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machine control

Simply defined, machine control is a system integrated into construction equipment and machinery. Using electronic sensors, actuators, controllers, and software algorithms, it optimally automates machine excavation calculations and operation, making heavy construction work faster and safer. What’s more, the tech is only getting better. Some incorporate principles from control theory, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to adapt and adjust to changing environmental conditions and task requirements.

LABOUR FORCE SHORTAGE

With many experienced machine operators approaching retirement and the construction sector struggling to attract a new generation, the widening skill gap and labour shortage is one of the biggest challenges facing construction projects. 

In a report by Topcon, 77% of construction professionals acknowledge that machine control is a leading component when it comes to attracting talent. With the ease of implementation and operation control alongside an average increased efficiency of 50%, machine control is believed to widen the pool of candidates for heavy equipment operations and ultimately lessen the labour force requirements on-site. 

SUSTAINABILITY

The built environment industry must, however, make significant improvements to its sustainability. In a recent publication, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) found that the industry was decidedly off-track from the trajectory required to meet the UK’s net zero commitments.

It is not an utter disaster, as a report published at COP26 in Glasgow revealed that carbon emissions from the UK built environment did fall by 13% between 2018 and 2022. Yet this 13% is shockingly low in comparison to the 19% required to meet the UK’s net zero pathway. The report places needed pressure on the construction sector to adapt and operate more sustainably. 

REDUCTION IN WASTE

Machine control dramatically reduces material waste as operators can be far more accurate. Take Appleby’s SK210 Kobelco or “Ferrari of machines” as a key example, boasting a tolerance of 10-20mm. Operators like Appleby can accurately position earthwork machinery, allowing for precise digging and grading to get the results they want the first time, every time. 

ONSITE EFFICIENCY

Machine control has an immense impact on efficiency. It takes far less time to follow a screen than to decipher marks on the ground, so it is unsurprising that, when laying a foundation, GPS technology alone saves a minimum of 4 hours. On a 100-home development, that amounts to a whopping 16 days! Moreover, a second person is no longer required to check the dig level, which only further reduces man hours and increases efficiency. No profiling the ground, no remediation and no risk of incorrect finished levels and weeks can be saved.

The increased simplicity and quick accuracy of machine control also reduces the amount of time the engine is left running or idle. This lessens fuel consumption which both has obvious cost benefits and helps the planet by limiting carbon emissions. 

Machine control is itself an exciting new means of combating troublesome carbon emissions. It reduces material waste, increases efficiency, and cuts fuel use. 

This could be exactly what the industry needs to help meet the environmental targets of every project, and in turn the UK’s net zero commitments. 

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