HSE International ISSUE 106 | Page 8

NEWS

AR TECHNOLOGY : SKANSKA TO TRIAL DAQRI SMART HELMETS

Skanska UK is to trial on site DAQRI Smart Helmets – professional industrial grade wearable technology that provides users with instant and relevant information , overlaid on their line of sight .

Skanska is the first UK contractor to become part of DAQRI ’ s early adopter programme , building on the relationship that has grown between Skanska and DAQRI over recent years .

The DAQRI Smart Helmet is wearable Augmented Reality ( AR ) technology , meaning it provides additional and intelligent information about the world around you , directly in your field of view .
It is highly configurable and can utilise many different types of project data , expanding the possibilities for project teams and clients alike . It has the potential to help save time , cost and carbon .
Thomas Faulkner , Executive Vice President , Skanska UK , said :
“ This trial demonstrates our commitment to exploring on site new digital technology , collaborating with technical partners to give us the potential to transform the way we work .
“ If , as an industry , we are to deliver on the targets set in the Construction 2025 strategy , we need to be innovative in our thinking . It will help us to be more efficient , delivering projects more quickly while reducing costs and carbon .
“ It ’ s very exciting to be working with DAQRI during the course of this year to see how we can benefit from their diverse perspective , to challenge the industry ’ s traditional working practices .”
The trial comes on the back of Skanska ’ s recent membership of the Manufacturing Technology Centre ( MTC ) – one of the UK ’ s High Value Manufacturing ‘ Catapult ’ centres . The MTC develops and proves innovative manufacturing processes and technologies in an agile , low risk environment .
Paul Sweeney , Vice President and General Manager of DAQRI International said :
“ Our purpose-built DAQRI Smart Helmet changes the way work is done .
“ A forward-looking company like Skanska recognises the power of augmented reality and wants to integrate the most cutting-edge technology in the field .”
Benefits of the DAQRI Smart Helmet include :
• Remote expert , which enables a member of staff to connect to the helmet remotely and see through the eyes of the user – enabling them to talk , receive guided instruction and agree courses of action .
• Thermal vision , helping users to identify potentially dangerous temperatures preventing scolds and burns – while assisting with maintenance or monitoring of plant and machinery .
• Guided work instructions , providing augmented work information in real time helping workers to understand processes – reducing errors and time spent on site .
• 3D reconstructions of buildings , enabling workers to visualise the world around them as it is and will be as a construction project progress through to completion – overlaying the design at key project milestones .
The DAQRI Smart Helmet complements other new wearable technology that is already being trialed by Skanska , including the Microsoft HoloLens .
www . skanska . co . uk www . daqri . com
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HSE INTERNATIONAL