Machine control helps protect Singapore against rising sea levels

作者：Reka Vasszi

Since the start of the 20th century, the average global sea level has been rising at an increasing rate. As the world warms and ice caps melt, regions far from a melting ice sheet, such as Singapore, will see a rise in sea level greater than the global average. The sea level around the island today is 14 centimetres above pre-1970 levels, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) in its annual climate assessment report.

The authorities of Singapore continuously need to deal with this existential threat of rising sea levels and considering a range of solutions including reclamation and building sea walls to protect its people, economy and infrastructure from the rising tides.

Here comes into the picture Halex Construction Pte. Ltd., a marine civil engineering firm, providing innovative and cutting-edge solutions to customers in shore protection and civil engineering projects in Singapore.

The company was contracted for coastal land reclamation to create new land for further development and protect the shores of the main island against rising sea levels.

Gaining competitive advantage by exploiting digitalisation

在过去的几年中，哈莱克斯（Halex）证明了成功完成一些最具挑战性的海洋建设项目的能力。为了在海岸保护和土木工程中保持重要承包商的角色，哈莱克斯决定投资数字解决方案，以提高生产力，利润和更有效地利用其劳动力。

“Leveraging on technology is the best when it brings us ahead of competitors and make us competitive,”said Hayden Ang, director at Halex Construction Pte. Ltd. Halex believes in upgrading the skills of its crew and deployinig the most advanced plant, equipment, technology and workflow procedures available in the industry in order to provide customers with the highest service standards.

When Halex was looking for applications that help to streamline work processes and increase accuracy and production levels, they decided to invest in Leica Geosystems’ advanced 3D machine control solution. Besides the convenience of choosing one complete solution that fits all heavy machines and environment, Halex wanted to work with a partner, not just investing in the technology.

“Local support is the key factor in selecting such technology,”said Ang.“我们整个机组人员是参与整个过程, giving ideas and feedback actively to the support team at Leica Geosystems. Above training our operators to use the technology, enabling us to do our own modifications for hardware protection and providing on-field support, we had insightful discussions with Leica Geosystems experts on how to improve our workflows. This is a true partnership.”

After the local Leica Geosystems team deployed the advanced 3D machine control technology on the machines and trained the Halex crew, the company was able to streamline their workflows. By introducing theLeica machine control solutionwith dual GNSS, no more manual stakeout is required. Besides, now Halex can provide real-time visibility and as-built verification to their stakeholders.

采用一个完整的挖ital solution to maximise accuracy

By partnering up with Leica Geosystems team in Singapore, Halex not just invested in the technology but a complete solution for excavators optimised for marine applications including hardware, sensors, software, training and continuous local support from industry and product experts.

Halex chose the iXE3 Dual GNSS solution, with the following main components:

• Leica MDS30docking station andLeica MCP80机器控制面板。

• Leica图标GPS 80GNSS machine receiver.

• LeicaMSS420dredging sensors for marine applications.

• Leica MSS400音高和滚动传感器。

• Leica MRS300 compass.

• Leica MC13D机器控制软件。

The technology allows the company to perform underwater excavation, filling on barges and from land with the aid of RTK GPS. The iXE3 machine control solution enabled the teamto control the design levels and existing elevations using the 3D platformwith profile cross-section and plan view.

“No more double workand eveninexperienced operators are able to guide the excavatorsandwork more efficiently,” said Ang.“由于使用海洋工程中的多束调查对水平的公差低和严格的检查，这是挖掘靠近设计水平的挑战。因此，with the aid of technology, with the increased machine efficiency and actual profiling of the slope, it helps us toachieve materials cost savingsandreduced the time utilisedtoachieve our desired slope levels. Moreover,我们不太依赖经验丰富的工人的手动监督,”解释导演。

此外，在填充岩层时，操作员now can put the bucket right on the rockto check the current levelwithout checking the tidal level, thussaving time and increase safetyon the jobsite. In the past, the operators would require to check the tidal level regularly and compare with the markings on the excavator boom to get the estimated level.

“This manual checking to derive the level is both laborious and contains a certain level of inaccuracy. But now, we can get the level right at the first time,”says Ang.“它通过轻松将我们的效率提高10-20％，将我们的挖掘机转变为高效的水下工具。”

选择技术合作伙伴帮助您实现目标

Halex invested in digitalisation to keep their competitive advantage by increasing the accuracy and proficiency of their dredging and backfilling works. But it was also a long term investment to keep up with the shift towards a more digital and smart construction era.

“Halex believes in sharing good practices so that the whole industry can improve together. Hence we gladly recommend the machine control solution from Leica Geosystems. Not only our company benefits from digitalisation, but overall the clients’ schedule and profitability,”said Ang.

Adopting digital solutions help Halex to be the leader in the industry and be prepared for the future.