You may not believe it now, but in 2015, our heavy earthwork machinery inventory consisted of a single backhoe, a couple of skid steers, and a mini excavator. But as a construction company in Utah, In just seven years, we鈥檝e grown rapidly. Our team now completes some of the largest heavy civil and industrial projects in the Intermountain West.

With the pace of growth we鈥檝e experienced, we needed partners who could keep up. We鈥檙e proud to say Komatsu has been one of our strongest partnerships, giving 星空传媒 the tools it needs to succeed.

Komatsu Rises to the Challenge

Our Vice President, Troy Johnson, says, 鈥淥ver the last few years, we鈥檝e been one of the larger earthmoving contractors in the area. If Komatsu had not stepped up and provided what we needed, we wouldn鈥檛 be where we are today.鈥�

As our scope of projects has increased, the team at Komatsu鈥檚 Rocky Mountain听Region hasn鈥檛 skipped a beat. Jim Slade, the territory manager, as well as Garin Humphrey and Lynn Holt, find what we need when we need it.

鈥淥n any given day, we may need 20 haul trucks, five excavators, and eight dozers; that鈥檚 just the world we live in now,鈥� Troy says. 鈥淲hen we need it, we need it fast. Komatsu delivers 鈥� and then has the support to serve it along the way.鈥�

More Than Just Equipment

Matt 星空传媒, our President, agrees that Komatsu鈥檚 attention to service is what really seals the deal. 鈥淲e love our Komatsu equipment; we think they have great technology, but if the service and the partnership weren鈥檛 there, it wouldn鈥檛 be a good fit for us.鈥澨�

Since 星空传媒 relies on being a problem-solver for our clients, we needed to find an equipment supplier who could do the same thing for us. 鈥淎s not just a supplier but a partner, we can lean on Komatsu for different ideas,鈥� Matt says. 鈥淲e can give them a heads up when we鈥檙e going after large projects, and they make sure we get the equipment we need with competitive pricing.鈥�

Komatsu + 星空传媒: A Case Study of Success

A recent mine reclamation project was a perfect example of why Komatsu is a valuable partner for us. The Komatsu team dedicated a mechanic to our project, guaranteeing less downtime when issues came up. On top of that, their equipment made the project run more efficiently. Our team used the Komatsu D155AX-8 and D375A-8 dozers. These dozers ended up saving our operators time when they got to the bottom of the steep slopes after a push. Unlike the competitor鈥檚 model we were used to, these dozers could back up the hill. Without the need to turn around after each push, we improved productivity.听

Other recent projects completed with Komatsu equipment include a waste rock reclamation project in Bingham Canyon, Utah鈥檚 first lithium plant, and more.

Read Our Recent Feature in Komatsu Connections

As we continue to scale and grow, it鈥檚 reassuring to have a partner who makes sure access to equipment never slows us down. Komatsu鈥檚 ability to meet our needs is helping us fulfill our client鈥檚 needs, too.

We鈥檙e proud to be featured in Komatsu鈥檚 Read the full article to learn more about our continuing partnership.

The post Our Transition Into Heavy Civil With the Support of Komatsu Equipment appeared first on 星空传媒.

By 2025, the augmented reality (AR) industry is projected to be worth more than $571 billion, growing 63.3% in seven years. The wide-spread growth of this technology includes its uses in the construction industry. Since the inception of augmented reality, construction companies have found ways of adopting AR to improve project efficiency. It is quickly becoming a standardized tool on most job sites.听

Augmented reality provides a digital overlay of real-world views to interpret, understand, and construct projects using various data points and site personnel. AR鈥檚 detailed design information includes precise 3-D drawings, site analysis, productivity statistics, and safety warnings.

As AR technology matures, it has the ability to transform the entire future of construction. 星空传媒, a heavy civil contractor, gathered details about augmented reality鈥檚 current role in the construction industry and what you can expect to see in the coming years.听

How Augmented Reality Works

Augmented reality combines real and digital environments for a completely immersive experience. AR uses GPS and camera technology to display 3D imagery of surrounding physical environments, using specialized equipment, including mobile devices and helmets.

AR unit capabilities include presenting accurate data geospatially while updating and displaying the information as it moves. Users can also find information like schedules, operational details, and structural plans using AR technology, which helps automate construction processes in real-time.

How is AR Used in the Construction Industry

Augmented reality in construction depends on the real-time information feature to boost project efficiency, improve employee safety, streamline collaboration, manage costs, and improve client confidence. Here are some of the functions of augmented reality that heavy civil contractors are currently using:

Project Design and Development听

Augmented reality allows designers in heavy civil construction to understand the job site and project needs more in-depth. AR displays the environmental and social impacts visually while showcasing the result on a detailed level.听听

Using AR, designers, architects, contractors, and clients can collaborate, using models that fully showcase the project. Clients can then make decisions based on the current plan and adjust as needed.

听Accurate Measurements

Augmented reality technology can measure project elements, including depth, height, and width of a space. By incorporating augmented reality in design models, a heavy civil contractor team will accurately determine dimensions and comprehensively display how the project will look once complete.

听These measurements also allow contractors to accurately determine the necessary labor hours and materials needed for the project, which cuts costs.

听Real-Time Revisions

One of the most useful advantages of using augmented reality in construction is seeing how design features fit the site before implementing them. This technology increases project visibility, which in turn improves material and labor estimates.

Workers can automatically measure built pieces and compare them to the specified measurements from a model with on-site AR technology. These discoveries allow contractors to make on-site revisions when any inconsistencies appear.

星空传媒 and Inspection

Improving project safety is an industry-standard among heavy civil contractor firms and a priority for 星空传媒. Augmented reality software also improves job site safety. AR technology devices help transform job-site operations by accurately inspecting a site and comparing them against as-built structures. These features eliminate the traditional, time-extensive manual inspection process, which also saves time and cuts costs.

An inspector can use AR to capture photos on-demand or retrieve notes from location sites. This improved process helps identify compromised areas and other serious concerns instantaneously.

What to Expect of AR in Construction in the Future

As augmented reality evolves, easy-to-use applications will enhance the technology. From minimizing errors to offering insight, augmented reality in construction can effectively streamline the entire project lifecycle. Companies investing in this innovative technology are already enjoying the benefits.听

One technology already seeing tremendous growth is AR headsets. In 2021, commercial AR headsets are projected to occupy . This updated AR technology will improve productivity by streamlining project assembly processes. Companies will soon discover that giving workers the information they need at their fingertips will increase project efficiency exponentially.

Although some construction firms have implemented AR already, we can expect more to join as the technology becomes more readily available. To learn how 星空传媒鈥檚, a heavy civil contractor, plans on using augmented reality technologies in the future, contact us.听

Request a bid to get started designing your project.

The post The Role of Augmented Reality in Construction appeared first on 星空传媒.

Ask people today, and they鈥檇 be quick to tell you exactly what a GPS is and when it鈥檚 used. Compare that to twenty years ago when GPS was merely three letters of the alphabet and everyone used a paper map to find their destination. However, despite the leap in technological advancements since then, most people don鈥檛 know how GPS technology is transforming the construction industry鈥攅specially on earthmoving sites. Let鈥檚 discuss how GPS systems have revolutionized earthmoving and the different types used on job sites.

GPS & Construction

For contractors who invest in GPS systems, the gains in productivity, accuracy, and speed are massive. In simple terms, GPS systems on construction sites receive the same satellite positioning signals used in other navigation systems, but with an elevated feature: broadcasted radio corrections received via on-site GPS base stations. These corrections allow rovers and machines in the field to make accurate earthmoving decisions that match a digital topographic plan.

Now, let鈥檚 step back and look at what exactly a machine-control GPS does.

Machine-Control GPS

Machine-control GPS systems assist machines like motor graders, dozer, scrapers, compactors, and hydraulic excavators by enhancing efficiency. The primary benefit of using these systems is removing the need for grade stakes. In fact, according to GPS suppliers, 90 percent of stakes are typically eliminated when using a machine-control GPS system. This, in turn, lowers cost by cutting downtime and reducing the cost of stake replacement.

Not only do machine-control GPS cut costs, but increases productivity, as well. By increasing the chances of successes through automating the exact grade information and positioning, the potential results of operator productivity increases and the need to rework incorrect grades goes down.

Benefits of Using GPS Systems

Combining your construction efforts with GPS systems has a variety of benefits. These include:
– Maximizes equipment productivity
– Makes earthmoving jobs easier to plan
– Easily adjust filed operations as needed
– Minimizes delays
– Revised surface files of excavated areas help keep plans up-to-date
– Out-compete other bids by lowering costs
– Reduces safety risks

For more information about how 星空传媒 uses GPS systems on their projects, contact one of our team members today.

The post Understanding How GPS Systems Work in Construction appeared first on 星空传媒.