Pilot Allinq In Control: goodbye to the old GPS measuring rod

Although the team is still pioneering with the new technology, Bert is already very enthusiastic: ‘Some of our excavation teams are equipped with an iPad with Allinq In Control. This allows them to film themselves when the trench is still completely open, capturing everything they dig in detail. The video is partially automatically and partially converted to a Point Cloud by the Allinq subsidiary Yungo.

Bert: ‘Thanks to this 3D representation of the situation underground, a tremendous amount of precise data with photos is available within 48 hours. You can extract various information from it, such as the depth, the materials used, the quality of the work, and even potential errors. This makes the digital scan a great piece of evidence, for example, to demonstrate that you did dig far enough from the trees, or a useful tool to identify the location of a weak connection.

Without Allinq In Control, Bert’s team relies on the man with the GPS measuring rod. Bert says, ‘Once a week, the surveyor comes by to measure the locations where we’ve laid cables. Using his GPS rod, he records the position of the cables underground. These data are then processed into revision and production statements and uploaded to KLIC

In 1990, it was groundbreaking when GPS became available for civilian use. However, in 2023, there is still significant information missing. Bert says, ‘Because measurements are often taken with a closed trench, there is, for example, no information about the depth. The quality is also invisible.’ In addition, the processing speed is not really up to date: ‘Once a week, someone with a rod takes measurements. The processing is then often done on weekends, so that purchase orders can be sent out early in the week.”

Another advantage of working with Allinq In Control: from the office, you can almost real-time monitor what is happening in the trench. Bert says, ‘For me, the biggest advantage is that you can check what you miss. And the large amount of visual material.’ Jalbert Landwaart, the product owner of the new tool, adds, ‘From the office, we can monitor the quality directly. Where you would otherwise only see points where a cable should approximately be, now you see a complete 3D image of the actual cable. If you notice anything that deviates from the agreement with the client, you can immediately take action.”

Jalbert finds it very convenient that, in a world with a shortage of good technical professionals, an experienced person from the office can coach new employees in the field. ‘I also appreciate that people in the field are gaining more recognition for their work. In the past, it was ‘close the trench, put in the rod, and nobody sees it anymore.’ Now, every job is documented in detail. Some find it greatly enjoyable, while for others, it’s a reason to become extra attentive. And even that extra bit of attentiveness contributes to the quality of everything that goes into the ground!”

Bert is clearly enthusiastic. But as expected with a pilot, he still has some wishes and tips to fine-tune the details. ‘Implementing new things takes time and energy. Our teams will need some time to get used to it. But once you start working with it, you’ll see the results and benefits, and enthusiasm will grow, I’m convinced of that.’

He has some practical tips for the creators: ‘There still needs to be a connection with the revision system of KLIC, so we can see it immediately in the field. It would also be ideal if we could note deviations in the platform. For rubble paving, for example, it would be handy to be able to add the number of centimeters. But apart from those additional wishes, it works great!’