SiteLink 3D is an advanced communications system that streamlines the work and communication of those involved on a construction site.
CAD drawings are updated and transferred directly to the machines and support can be given immediately on the work site. The system has two main components:
- Software and hardware on a machine for communication
- Software and hardware at the office or job trailer to analyse data
Test projects in Sandåker (northern Sweden) have now been completed - one of the first workplaces in the world to test the software on a real construction site.
The benefits of SiteLink
With machine control 3DMC2 and SiteLink software, the project manager can overview the machines in real-time from his office and transfer updated files or text messages directly to the machines at the work site, making it easier to keep track of multiple projects simultaneously and ensure that everyone is working with the latest updated version, without having to actually visit the site.
Although machine control has been around for over 10 years, it has escalated in the past five – today almost every machine on the construction site has it. With sensors mounted on the machine’s moving parts and GPS antennas, it is possible to measure the exact positioning of blades, so work is carried out with complete precision.
With SiteLink, everyone involved in the program can see each other, send messages, and have an overview of the whole work site in real-time. The SiteLink program 3D Office is installed on the existing computers and connected to the system via modem.
Successful tests in Sandåker
The test project in Sandåker was successful, and the cooperation between NCC and Topcon continued with three ongoing major infrastructure projects in the Umeå area. Machine control is used on almost every machine on the different construction sites, and SiteLink is installed on five of them.
The greatest benefits of SiteLink are that everyone has the latest plans, and the work is done with precision. The software makes it possible for the project manager to support or take over the screen on the machines and give assistance if a problem occurs. Bigger issues can be resolved quickly from any of the support offices around the world and get fixed on site. If an excavator is idle then people and trucks are also idle, so the consequences of a stop are far-reaching. No stops means saved time, and money.
Hearing from the Sandåker site, the project manager, Patrik Danielsson, said how reassuring it was, because of SiteLink, to always know that everyone was “working with the latest update”. Survey engineer, Kenneth Berg, also commented that the software has “become a must, together with machine control. I can no longer do without it…the quality of work is so much better”.
What happens next?
The next steps are to work with SiteLink’s different models, including one which involves the machine drivers logging their finished work on the 3D program. This information is then transferred straight to the site manager, surveyors and engineers, who can then compare the information with the original instructions.
Find out more about SiteLink 3