Machine control helps with earthquake reconstruction

In Japan the latest machine control technologies are being used to help with earthquake reconstruction. Three years after the major earthquake that devastated Miyagi Prefecture on Japan’s main island of Honshu, the clean-up and reconstruction work is far from complete. In addition to rebuilding infrastructure and buildings, the Japanese Government has had to build a series of major improvements to flood protection.
December 4, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

In Japan the latest machine control technologies are being used to help with earthquake reconstruction.

Three years after the major earthquake that devastated Miyagi Prefecture on Japan’s main island of Honshu, the clean-up and reconstruction work is far from complete. In addition to rebuilding infrastructure and buildings, the Japanese Government has had to build a series of major improvements to flood protection.
~
To help speed the rebuilding, sophisticated machine control systems were fitted to the earthmoving machines. Contractor Shimizu installed 1228 MOBA’s Xsite PRO 3D excavation system to move and landscape a total of 52,000m3 of earth within the necessary but tight time slot of just five months. A completely new dyke, taller than before, was built over a total length of 500m in order to ensure stronger and more effective protection against flooding. The tsunami that followed the massive earthquake had swamped the area, causing enormous damage. However the dyke had to feature a steep embankment with an incline angle of 50%, which was challenging to the construction team. But using the 3D system made the process easier than with conventional technologies.

First, the 3D model of the planned dyke, which had been previously created in the office, was transferred to the Xsite PRO system. This model provided the task specification for the excavator operator, along with the respective incline angle and depth specifications. Each work step had to be precisely recorded and represented on the display. Using sensors mounted on the boom, arm, bucket and chassis, the system was able to register the position of the bucket at all times. The machine position and orientation were determined by means of GNSS. The display showed the values in the terrain model, so the excavator operators could recognise when the desired incline angle and depth had been attained and where further material needed to be moved. This allowed the dyke to be built precisely according to the model.

According to the contractor, this resulted in time savings of 15%. Meanwhile there was no need to place stakes on the site, further reducing the time and expense of the job, while it was also possible to avoid having to hire two surveyors for the task of surveying.

Earthmoving & soil compaction Connected Construction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Trimble’s latest advance in machine controls
    April 12, 2018
    Trimble is building on proven technology with its latest advances for the machine control segment - Mike Woof writes With new systems coming to market, Trimble is keen to retain its strong position in the machine control segment. The firm is now introducing advanced technology for the bulldozer segment, which utilises similar systems to the Earthworks package unveiled for excavators at the CONEXPO show in early 2017. Eric Crim is product manager for machine control systems in Trimble's heavy & highway
    Read More
  • Danish digging for Leica Geosystems’ 3D machine control
    October 26, 2017
    In Denmark’s northern Jutland, Leica Geosystems’ equipment is being used to help build a 40km motorway, one of the fastest-built such projects in the country’s history. The Danish Road Directorate is the client for the €5.4 million motorway between the two Danish cities of Herning, to the south with around 50,000 people, and Holstebro, a city of about 35,000 people, north of Herning. Preliminary ground investigations were made in 2013 and work started in 2015 with completion set for 2018.
    Read More
  • Wireless remote control a key feature of new concrete pavers
    March 20, 2012
    Slipform paver manufacturers are currently seeing strong business gains, Mike Woof reports The concrete slipforming sector is seeing strong business gains at present, with high demand for machines right around the globe. In Europe and the US, barrier machines are in particular demand, while in Russia airport paving is top of the agenda. All over the world, airports have to be rebuilt to cope with new large aircraft, and machines are busy operating in Asia, Europe and both North and South America on this
    Read More
  • Airport runway rebuild at Bologna
    May 15, 2019
    Rebuilding a runway requires special attention to detail to maximise efficiency and safety Airport runways face special challenges with regard to the loads they carry on a daily basis, particularly when aircraft are landing. A modern jet aircraft will typically land at speeds of around 240-260km/h, with a laden 747 weighing as much as 265tonnes at the end of a long flight. The stresses these large aircraft place on runway surfaces are enormous and not just with the massive impact forces exerted during
    Read More

Highlighted Content