Applications of mobile computing for piling operations

The construction of rotary bored piles is a labour intensive process utilising heavy plant and machinery. Presently, it is the responsibility of the workforce to ensure that the pile is constructed to specification and provide as-built information through manual recording of data on site. As-built information for piles is not usually presented graphically nor can it be easily audited. Such methods can result in nonconformance causing delays and additional costs from remedial works. Stent Foundations Ltd is a major UK ground improvements contractor, specialising in such work. This paper describes the development of the Stent Handheld ElectRonic Piling Assistant (SHERPA). The system has the potential to improve the quality of piling information and the knowledge of the workforce. However, this can only be achieved if current working practices and information processes are fully understood and mapped against available technologies and implementation methods.