What's new in the surveying equipment sector

Using surveying equipment such as the Totalstation zts600 series could improve efficiency.
[More Images]

The precise use of surveying equipment is vital to ensure a good quality final build, plus it can bring several additional benefits to a project, including time and cost savings. Construction Week investigates what’s new in the sector

While accuracy remains the primary issue with any surveying equipment, many contractors now expect its use to contribute more to their overall project productivity. Speed, build efficiency and cost are becoming ever important in the Middle East’s construction projects and all processes within the construction cycle are expected to play their part in optimising these factors.

So how can the available surveying products help contractors attain these benefits and how are progresses in technology affecting the surveying sector?

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Dear Sanjiv, Please do contact us we can provide you any surveying instruments.   2 Comments Read more comments »

Equipment in demand

Currently optical surveying instruments remain in the biggest demand in the region, although there is a growing demand for newer technologies including GPS. This is due to several factors, including the types of projects under construction and the accepted working practices.

“Optical surveying instruments are most in demand due to a regional focus on high-rise towers and steel fabrication projects,” explains GeoMax division manager Geomatics Intakhab Alam. “The UAE surveying industry’s bread-and-butter earner is the five-second total station,” he adds.

Many smaller contractors who are winning larger projects are upgrading from the use of traditional theodolites to total station products, reports Alam. Meanwhile trends are also being seen in the use of equipment by those operating on larger scale projects. “Companies who are getting multi-storey or steel or aluminium facade work, relay on reflectorless total station instruments with laser pointer capability,” states Alam.

“Optical survey equipment like total stations, levels, theodolites and GPS for construction applications generate more than 80% of our revenue,” confirms Philippe Akl, sales and marketing manager Middle East & Africa, Topcon Corporation Dubai Office. “It’s a reflection of a traditional conservative attitude in general, and lack of knowledge about new technologies. Education and business justification of investment in new technology are absent in the region,” he adds.

So how can firms be convinced to change the technology they use? And could such investment be justified in the current
economic climate in particular, when firms are aiming to cut financial outgoings where possible? “Huge room for cost reduction exists in most construction companies’ surveying department,” stresses Akl. “International suppliers like us should be making more efforts to assist local customers in modernising their construction and mapping solutions,” he adds.

Education must go further than simply introducing the new technologies however, stresses Alam: “There is big shortage of professional surveyors. An education drive must be put in place and a joint initiative started with civic bodies that will help every individual to come up to a high level of surveying [knowledge], adding value to their organisation.”

“The key to the success of any business is time management: [knowing] how to save time at every phase of every job will make the difference between success and failure, winner and loser,” stresses Katsuhiro Umino, general manager, Topcon Middle East and Africa. “This idea is important all the time regardless of the economy, but will be more critical today as everybody becomes more cost-sensitive on projects.”

Advances in technology

A major factor in saving both time and money is technology, stresses Umino. The latest surveying equipment available on the market offers key savings in both areas.