HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNIQUE TO CONSTRUCTION 1

Five Pieces of Computer Hardware that are Unique to the Construction Industry & Five

Pieces of Software that are Specific to the Construction Industry

Patrick A. Reid

ID # 9612298

University of Technology, Jamaica.

Author Note

Patrick A. Reid, Computer in Construction, Bachelor of Science in Construction

Management 2020-2011, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of Technology, Jamaica.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Patrick Reid, 472 Caymanas

Drive, Waterford P.O., Portmore, St. Catherine. E-mail: patrickreidus@yahoo.com.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNIQUE TO CONSTRUCTION 2

Abstract

This paper identifies some pieces of computer hardware and software that are either specific or

unique to the construction industry. With regards to the various computer hardware described an

effort is made to say how they fit into a computer system.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNIQUE TO CONSTRUCTION 3

Five Pieces of Computer Hardware that are Unique to the Construction Industry & Five

Pieces of Software that are Specific to the Construction Industry

Computer hardware and software have played a very important role in the construction

industry. Their usage has greatly reduced the time it takes to complete many tasks in the

industry. This has resulted in many cost savings for which many are grateful. The cost for many

of the computer hardware and software that are specific to the construction industry is a huge

one. This has limited their usage in small sized companies. None the less whichever ones are

affordable have made the task much easier, for which we are grateful.

Computer Hardware

GCS900 Grade Control System

This is a piece of computer hardware that can be fitted inside the cab of an excavator, a

bulldozer, motor grader, compactor, scraper etc. This piece of hardware is specifically designed

for the earthworks / earthmoving sector and is used to control bulk excavation, grading and

aligning. The system uses GPS, GPS and laser, or construction total station technology to

accurately position the blade or bucket in real time, significantly reducing material overages and

dramatically improving the contractor’s productivity and profitability (Trimble,

http://www.trimble.com/gcs900.shtml). This piece of hardware acts as a central processing unit

that receives input from GPS units etc. and converts this data into output that is sent to the

physical machinery of the excavator etc. and henceforth bucket and blade control is

accomplished.

Azonix Drilling Unit - ADU

This piece of hardware is used in the mining industry especially for oil and gas. The unit

basically carries a built in sensor and a large display screen that displays information to help the

driller ascertain his azimuth bearings and his vertical or horizontal inclination whilst
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNIQUE TO CONSTRUCTION 4

underground. This information helps to keep the driller on course and minimize operator

fatigue. (www.azonix.com). The device sensor picks up the drilling tool position and transmit

this data via a communication cable to a desktop computer. The data is processed and

information is sent back to the unit for display. The unit carries a face display that can be read

from 15 feet away and can support a wide variety of messages to the operator on the rig floor to

avoid costly mistakes. (www.azonix.com).

The JobClock
This is a piece of hardware that allows construction site workers to record their job time by

simply touching the appropriate color-coded key tab to the face of the JobClock. For example,

green tab to check in and red to check out (http://www.exaktime.com/jobclock/Default.aspx).

This piece of hardware is a small device that is about the size of the palm of your hand and it can

be hung from a nail on the construction site. It eliminates the need for hardcopy registers and

further computation of employee job times. Each JobClock holds up to 10,000 time punches.

This device acts both as a computer input and storage device. Another piece of hardware,

Jobclock Reader, is then used to collect the data allowing the JobClock to remain on site. Back

in the construction office the data is then loaded onto a computer with a JobClock Manager

software. Data can also be transferred from this software to an accounting software.

Trimble I.S. Rover

This is a Robotic Total Station and GPS surveying system integrated on one surveying

pole. It basically combines GPS and optical data collection on the same rover pole. The

hardware is fully computerized and acts as a stand alone unit. This system offers land surveyors

enormous advantages in the field because it increases flexibility and saves time

(www.trimble.com/trimbleisrover.shtml). How so? Well Total Station surveying equipment are

well suited to small areas with clear lines of sight while GPS systems are well suited to large
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNIQUE TO CONSTRUCTION 5

surveying areas with no overhead obstructions. The I.S. Rover allows you to switch easily from

one technique to the other as your job demands or as physical obstacles presents themselves.

Concrete Compression Tester – ToniPACT II 3000 Kn / 660,000 lb.f

This device is a stand alone fully computerized construction equipment used for testing

the compressive strength of concrete mixes. It comes equipt with its own operating software,

RS232 interfaces for input and output functions, RAM storage and a display panel. This device

is capable of performing 100 test sequence and storing approximately 500 results. The device

furnishes efficient quality control of concrete mixes and of the materials used in these mixes.

This device is generally found stationed inside a construction lab or a bureau of standards

building.

Computer Software

GALA Construction Software

This software is a construction and estimating software that is used for construction

operations planning, expenditure control and accounting of derivative works (www.construction-

software.com). To be more specific this software has a pull down menu called Organizer that

offers diary, calendar, e-mail and project timing functions. It also has a menu for Bill of

Quantities that is used to prepare precise and clear bill of quantities in quick time

(www.construction-software.com). The Planning menu allows users to organize construction

activities on a time basis and the results can be displayed using S Curves and Histograms.

BeamCheckTM
This software is used to design wood and steel beams. It has Visual Basics user forms that

are used for beam data input such as load type, span length, duration of load, point load,

uniformly distributed load etc. Simply put, this is a software that eases the stress of repetitive
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paper designs and checks. BeamCheck quickly calculates hundreds of beam possibilities

filtering out all but the most appropriate sizes and presents in an easy to compare table.

(www.beamcheck.com/features.html)

QuickMeasure
Quickmeasure was developed by a company known as Tally Systems. They are based in

San Diego, USA. This software is highly compatible with Microsft Excel and was designed to

automate the measuring process. This program links the input from a roll-up vinyl and pen

directly to your Excel spreadsheet. Using the pen to trace shapes allows you to quickly

determine areas and quantities of even irregular shapes. The digitizer feeds the data into your

existing spreadsheet so you don’t have to learn and adapt to a new estimating package. The end

result is more speedier and accurate blueprint reading. (www.Findarticles.com) So simply put,

this software works with a digitizer or a light pen that is used to trace building drawings or 3

dimensional surveying drawings and the data sent to another estimating software. The software

aids in calculating areas and quantities.

HYDROproTM Construction
This is strictly a Windows software. It is an underwater navigation software that is used

for precise underwater positioning of rigs, piles etc. It is especially used for marine and

waterway construction tasks that requires precise positioning and dredging. The Rig flavor is

for rig and barge positioning. The Pile flavor is used for precise marine pile positioning

applications for bridge and wharf construction. With the Dredge flavor you can dredge or fill to

a design shape by tracking the dredge head over a design shape. This software is also capable of

tracking any number of support vessels and report their anchor or dump status. This serves to

avoid tangling with anchors (www.trimble.com/hydroprocon.shtml). This software is part of a

system that has many hardware sensors, GPS devices etc. that aids with positioning.
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TECHBASE® Coal Package

TECHBASE is used by coal mining professionals and government agencies at large coal

mines. This software package allows you to model coal topography and coal deposits, plot

isopach thicknesses of coal and burn lines mined limits. It also allows you to calculate

volumetrics / tonnages, plot down hole logs and draw cross sections

(www.techbase.com/coal.html). This software works along with the associated GPS hardware

and down-hole sensors.

References

Azonix Corporation. (n.d.). Retrieved from. http://www.azonix.com

BeamCheck. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.beamcheck.com./features.html

CATERPILLAR. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cat.com/technology/earth-moving-

solutions/accugrade-grade-control-systems

Construction Software. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.construction-

software.in/software/construction-software/description/
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Exaktime. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.exaktime.com/jobclock/Default.aspx

Klemens, T., & Reband, P. (2004). Concrete Construction. Retrieved from

http://www.findarticles.com./p/articles/mi_m0NSX/is_1_49/ai_112905693/

TECHBASE® International. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.techbase.com/coal.html

Trimble. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.trimble.com./hydroprocon.shtml,

http://www.trimble.com./gcs900.shtml, http://www.trimble.com./trimbleisrover.shtml

World of Test. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.worldoftest.com/tonipact-ii.html