Sands, Jeremy (2018) Automating Processes for Cross-checking Plans and Invert Levels for Laying Drainage Mains on Grade. [USQ Project]
Abstract
Drainage is an important stage of land development which consists of the design and construction of sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure. This infrastructure becomes an asset for the local water board authority or local government council and is usually carried out by a quality assured contractor. Drainage mains may be gravity fed where the pipe is laid on a designed grade to ensure waste is discharged from the pipe through the force of gravity. Drainage mains must be constructed within specified tolerances to ensure compliance and to achieve the final as-constructed notice for completion of works.
Design plans for drainage contain reduced levels that are derived from the Australian Height Datum (AHD) where calculations of these levels are carried out manually by the contractors using a calculator. Manual calculations lead to mistakes and the automation of these calculations through a mobile app may help reduce human errors and improve quality assurance. The aim of this research project is to automate these calculations through creating a spreadsheet and mobile app to improve human errors, company efficiency and quality assurance.
Automation of the calculations involved in laying drainage mains on grade was achieved in this research project through creating a spreadsheet and mobile app following a design, build and evaluate process. Field testing identified that a key advantage was how quick and easy calculations can now be undertaken, while a disadvantage discovered was the loss of data if it was not saved. Evaluation from feedback enabled improvements to be undertaken. A positive outcome from the drainer’s perspective was that checks on laying pipe are made more often, whilst a negative outcome was the reliance on available battery power on mobile devices. A positive outcome from an engineer’s perspective was keeping records of checked levels in a digital format while no negative outcomes from an engineering perspective were noted at this stage. Following positive outcomes towards the mobile app created for this research project, a universal app is in the process of been developed.
The new automation processes developed in this research project has had a positive impact on laying drainage mains on grade to the required quality assured standard and within the construction tolerances. Further research in this area may explore the effect the app has on drainage companies around Australia or investigate developing new automation processes in other industries e.g. road design and construction.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) (Surveying) |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | McDougall, Kevin |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Sep 2022 04:56 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Sep 2022 04:56 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | drainage; automation process |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/40766 |
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