Everett, J G and Slocum, A H (1993) Cranium: Device for improving crane productivity and safety. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 119(1), pp. 23-39. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Cranes are the most important pieces of equipment on many construction sites. While technological advances have been made in crane hardware, the communication system used to coordinate the crane operator’s actions with other craftsmen has not changed in decades. Crane operators frequently cannot see the loads they are moving, so they rely on hand signals relayed among craftsmen. This paper introduces the CRANIUM, a video system designed to improve productivity and safety of crane operations by improving communications. A video camera mounted on the crane boom transmits an image to a television monitor in the crane cab. The operator has a real-time picture of the loads and craftsmen which might otherwise be out of direct line of sight. A full-scale fully-operational prototype CRANIUM was designed, fabricated, and extensively tested in the field. Experimental results show that for moderate and high precision lifts, productivity can be increased 16–21%. Crane safety is also improved.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | productivity, prototype, hardware, craft worker, crane operator, construction site |
| Subjects: | computer hardware, modelling and simulation, work location, practitioner, management |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Site Management, Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here