Machine control helps protect Singapore against rising sea levels

Author: 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.

这是Halex Construction Pte的图片。有限公司是一家海洋土木工程公司，为新加坡的海岸保护和土木工程项目的客户提供创新和尖端的解决方案。

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

In the past years, Halex has demonstrated the ability to complete some of the most challenging marine construction projects successfully. To maintain its role as a significant contractor in shore protection and civil engineering, Halex decided to invest in digital solutions to increase productivity, profits and utilise their workforce more efficiently.

“Leveraging on technology is the best when it brings us ahead of competitors and make us competitive,”海登盎说,主任Halex建设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.“我们的整个工作人员都参与了整个过程，并向Leica Geosystems的支持团队积极地为想法和反馈提供了反馈。在培训我们的运营商使用该技术的上方，使我们能够进行自己的修改以进行硬件保护并提供现场支持，我们与Leica Geosystems专家进行了深入的讨论，讨论如何改善工作流程。这是真正的伙伴关系。”

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机器控制解决方案with dual GNSS, no more manual stakeout is required. Besides, now Halex can provide real-time visibility and as-built verification to their stakeholders.

采用一种complete digital 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 MCP80machine control panel.

• Leica iCON gps 80GNSS machine receiver.

• LeicaMSS420dredging sensors for marine applications.

• Leica MSS400音高和滚动传感器。

• Leica MRS300 compass.

• Leica MC13D machine control software.

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 platform具有轮廓横截面和计划视图。

“No more double work和eveninexperienced operators are able to guide the excavators和work more efficiently,” said Ang.“Due to the low tolerance on levels and stringent inspections using multibeam surveys in marine works, it is a challenge to dredge close to the design level. Hence,with the aid of technology, with the increased machine efficiency and actual profiling of the slope, it helps us toachieve materials cost savings和reduced 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 rock检查当前级别without checking the tidal level, thussaving time and increase safety在工作地点。过去，操作员需要定期检查潮汐水平，并与挖掘机吊杆上的标记进行比较以获得估计的水平。

“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.“It transforms our excavators into highly efficient underwater tools by easily improving our efficiency by 10-20% daily.”

选择技术合作伙伴帮助您实现目标

哈莱克斯（Halex）投资了数字化，以提高挖泥和回填作品的准确性和熟练程度来保持其竞争优势。但是，跟上向更具数字和智能建筑时代的转变，这也是一项长期投资。

“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.