GPS-based Vehicle Management System for Dam-concrete Trucks

Management System for trucks carrying concrete

To ensure efficient concrete casting at multiple points in dam construction, it is important to have real-time knowledge of whether vehicles are available and what casting needs to be done where. This enables efficient production of the different types of concrete needed. This system combines GPS, PDAs (for data gathering and display) and Japan’s Mobile Ark packet data system (mobile phone to server) technologies.
    The position of trucks is relayed by on-board GPS, and drivers are given voice guidance to their destinations and automatically warned when they deviate from the direct route. The location of vehicles is periodically relayed using Mobile Ark packet data transfer technology to a server via the Internet. The system enables pinpointing and category management not only of trucks at the concrete plant, but can also manage shipments by casting site and type. Data can also be accessed at a remote field office.
    The system is used not only at Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism dam construction sites, but also for safe driving on regular roads by trucks at tunnel and other construction sites, using location detection and guidance systems.

HCP Method

Hardening Compaction Pile (HCP), developed jointly by Nishimatsu and other companies, is a revolutionary method enabling effective installation of piled-raft foundations in liquefied ground. Technical inspection certification has been obtained from The Building Center of Japan.
    Piled-raft foundations are rafts (direct foundations) mounted on piles to support a building. Used to prevent subsidence, they are cheaper and more environmentfriendly than other pile foundations, and as such are becoming more popular. With HCP, it is possible to use the static compaction method with sand piles and solid piles, preventing subsidence by being mounted on one machinery platform. This in turn shortens the construction period, and reduces noise and vibrations in the works, enabling use in urban areas. In addition, recycled materials such as crushed stone, sand and steel slag from steel-making can be used in concrete aggregate, helping reduce environmental impact. In the future, this method could be used for very deep-layer support (30 meters) for low-rise buildings (up to five floors).

HCP Method	Comparison of HCP and standard piled-raft foundation in liquefaction