Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200
Fri July 22, 2011 - National Edition
Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) has introduced SiteLINK 3D, a real-time, advanced communications management system for the 3D-MC grade control range of products.
Tony Vanneman, TPS construction product marketing manager, said, “The goal is to provide information from the machines to and from a central office or job trailer or to other machines. This recorded data can then be analyzed to help calculate productivity, ultimately improving production and reducing costs.”
Some of the features that SiteLINK 3D include are:
• Text messaging
• File transfer
• Machine tracking
• Proximity alarms relayed in the office
• Remote access and support
• Real-time cut/fill mapping
• Post process volume calculations
• Activity and delay reporting
“With SiteLINK 3D,” he said, “you can track each machine, size and model, through an array of applications. Data collected can be used to track productivity based on the application and material. You will have real life examples of what your machines operators can do on different machines and in different job site conditions. You then have a matrix from which you can bid jobs more accurately based on your production numbers for similar projects, and not just on averages or guesswork.”
SiteLINK 3D utilizes Topcon’s 3D Office software to give real-time views of SiteLINK-connected machines and their exact positions. Also available are files in use, plus a myriad of other functions. A simple keystroke allows the user to interact with any specific machine connected to the system.
As well as job data, plan revisions and related files can be simply exchanged with all users, keeping everyone updated on job changes. A major advantage of SiteLINK 3D, Vanneman said, “is to remotely trouble-shoot any machine from any location. One can also view, online, any machine and fix machine control problems without having to drive to the job site.
“This feature alone can save hours, even days in potential downtime,” Vanneman said.
Adding SiteLINK 3D to a 3D machine is an “easy operation. By simply adding a modem, it enables the machine to be connected to SiteLINK 3D.
“SiteLINK 3D has been field tested on small and extremely large construction sites,” Vanneman said. “This job site asset management tool pays for itself very quickly no matter the size of the company.”