When you think of construction equipment, what comes to mind? Bulldozers? Cherry pickers? Maybe even excavators? What about robots? If that wasn’t one of your answers, it may be soon.
Auburn University in Alabama showcased a new robot at the construction site of their new performing arts center. This is the first time a robot has been used in this capacity in Alabama. The Semi-Automated Mason (SAM 100), the first commercially-available robot of its kind, can place more than 3,000 bricks per day. Using a conveyor belt and robotic arm, SAM performs the repetitive task of laying bricks while construction workers reload it with bricks and mortar, as well as clean around the bricks it has already placed.
The president of the masonry company said his workers trained for a week to learn how to use the robot, which ultimately removed a lot of the leg work and manual strain from the task of brick laying. The project only required the SAM 100, one foreman, one mason and two laborers. Without the robotic construction equipment, they would have needed four to five more masons and two foremen.
As with more traditional construction equipment, new technologies may be potential targets for thieves. The National Equipment Register (NER) estimates that between $300 million and $1 billion USD is stolen every year. A proactive security solution can help deter equipment theft at construction sites, no matter how remote they are. Live video monitoring relies on strategically-placed, weatherproof surveillance cameras that are watched in real time by trained security operators. If they see something suspicious, they can activate a speaker warning and call local police. The cameras can cover multiple areas simultaneously, unlike an on-site guard who can only be in one place at a time.
As with every industry, new technologies are simplifying construction work for site crews. If you would like to deter theft of your construction equipment and increase the overall security of your site, contact us here.
