Vision System for Tower Cranes
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134, Issue 5
Abstract
Operators of tower cranes enjoy a bird’s eye view of the site, which undeniably contributes to work safety and efficiency. Yet their work often involves blind lifts, as well as other viewing difficulties, that impede full utilization of the potential inherent in the operator’s location atop the crane. This paper reports on a tower-crane-mounted live video system that offers a solution for such difficulties, and consequently, enhances safety, improves productivity, and brings about direct and indirect cost savings. The development and implementation of the vision system are described as a successful academia–industry research and development joint effort. Work studies of numerous craning cycles resulted in considerable time savings, depending on the nature of the lift, lighting conditions, and viewing obstructions. In addition, a detailed list of benefits drawn on the basis of feedback received from the field is presented. The paper is aimed, first and foremost, at project managers as well as construction equipment and safety practitioners, who daily experience those situations that have prompted the development of the system. Researchers may benefit mainly from the lessons learned with respect to the role of academia–industry cooperation in the introduction of innovative systems in construction.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Fund for the Promotion of Research at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. The writers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the numerous construction companies and individuals (project managers, equipment managers, safety managers, general superintendents, and crane operators) in realizing this R&D effort and bringing it to successful implementation. The writers express their appreciation to the reviewers for their careful reading and constructive comments.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134 • Issue 5 • May 2008
Pages: 320 - 332
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 26, 2006
Accepted: Sep 24, 2007
Published online: May 1, 2008
Published in print: May 2008
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