Digital Construction

According to McKinsey Global Institute, the construction sector is among the least digitised of 22 sectors considered in their analysis, second last to agriculture. There is enormous potential to reduce costs in the sector by adopting digital processes. Murphy Geospatial has the vision to lead the digital transformation in the sector through our highly accurate digital construction services. The verified geospatial data we produce through our GeoCert™ platform feeds into the digital support systems and collaboration tools that enable the efficiencies and cost reductions promised by the digital transformation to become a reality. 

During construction, the geospatial coordination of multiple stakeholders on large infrastructure projects is a particular challenge, especially on large projects. Long linear projects present unique complications regarding geospatial coordination due to grid reference alignment and geoid transformations. The understanding of XYZ position consistency and determination should not be underestimated and poses many technical problems to project stakeholders who may all approach these challenges differently. Governance is part of the solution to overcome these problems.  

The establishment of an administered baseline control network is of critical importance. In addition, setting protocols around the access to the control network information and history of usage should serve to increase accountability around its use. A control network with associated base survey serves as a reliable and trusted single source of truth and enables coordination of design and construction throughout the project. This results in less risk of design clashes and problems with misalignments on site. It also makes possible the use of machine control for construction equipment and establishes a traceable flow of coordination on the project. 

Murphy Geospatial offer a wealth of experience in our people, process and use of technology to deliver valued services in the construction sector. Our services range from high-accuracy setting–out, establishment of machine control, vibration monitoring to geospatial management of complex projects. Our approach is to consult with our clients to determine the services that will provide the most value to them. Every construction project is different, but with our 40 years’ experience on some of the largest infrastructure projects to be undertaken in the UK and Ireland we can apply our knowledge to find solutions to any challenge. 

In most construction projects, there are likely to be multiple consultancies contributing to the design phase and a main contractor, potentially with multiple sub-contractors, on site constructing the project. In addition, the project client representative needs to understand progress in near real-time to manage the project effectively. The geospatial management of construction sites and stakeholders is an essential part of this with multiple benefits for all. Our construction geospatial managers ensure the administration of the baseline control networks, coordinate BIM and geospatial data, check and coordinate progress surveys to facilitate clash detection and ensure design intent is being met. At the end of the project, we can capture a verified survey for integration into a final as-built dataset which can be carried into the operational phase of the project. 

Our clients can only process and report on the data that is available to them. Recent technological developments in visual capture of construction sites has enabled near real-time progress reporting for our clients. As geospatial construction data is captured it can be related and compared to project program and 4D BIM. UAV or terrestrial site crews can capture images of the site at critical stages or at a set frequency. Images are processed using powerful cloud computing with results hosted on a secure, web accessible platform. Ideally this would be hosted on a project portal where the control network and all project progress surfaces can be accessed on a timeline interface.  

Our digital construction services can support working in the next normal, reducing the amount of resident engineering staff and requirement for site visits to get visual confirmation of issues, completed work or status updates. Our data records a point in time in the project for review if required at a later date. For civil projects, aerially captured progress images can also be processed to create a digital surface model of the site at regular intervals enabling the calculation of material stockpile and spoil quantities and to ensure that they are being placed in the locations agreed with local landowners and other project stakeholders. This stream of data allows the client partner to gain an unrivalled, up to date understanding of the project as it progresses. 

Our geospatial services feed into the design process for all construction project types. Civil infrastructure projects with significant groundworks, to industrial and high-rise construction projects. Our construction services offer the most value where geospatial certainty is required by our clients in the construction phase. When the position of road and rail alignments, building footprints, fit out of M&E and machinery in clean tech / pharmaceutical sectors, cladding and modular construction methods in commercial property has to be accurate, Murphy Geospatial has the people, process and technology to deliver certainty for our clients.  

Site Control  

The only way to bring a project to conclusion within high tolerances and continually reducing the risk of dimensional errors, is to establish and maintain a precise control network from start to finish. Having an accurate control network is vitally important, as it will help to ensure that all survey work and future monitoring observations can be validated. 

Murphy Geospatial use the latest geospatial technology to ensure absolute dimensional accuracy throughout a project. Survey control points are located with sufficient redundancy measurements to detect measurement errors and ensure reliability. Control reports include all observations, scope of the work performed, and details on levels of accuracy as well as the finding of the survey. 

Setting Out 

The setting out process helps to ensure design and build specifications meet positional accuracy on-site. We provide fully-trained engineers to manage the high-accuracy placement of infrastructure, buildings, MEP and glass facades. Our setting out services prevent unnecessary costs, delays and disputes that can arise due to mistakes with positioning. It gives reliable and accurate results and is cost-effective, fast and precise. 

Progress / As-Built Surveys 

As-built surveys form a critical part of the construction process. They work to make sure designs can be verified against the geospatial tolerances expected, which helps to mitigate downtime and cost associated with construction rework, site revisits and field changes. As-built progress surveys can also be used to monitor changes to a structure or feature at a particular point of time to validate the progress of construction. They can also be carried out on existing sites for clash detection to merge the design and minimise delays during fabrication and construction. 

We provide as-built surveys, from field to BIM, 2D and 3D plan drawings, sections, profiles and volumes, through to 3D animation, fly-through videos, and 3D visualisation. Our as-builts can be brought forward into the in-use phase of the project to provide a geospatial framework for facilities management and maintenance. Future extensions or floor plan layout changes can be planned using the verified as-built model, saving on future surveying costs.