Tatum, C B; Vorster, M; Klingler, M G and Paulson Jr, B C (2006) Systems analysis of technical advancement in earthmoving equipment. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132(9), pp. 976-986. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The technical advancement of earthmoving equipment during the 20th century includes many improvements in key parts of machines. This paper uses five systems that make up earthmoving equipment (implement, traction, structure, power train, and control and information) to analyze this technical advancement. The analysis of each system includes its purpose and operation, technical limitations and key technologies, and a chronology of major advancements. The findings are the benefits of using the five systems for analysis of technical change, the sequence and timing of key technical advances in each system, the fundamental technologies that fostered these advances, and the integration of systems into balanced equipment designs. This increased understanding from this analysis results in significant implications and relevance for civil designers working on integrated teams, contractors selecting methods and planning operations, equipment suppliers developing new machines, construction educators teaching the technical basics of equipment, and researchers developing advanced modeling and simulation tools.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction equipment; control systems; diesel fuels; earthwork; information technology; innovation; technology |
| Index terms: | earthwork, chronology, systems analysis, simulation tool, integrated team, information technology, integration, traction, control system, designer, construction equipment, earthmoving, modelling, diesel fuel |
| Subjects: | profession, computing systems, construction methods, construction operations, energy systems, analytical methods, management, monitoring and control, construction equipment, organizational analysis, transportation engineering, time analysis |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Plant and Equipment, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Time Control, Site Management, Organizational Design, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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