10 hours/day 6 week. No other changes 12 to 15 days in a row, rate dropped to 0.65 miles per day, next mile The overlay rate soon slipped to 0.75 mile/day due Consequently, after working for the 1 hours/day. the overlay where it remained into were made to affect
productivity; on the and thus, last day the project was H mile short of completing. Why was there date? A error lack of information was at information did not achieving in objective reporting productivity of Intuitively, fault. illustrate clearly completion original the the the provided scenario to managers. Everyone involved physically saw the production rate fall, but their subjectivity meant they that could not (individual and combined) forecast gradually fading productivity rate. the project hand-held PC, superintendent reported end the In result retrospect, production of a should data via cause of the production rate decline would be objectively and explicitly linked to more over-time per day combined with successive workdays without a day off. The objective completion date result would have shown the slipping beyond what the crew was being held to. two examples demonstrate potential savings computer and laser scanning technologies. 13 from These applying
The Future To some degree, construction comparative growth of following construction provides corresponding Evan's Ginger effort DIA presupposes productivity. construction But computing major DFW and application airport exponential quickly, the milestones with selected years in since 1950: Year Computer Age Construction Application 1950 Big Mainframe Complex weapons systems 1970 Initial PC development Some construction data base management 1980 Desktop PC Database management and manipulation, Forecasting, Computer Aided Design (CAD) , and Word processing 1990 Micro-computers/Laptop Simulation, Integrated database management, Database links, and Internet 14
1998 Portable Age - Hand-held PC Virtual Simulation, Digitized scanning, Voice Recognition and imagery The shown trend, illustrates above, portable type PC computing being pushed down to the individual on the go, the More field. with importantly, operating construction foreman. to an From cost benefit examples, can significantly out the benefits impact less in distance initial costs, plus portable computer technology cost is minuscule compared to many project cost. philosophy macro-economic Further, employing supports portable microcomputers for innovation by supply and demand driven innovation. regarding their projects have Construction with experience stated construction innovative "problems" that professionals industry construction drive innovation and owner's demands dictate innovation added) and (Nam Tatum, et al 1992) The . comment emphasizes and captures demand-side innovative process. material cost surfaces the reduction The previously from a often neglected construction innovation must - factors in the project scanner example supply-side factors This two-factor system be constructors in search of optimization. 15 aforementioned discussed code factor affecting construction innovation. of bar (emphasis clearly defined to
From here, technologies the and research their will focus application industry. 16 exclusively to the on laser construction
LASERS Background Lasers frequently are in A news. the medical report describes how they're used for delicate procedures such as repairing retinas, removing tattoos or burning tiny holes in the heart. An industrial journal reports on lasers cutting A photographer displays intricate shapes out of titanium. collection of holograms shot with In fact, a a laser he built. lasers are used for diverse applications. The one thing these uses have in common is the need for remarkable precision. for fit That need for precision made surveying. Now, other construction chores. have their use is lasers being natural a expanded Before we examine those, to let's quick history lesson. a Lasers were invented in 1959 when it was found that an atom in an excited state would shed photon of the spontaneously same emit energy before a level photon when struck by a the as returning to photon the it ground would state. These two photons would then provide the energy for excited with atoms to shed their original photons. 17 photons in phase other the
. imagine Simply, Imagine scattered on it. with table pool a randomly balls the pool hall shark setting up the a cue ball and hitting it so that it strikes any other ball. These two balls now go hit two others. four every ball Soon others. started with one moving ball. thing is pocket. laser that a This process, Emission of Radiation name. put ball , by what gave the is the in Amplification Light (LASER) every all it side Stimulated laser its The output of a laser is light that is directional, monochromatic intense, light will and really remarkable the Now, strike four motion, in is These waves are (usually synchronized red) , because coherent and the photons are (the in phase) In the cheaper, years since lasers were invented, 40 smaller and more reliable. they've become Additionally, you can build a basic laser with parts from an electronics store or science supply house. Figure 5, below, application matrix. depicts laser a type to construction It is from here that further discussion will proceed. 18
/of /J? A? X Earthmcving Paving Operation Site Modeling (3-D) Management Data Collection Safety Detection (Cranes) Vteldino/Cutting Crane Operation Figure Note: 5. // / X X X X X X X / X X Concrete Finishing Material // /J Laser Construction Application Surveying /r X X X X X X X Laser Type to Construction Application Matrix Safety Detection (cranes), Welding/Cutting, Operation applications will not be discussed. 19 and Crane
. Surveying Surveyors have used lasers for years. The better models are accurate to within plus or minus 1/16 inch over 100 feet. typical package internal system, the laser, a tripod, and grade rods to hold the sensors. sensors, an includes stabilizing to make while in use. it mechanism, called one A or more The laser has a compensation resistant to shock and ground vibration See Figure 6 for a representative surveying component A new development mounted lasers. in surveying is the use of aircraft- A laser unit is attached to the underside of an airplane or helicopter and transmits its beam toward the ground. Figure 6. Typical Laser Surveying Navigation Ltd., 1999) 20 Equipment. (Trimble
Positioning correlate units on point pulse each ground the and aircraft A position. plane's the to the in computer combines the position and laser data to produce a three-dimensional map (3D) the of Accuracy ground. is maintained via Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. map This can ground show aboveground features such buildings. Compared to or with survey points results can be obtained in all, few months it might take (TOPCON Laser Systems, Another for methods, the spaced few accuracy. a Best of "few hours rather than the a a two-person survey crew." 1999) construction emerging and lines, survey feet apart and yielding 4-inch vertical include can it power trees, as traditional are more precise, results features, scanning and modeling system. developed by Cryra Technologies, application is A system currently being is Incorporated. a 3D laser A portable, auto-scanning laser and PC system allows collection of up to 800 as-built points per second from surfaces up to 110 yards Collected away. system' s points software, l/50 th of an inch. in to are a 3D immediately model with converted, an accuracy via of The system's software allows collected data to be exported to popular CAD and rendering software. The innovative, pulsed laser 21 (eye-safe, Class II), has
advantages over conventional fixed-beam lasers. high power of each pulse allows the operator First, to the conduct survey without the use of targets or reflectors. a Part of the emitted laser energy is naturally reflected back to the instrument by the object being measured, not perpendicular to the incident even for surfaces laser beam. This reflector-less aspect also allows for measuring objects that are inaccessible, such as mine walls or suspended mechanical system components, or for hazardous locations like highways, airports, and hazardous waste/materials where disruption to operation is eliminated. 22
Concrete and Paving Screeds and Finishers A common finishing Houghton, application for paving and Michigan, technology laser operations. claims Somero their Model S-240 is concrete Enterprises, screed laser can place up to 50,000 square feet of concrete a day or 240 square feet in estimated that one-minute pass. single, a a crew with a At best, diameter 48-inch finisher can complete 32,000 square feet per day. 1986) The productivity machine is 38%. floor. Figures increase Additionally, 7 and 8 the of it is machine (Walker, laser-placing the end result is a flatter illustrate floor flatness (FF) measured in inches over the plane surface in yards. While the floor profile deviations of ^-inch over 10 yards for a hand screed floor appear to be insignificant, created demand for near perfect floor flatness will occur. computer produce of electronics faster and manufacturing produce a better Perhaps certain companies quality resulting from a near perfectly level concrete slab. 9 shows a typical laser controlled screed. 23 could product Figure
HAND SCREEDED FLOOR PROFILE 0.4 = 0.2 ° - — 8- -9 -0.2 4£- -0.4 Yards Figure 7. Hand Screed Floor Profile over plane measurement in yards. - deviation in inches (Laser Screed Ltd., 1999) LASER SCREEDED FLOOR PROFILE 8 — 9 4-0- -0.4 Yards Figure 8. Laser Screed Floor Profile - deviation in inches over plane measurement in yards. 24 (Laser Screed Ltd., 1999)
For the average wear surface or where the concrete slab is to be covered by another material like tile, wood, carpet, or the value of a laser screeded surface is not warranted. Figure 9. Laser Actuated Leveling Concrete Screed Screed Ltd., 1999) 25 Laser
Application for pavement (asphalt and concrete) is much different than structure slabs, as users travel over the finished surface at high speeds. The surface imperfections in the pavement are transferred to the user through via the vehicle suspension system. Laser screed use in pavement construction mitigates the surface smoothness distortion that the driver would experience. Intuitively, a reduction in pavement surface distortion would result in reduced maintenance cost for both the roadway owner and the vehicle owner. 26
Construction Machinery and Equipment The laser's control. accuracy Graders, also makes it useful for machine scrapers and excavators can use lasers to maintain tight tolerances. The other significant importance of laser controlled machines is productivity rate increase. "If a small contractor puts on a grader control system and gets and additional worth of productivity, 50% then he is not going to let that grader sit around for half the year." (McGarry, checker 1996) is With the grader control system, eliminated under and, grading can be accomplished in 3 rd the gear. right But, if you're laying down grade conditions, "The initial price can scare the devil out of some people considering system. a a laser five miles of road and your operator is off his grade by ^-inch for the entire five miles, grade." it will mean that much more rock or pavement to reach (Harris, 1996) Before the research continues with exciting productivity gains, the research must focus on the detailed workings of such systems. Machine control can be either fully automatic or manual. manual mode, the system relies on the operator to In make adjustments in response to lights on the laser sensor that indicate above, below or at grade. connect to the machine's Fully automatic systems hydraulic system and send electronic signals that prompt the machine to automatically 27
' make adjustments illustrates a to proper fully automatic to a typical excavator. laser grader, control grade systems or depth. Figure 10 system applied laser control Figures 11 and 12 illustrate manual applied to a typical bulldozer and respectively. w Figure 10. Fully Automatic Laser Controlled Components on Typical Excavator. (Topcon Laser Systems, 28 1999) a
-I f« Figure 11. Conventional Laser Control Device Bulldozer Outfitted (Topcon Laser Systems, 29 with 1999) Manual
Figure 12. Systems, Manual Grader Laser Control System (TOPCON Laser 1999) Do lasers have limitations? Yes, slope found in common site prep, are still confined to flat planes. or crown, lasers reasonably durable, won't work. while they can handle any and even dual slopes, If your site has a curve And although they're not hammer-proof. 30 they If they're a laser
and sledgehammer a knocked get together the in bed of a pickup truck, the laser loses. Another question compared to ask, to emerging how well is technology, Computer Aided Earthmoving System will lasers such (CAES) ? perform Caterpillar's as Caterpillar hopes their development will "revolutionize" the mining industry. CEAS is which (CMETS) and part GPS of integrates technology) positioning, job machine control. robots Mining Cat and If Earthmoving Technology advanced communications machine , and monitoring, business management (wireless diagnostics software, and and the day comes where machines are mere controlled by an elaborate system of computers and satellites, where the operator only observes the work from a tower with one hand poised over a kill switch, lasers will be decidedly old-tech. For now lasers offer incredible precision and, in the right application, they can increase production exponentially. think, all this because 40 years playing around with nervous atoms. 31 ago some To scientists were
NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY Night Vision Goggles The use see into of Night Vision Goggles visible the night. light enhances one's un-aided eye The spectrum and thermal ability to within operates imagers operate the within the infrared spectrum. Night Vision Goggles operate in the visible infrared spectrum, see light and near amplified both visible light and allowing one the near to infrared. Night Vision Goggles allow pilots and observers to use the most aviation important acuity) to see in a available asset low (increased environment, light visual effectively allowing aircrews to see in the dark with their own eyes. There exists a misconception that one' when using Night Vision Goggles s vision is restricted (NVG) due technology 40-degree field of view limit. normal unaided eye has In most Therefore, this states, continuing a to current the Consider that the visual acuity of 20-200 at night. is classified with as aircrew, the legally blind. members "have approximately a 200 degree un-aided field of view at night, they are blind. employing instrument flying with Given NVG' this s flight they acuity visual information, should, proficient 32 at in classified if a order aircrews are not be basic conduct night minimum, to legally as
flight operations with margin greatest the safety." of (Skycop, 1999) Because NVG' vision s allow un-aided peripheral vision as underneath the aircrew goggles, decreasing their field of view. NVG's, In fact, members well are as not by properly using those same aircrew members have added 40 degrees of 20-40 vision to their 200 degrees of 20-200 vision. More importantly, by employing proper techniques scanning while using NVG's, aircrew members can actually increase the area of 20-40 vision up to 180 degrees or more. Contrary to Night Vision Goggles actually enhance the popular concept, effectiveness of airborne searchlights, while simultaneously increasing flight safety. does not The intensity of the searchlight significantly limit With acuity. NVGs can be used in urban environments, light, see in mind, with high intensity with minimal image "washout". This allows aircrews to into parks, this dark areas shorelines, a as alleys, between buildings, and areas that otherwise cannot be seen using the unaided eye. which appears as such NVGs are affected by "green" light, bright blotch. Military operations with NVGs show best visual acuity with blue or red light sources. or guides, as a person's affected by red light. Red is recommended for markers natural night vision is not Un-aided night vision is interrupted 33
for some time white light. (U. after S. exposure Army, 1996) 34 to other colored light and
Earthwork at Night The have Navy's been equipment offered expeditionary construction experimenting with night. at little productivity. Such incentive Figure 13 due operations to a traditionally significant picture of Seabees, construction operating heavy night is experts, a losses small in arms firefight at night, where the distance from weapon to target impact is 1200 yards. The distance is hard to discern from the figure. Figure 13. Small Arms Night Fire. NMCB FOUR FEX, 1998) 35 (Operation Bearing Duel,
With the advent of Night Vision Goggles earthwork production and accuracy, improved little. the Navy's (NVG's), during night operations, The complaint from the operators was that they "could not feel" what they were excavating, grading, or loading. it at a cost - only being able is like laser The NVG's offer the ability to see at night, a picture. guiding and There is no controlling to but see in two dimensions Applying depth perception. technologies the to Navy's equipment combined with the NVG's will allow the "feel" to be perceived by the operator. The addition of laser technology will allow the to operate productively at night. 36
Virtual Reality The day will come when machines by and elaborate and satellites; site kill where, computers of the operator of computers observes from a tower with his only control on a Combining switch. machines, 3D the project keyboard and controlled laser modeling, and and night vision technologies will accelerate the coming of such Just system are mere robots controlled think a day. of the many new applications undertaken with that system scenario. that could be Man doesn't like to work in extreme conditions like heat and cold, Consider that man as or confined a labor instrument really operates efficiently at 70 degrees fehrinheight and and outer space. 50% relative humidity; anything up or down and productivity exponentially decreases. (Oglesby, Et al, 1989) Machines have a much greater range of operating conditions. Applications of advances in the aforementioned technologies can only benefit society. 37
Conclusion simulations, and continued research There are papers, books, aim that improve to productivity productivity initiatives. construction innovation innovation.'' "problems" and demands vision tangible gains s (Nam and Tatum, in technologies in factors subjective eliminate owner' laser technologies addressing two However, (1) s night and and Additionally, (emphasis added) on applying today' term construction Subjectivity in data information systems derails industry. computer the in 1992) can for laser equipment and machines. equipment initiatives: long (1) and (3) are on short term success: and (2) The best construction Laser application on construction machines and precise concrete/paving placement labor, applications Focus productivity. realize neglected supply-side innovative factors. opportunities . produce management, database dictate combination with construction drives drive illustrates guiding, cuts screeds, opportunities to combination with Night Vision Goggles. 38 (2) improvement three and grading, reducing operate at and required night in
Recommendation Further research linking cost to field application of lasers in earthwork is needed. gross productivity earthwork controlled Intuitively, equipment. it can be shown that better is there However, without is laser point a in completing an earthwork operation where the application of precise curves controlled laser versus match. equipment increase productivity non-controlled equipment productivity curves This fact must remain at the cognitive forefront for considering managers laser-controlled machines. Obviously, using machines to work where man can or will not provides wonderful opportunities to better society. It is the opportunities that will create the demand by customers. Additionally, there need is for improvement in better linking technology research to practical application in the field. The drive to facilitate persuasive discussion using technology to the fullest extent is controlled by cost and associated risk with that cost. Maximizing thinking out of the box to optimize a firm's competitive edge as it relates to construction management works that want to grow. Investor's company ought to grow; is viewed as a tool. 39 for those and financiers therefore, survival only companies assume each investment in technology Some may view growth in
. . technology industries merely leads to spillover effects into construction, but the research demonstrates tremendous private construction industry innovation is being developed. What a time to be involved in an ever dynamic era. following The is summary a specific of recommendations specifically for the United States Navy: • Invest adding in laser technologies ongoing to investments in night vision and computer technologies. • The to Naval Facilities task the Naval (NFCES) with combining Engineering Command ought Facilities Engineering Service Center initiating laser (NAVFAC) with Test night and Evaluation vision and (T&E) of computer technologies • The Navy ought Development to (R&D) partner with initiatives effort 40 commercial to reduce Research and duplicative
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