Construcciones Yamaro: The sky’s the limit for construction layout technology

The HP SitePrint operates in tandem with robotic total stations. (Images: Aptella)

The evolution of construction layout methods, driven by a relentless pursuit of precision and efficiency, has seen Aptella emerge as a leading solutions provider.

From the ancient Egyptians meticulously aligning stones to today’s skyscrapers towering over city skylines, the tools and techniques for construction layout have continuously evolved, driven by technological advances that redefine and ultimately revolutionise industry standards.

David Grabham is the national sales manager for the building sector at Aptella, an industry leader in automation and technology. He expresses his enthusiasm for the company’s role in this field.

“Before coming to Aptella, I was a project manager for big construction sites, so I feel I’m in a unique position to see both sides,” says Grabham. “I’ve been on the ground and now I’m educated and leading the selling of exciting new technologies and products to the very people who I know need it most.”

“From my prior experience on jobsites, I know how truly revolutionary this can be for building contractors and trades.

“It’s a privilege to see how forward thinking Aptella is in this space and what’s on the horizon – I’m excited to be a part of it and see where it goes from here.”

Until very recently, construction layout relied on field tools like theodolites, string lines and plumb bobs. The accuracy of these methods depended heavily on the experience of those onsite, as well as worksites being free from obstructions and having favourable weather conditions. Contractors painstakingly measured and marked building foundations and structures using tape measures and string lines. While effective, these methods were time-consuming and prone to errors, which increased costs and project timelines.

From the traditional water level to cutting-edge laser levels, the evolution of levelling tools has become indispensable in the modern tradesperson’s arsenal, ensuring precise alignment in diverse applications such as slabs, drains, joinery, electrical fit-outs and more.

The latter half of the 20th century witnessed a transformative shift with the emergence of new electronic surveying instruments. Urban development boomed and population growth drove demand for larger-scale projects as skyscrapers began to dominate city skylines across the globe. Robotic total stations from leading companies, such as Aptella – the exclusive distributor of Topcon equipment in Australia – emerged as pivotal innovations, blending precision optics with automated data collection capabilities. These devices revolutionised the industry by enabling accurate measurement of distances, angles and positions based on complex and detailed digital plans.

The use of these precise layout tools has traditionally been restricted to surveyors with specialised skills and knowledge for measuring and positioning construction plans onsite. Most construction work still relies on manual methods such as tape measures and string lines, which involve a high level of manual labour and carry a significant risk of errors, leading to budget and program blowouts.

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The advent of the Topcon LN-150 brought survey-grade accuracy and set-out methods into the hands of building trades, providing them with greater control and autonomy. This state-of-the-art robotic layout navigator was designed to streamline construction layout operations with a solution that is as easy to use as a laser level yet as accurate as a surveyor’s robotic total station. Builders could suddenly automate and execute layout and construction verification processes, leading to increased productivity, accuracy and savings across the jobsite while eliminating the need for rework or corrections.

Murray Burgess, a contracts manager at leading concrete company Kraftur, says project teams have experienced efficiency gains of between 50 to 80 per cent since adopting new construction set-out technology from Aptella.

“Previously, we’d be relying on someone else for our accuracy, namely surveyors,” says Burgess. “We’d be saving at least two hours a day eliminating string lines and other manual methods.”

“Not to mention no longer being held hostage if there are bad winds, weather events or things in the way that we need to move or adjust to. We’re using half the amount of manpower to do a set out.”

Burgess believes this technology gives Kraftur a notable point of difference. “It’s about delivering the best product to our clients and the builders that we’re working for,” he says. “It sets us apart.”

Building upon the foundation laid by robotic total stations like the Topcon LN-150, an exciting new advancement is the autonomous layout robot, which represents the next frontier in construction innovation. The groundbreaking HP SitePrint technology serves as a natural extension to the robotic total stations, transforming weeks of existing layout plans into days of autonomous work. This technology is renowned for its speed and accuracy.

The HP SitePrint operates in tandem with robotic total stations like the Topcon LN-150, utilising real-time data feeds and precise positioning technology to mark out critical points and lines according to digital plans. This integration eliminates the need for manual intervention in layout operations, reducing human error and enhancing overall project efficiency.

Mitchell Laughlin is a senior manager in building automation technology at Aptella. He says the HP SitePrint combines advanced robotic capabilities with cutting-edge software algorithms to autonomously execute layout tasks on construction sites.

“It’s essentially a printhead on wheels,” says Laughlin. “So, it’s an inkjet printer that can print all of your construction plans onto a construction surface.”

“Whether it’s concrete or formwork, it can lay it all out for you on the floor. With the HP SitePrint, you’re getting rich, detailed information in an array of colour and including text references – from line work to arcs and everything else – it’s all set out exactly as you see it on a plan.”

Laughlin also notes that it helps to coordinate all the different contractors on a jobsite. “The simple fact that it’s not the electrician or the plumber coming in and working off their own plans means you suddenly have this integrated and seamless site-wide level of thinking,” he adds.

“Having everyone suddenly working together from the same point of truth means there’s a sharp increase in efficiency and, of course, a ten times better product.”

Grabham says the benefits of these modern technologies cannot be underestimated. “The adoption of these technologies has completely revolutionised the construction industry,” says Grabham. “We know the next big challenge for our industry is going to be a shortage of skilled labour, so anywhere we can be utilising technology to increase productivity is key.”

“This technology really means that companies can redeploy the labour on a jobsite to the areas they need it most. That’s significant and saves a huge amount of money.”

Laughlan agrees, “These technologies essentially make you completely self-sufficient on a jobsite. You’ve suddenly got the ability to set out your own plans and understand your job in 3D.”

“You can work to your own timeline and on your own schedule; there’s nothing more powerful than that. It also means work rarely needs to be redone or fixed.

“The feedback we are getting from companies is incredible. We won’t be returning to the past; it’s onwards and upwards from here and a really exciting time to be working in this industry.”

The HP SitePrint brings several advantages to construction projects, particularly in its ability to handle complex geometries and irregular site conditions. It can accommodate intricate design requirements as modern architecture continues to evolve. Grabham also says it’s a natural extension to existing technology.

“It integrates seamlessly with what we already have, enhancing overall project coordination and data consistency,” says Grabham.

Grabham says his company, Aptella, is never satisfied with settling for its great products and is always looking to the future. “I guess that’s the really exciting part, because we don’t know how far this can go,” he says. “It’s crazy to think we’re already at this point, and in some ways, I can’t even picture what might happen in five years from now.”

“The evolution of construction layout methods is only going to continue as we advance with technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

“These innovations, if used and explored thoroughly and effectively, can only benefit sophisticated construction projects and the architecture of our time.

“We can set new benchmarks by being the leaders in these technologies. At Aptella, there’s no limit to where this technology can take us, but we’re along for the ride.”

The evolution of layout methods in the construction industry highlights a transition from manual craftsmanship to digital precision. Technologies like the Topcon LN-150 robotic total station and the HP SitePrint autonomous layout robot exemplify how innovation drives progress in construction layout, empowering professionals to achieve higher levels of accuracy, efficiency and safety in building practices worldwide.

As the construction industry embraces new technological frontiers, the future promises even greater advancements. Aptella is dedicated to pioneering innovation and deploying it to shape a landscape where precision and efficiency converge seamlessly in the construction of tomorrow.

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