From the ancient Egyptians meticulously aligning stones to today’s skyscrapers towering over city skylines, the tools and techniques for construction layout have continuously evolved, driven by technological advancements that redefine and ultimately revolutionise industry standards.
David Grabham from Aptella, a leading automation and technology company, is the National Sales Manager in the Building sector. He says it’s an incredibly exciting time for the company and industry. “Before coming to Aptella I was a project manager for big construction sites, so I feel I’m in a unique position to see both sides. I’ve been on the ground and now I’m educated and leading the selling of exciting new technologies and products to the very people who I know need it most. From my prior experience on job sites, I know how truly revolutionary this can be for building contractors and trades. It’s a privilege to see how forward thinking Aptella is in this space and what’s on the horizon. I’m excited to be a part of it and see where it goes from here.”
Until very recently, construction layout relied on field tools like theodolites, string lines and plumb bobs. The accuracy of these methods depended heavily on the experience of those on site as well as work sites being free from obstructions and having favourable weather conditions. Contractors painstakingly measured and marked building foundations and structures with tape measures and string lines. Whilst effective, these methods were time consuming and led to errors, which increased costs and project time. From the traditional water level to the cutting-edge laser level, the evolution of leveling tools has become indispensable in the modern tradesperson’s arsenal, ensuring precise alignment in diverse applications such as slabs, drains, joinery, electrical fitouts, and more.
The latter half of the 20th century witnessed a transformative shift with the explosion of new electronic surveying instruments. We also saw urban development boom and population growth demand larger scale projects as skyscrapers towered over city skylines across the globe. Robotic total stations from leading companies such as Aptella, the exclusive distributor of Topcon equipment in Australia, emerged as a pivotal and important innovation, blending precision optics with automated data collection capabilities. These devices revolutionised the industry by enabling accurate measurement of distances, angles, and positions based on complex and detailed digital plans.
Use of these precise layout tools has traditionally been restricted to surveyors with their specialised skills and knowledge to measure and position construction plans on site. The majority of construction work continues to rely on manual methods such as tape measures and stringlines, where there is a high level of manual labour and risk of errors that result in budget and program blowouts.
The advent of the LN-150 suddenly put survey-grade accuracy and set out methods into the hands of the building trades, giving them greater control and autonomy. This state of the art robotic layout navigator was designed to streamline construction layout operations with a solution that is as easy to use as a laser level, but as accurate as a surveyor’s robotic total station. Suddenly builders could automate and execute layout and construction verification processes, leading to increased productivity, accuracy and savings across the job site and eliminating the need for rework or corrections.
Murray Burgess, a Contracts Manager working for leading concrete company, Krafter, says they’ve had between 50 to 80 percent efficiency gains since adopting new construction set out technology from Aptella. “Previously we’d be relying on someone else for our accuracy, namely surveyors. We’d be saving at least 2 hours a day eliminating string lines and other manual methods. Not to mention no longer being held hostage if there are bad winds, weather events or things in the way that we need to move or adjust to. We’re using half the amount of manpower to do a set out.” Mr Burgess believes it gives their company a notable point of difference. “It’s about delivering the best product to our clients and the builders that we’re working for. It sets us apart.”
Building upon the foundation laid by robotic total stations like the LN-150, the most exciting new advancement are the autonomous layout robots which represent the next frontier in construction innovation. The groundbreaking HP Site Print technology works as a natural extension to the robotic total stations, turning weeks of existing layout plans into days of autonomous work by the autonomous robot, which is currently unparalleled in the market for its speed and accuracy.
The HP SitePrint operates in tandem with robotic total stations like the LN-150, utilising real-time data feeds and precise positioning technology to mark out critical points and lines according to digital plans. This integration eliminates the need for manual intervention in layout operations, reducing human error and enhancing overall project efficiency.
Mr Mitchell Laughlin is a senior manager in Building Automation Technology at Aptella. Mr Laughlin says the HP SitePrint combines advanced robotic capabilities with cutting-edge software algorithms to autonomously execute layout tasks on construction sites. “It’s essentially a printhead on wheels. So it’s an inkjet printer that can print all of your construction plans onto a construction surface. Whether it’s concrete or formwork, it can lay it all out for you on the floor. With the HP SitePrint, you’re getting this rich information of texts written on the ground – from line work to arcs and everything else – it’s all set out exactly as you see it on a plan.” Mr Laughlin says it also helps to coordinate all the different contractors on a job site. “The simple fact that it’s not the electrician or the plumber coming in and working off their own plans means you suddenly have this integrated and seamless site-wide level of thinking. Having everyone suddenly working together from the same point of truth means there’s a sharp increase in efficiency and of course, a ten times better product.”
Mr Grabham says the benefits of these modern technologies can’t be underestimated. “The adoption of these technologies have completely revolutionised the construction industry. We know the next big challenge for our industry is going to be a shortage of skilled labour so anywhere we can be utilising technology to increase productivity is key. This technology really means that companies can redeploy the labour on a job site to the areas they need it most. That’s significant and saves a huge amount of money.” Mr Laughlan agrees, “these technologies essentially make you completely self-sufficient on a job site. You’ve suddenly got the ability to set out your own plans and understand your job in 3D. You can work to your own timeline and on your own schedule; there’s nothing more powerful than that. It also means work rarely needs to be redone or fixed. The feedback we are getting from companies is incredible. We won’t be returning to the past, it’s onwards and upwards from here and a really exciting time to be working in this industry.”
The HP Site Print brings several advantages to construction projects, namely its ability to handle complex geometries and irregular site conditions. It can accommodate intricate design requirements as modern architecture continues to evolve. Mr Grabham also says it’s a natural extension to existing technology. “It integrates seamlessly with what we already have, enhancing overall project coordination and data consistency.”
Mr Grabham says his company Aptella is never satisfied to settle on the great products they’ve got and that they’re always looking to the future. “I guess that’s the really exciting part because we don’t know how far this can go. It’s crazy to think we’re already at this point and in some ways I can’t even picture what might happen in five years from now. The evolution of construction layout methods is only going to continue as we advance with technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality. These innovations, if used and explored thoroughly and effectively, can only benefit sophisticated construction projects and the architecture of our time. We can set new benchmarks by being the leaders in these technologies. At Aptella, there’s no limit to where this technology can take us but we’re along for the ride.”
The evolution of layout methods in the construction industry underscores a journey from manual craftsmanship to digital precision. Technologies like the LN-150 robotic total station and the HP Site Print autonomous layout robot exemplify how innovation drives progress in construction layout, empowering professionals to achieve higher levels of accuracy, efficiency, and safety in building practices worldwide. As construction embraces new technological frontiers, the future holds promise for even greater advancements. Aptella is dedicated to being the pioneers in sourcing innovation and deploying it for customers to shape a landscape where precision and efficiency converge seamlessly in the construction of tomorrow.
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