12
PLANT
Adam Bennett, Interim Rail Sector Director at Costain, writes about a recent study which has found that the widespread adoption of CAP in the construction and infrastructure industry would have enormous economic and productivity benefits for the UK
The benefits of adopting connected and autonomous plant (CAP) for UK rail could be enormous. How do we harness it?
Image: Getty
T
he news cycle is no stranger to crystalball gazing. Every day there are new stories and articles about futuristic technology predicted to revolutionise the way we live, whether that’s flying taxis, holidaying in space, or other science fiction concepts. In the world of complex infrastructure, it’s a bit different. Technology, particularly when it comes to construction machinery and equipment, has and
will continue to be essential for the delivery of critical national infrastructure. Today, there are plenty of examples of CAP - construction equipment that uses the latest digital technology to optimise processes - being used across the world that could not be imagined just a few years ago. The entire construction sector is increasingly seeing heavy plant and equipment using cuttingedge connected and autonomous technologies
November 2024
to improve output, lower cost and make projects safer. Approximately one-fifth of construction plant currently in use has some degree of connectivity and autonomy, in addition to technology such as 3D printing and AI robotics. In Norway, fully digitising all processes has seen intelligent machine control become standard across construction projects. In the UK, telematics technology is growing, used by both hire companies