Tag: construction tech: Page 27

Construction Equipment

Bobcat unveils Trimble 3D grade control for M-Series, a first for compact loaders

In big earthmoving jobs 3D GPS machine control on dozers and motor graders has proven its worth. Now Bobcat is bringing that same precision and performance to the compact end of the equipment scale with its new 3D grade control system. The company announced last week it is adding the option of using a Trimble […]

October 20, 2015

Technology

Most drone purchases will soon require registration with U.S. government

Soon, the majority of drone purchases, no matter the owner’s purpose for use, will be required to be registered with the federal government. According to a report from NBC News, the move comes as federal agencies have become increasingly concerned over the rise in “close calls between unmanned drones and aircraft flying into and out of some […]

October 19, 2015

Technology

Culture Dash: Inside Caterpillar and Uptake’s data-driven race to solve heavy equipment’s tech dilemma

It’s no secret that, among owners and operators in the construction industry, there’s a healthy amount of distrust of or flat-out disinterest in a lot of the technology heavy equipment manufacturers are now loading onto their machines. Adoption rates of telematics/machine monitoring, more economical and customizable engine power modes and GPS grading, are all low within […]

October 16, 2015

Construction Equipment

Once the Marines work out the kinks, Google’s robot dog could be pretty useful in construction, too

If you don’t know Spot by name, then you’re probably familiar with this made-of-nothing-but-knees robot dog’s jerky (and slightly terrifying) movements from its numerous TV appearances over the last few years. In that time, Google-owned robotics company Boston Dynamics has developed four versions of the dog, including Spot, the latest. And now, according to a report […]

October 8, 2015

Roadbuilding

Pleased with initial drone bridge inspections, Minnesota DOT plans to push aircraft’s capabilities further

Drones could become the primary method for bridge inspections for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The department has been impressed by the initial tests run with the technology and are planning to push its capabilities further with a second phase of testing next month. According to Minnesota Public Radio, MnDOT is getting ready enter the second and […]

October 5, 2015

Technology

US Radar’s ground-penetrating radar now features Garmin GPS, split-screen display

US Radar has enhanced the company’s ground-penetrating radar systems through the integration of Garmin GPS technology and an upgraded GPS software module. US Radar’s GPS software now has a split-screen view that can simultaneously display real-time radar-mapped imagery of the jobsite, along with the operator’s choice of public-sourced maps such as Google Earth or OpenStreetMap […]

September 28, 2015

Technology

Big Brother or Better Drivers? Inside the monitoring tech trucking and Caterpillar’s Smartband are using to make operation safer

If Big Brother isn’t watching you, he should be. And you should be glad he is. The revolution in digital technology and telematics has created new products that can monitor drivers and equipment operators, score them on how well they’re doing and help you coach them to become better and safer drivers. And just recently […]

September 23, 2015

Construction Equipment

Caterpillar launches Cat Inspect app, replacing forms with smartphones, tablets on machine walkarounds

Caterpillar has released a new app for smartphones and tablets that allows owners, operators and fleet managers to remove paper forms from their machine inspections. RELATED >> Caterpillar unveils the S40: Rugged smartphone’s slim design combines Cat DNA, user feedback (PHOTOS) Dubbed Cat Inspect, the app replaces Technical Analysis (TA1) inspection forms and preventative maintenance […]

September 17, 2015

Technology

RoadBump app cost-effectively provides IRI for road maintenance professionals

Road maintenance and engineering professionals can now get objective data cost effectively with RoadBump, an Android application from Grimmer Software that measures the roughness of a road using a smartphone. RoadBump allows road maintenance and engineering professionals to get estimated International Roughness Index (IRI) previously available only through inertial profilers. Using the Android device’s GPS and […]

September 14, 2015

Roadbuilding

3D Paver using Lidar, asphalt modeling to create adaptive surfaces, turns to Kickstarter for funding

The University of California Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) and Advanced Paving Technologies are teaming up to launch a Kickstarter campaign Oct. 15 to raise $60,000 in research funds for developing a 3D asphalt paver. The research would begin as early as next spring at UCPRC. According to Advanced Paving, Lidar is used to scan the surface to […]

September 10, 2015

Roadbuilding

Prototype “smart vest” could greatly reduce highway worker deaths and injuries by talking to traffic

With almost 600 construction workers killed a year in work-zone related accidents, the industry is desperate for some solutions. Researchers at Virginia Tech think they may have an idea that could cut those fatalities in half. Their solution is the InZoneAlert vest, which incorporates radio sensors and GPS tracking that workers wear on or inside the […]

September 4, 2015

Technology

FAA testing smartphone app that shows drone operators where they can and can’t fly

Last month the Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to drone operators: for crying out loud, stop flying so close to airplanes. Just a little more than halfway through the year, reports from pilots of planes and helicopters of drones drifting dangerously close into their airspace was up nearly 200 percent over the full 2014 […]

September 3, 2015