The challenge

Construction sites present numerous health and safety challenges that require constant monitoring and quick decision-making. For Downer, these challenges centred around a crucial question: "How might we use technology to enable people to make faster and better decisions to prevent harm?"

The complexity of modern construction sites demands sophisticated solutions for monitoring multiple safety aspects simultaneously. Site managers need to maintain vigilant oversight of no-go zones and exclusion areas while managing potential encroachment into live traffic lanes. Speed control through closure areas presents another critical challenge, as does ensuring consistent PPE compliance across all personnel. Traditional monitoring methods often struggle to provide the real-time insights needed for effective risk assessment and immediate response to safety concerns.

To address these challenges, Downer partnered with RUSH to trial the newly developed innovative AI Camera solution - R/VISION.

The solution

The development journey exemplified the power of agile methodology and iterative improvement. Within just two months of project initiation, the first Mobile AI Unit was operational on site. The rapid deployment continued with expansion to three additional pilot sites in the following 90 days, demonstrating the system's scalability and effectiveness.

The solution underwent rigorous testing across a diverse range of Downer sites. By deploying the system at both static construction sites with no traffic and dynamic roading sites with active traffic flow, the team could validate its effectiveness across varying conditions and challenges. This comprehensive testing approach ensured the system could adapt to different scenarios while maintaining consistent performance.

Through four generations of prototype development, the team continuously refined the Mobile Camera Unit design. Each iteration brought improvements in compactness and weight reduction, making the units increasingly practical for field deployment. The focus on user-friendly design ensures that units can be easily configured and deployed without requiring specialised training or incurring prohibitive costs.

The outcome

The R/VISION system represents a breakthrough in construction site safety monitoring. It actively tracks zone encroachment, providing immediate alerts when personnel or equipment enter restricted areas. Traffic lane safety monitoring helps prevent accidents in high-risk areas, while speed monitoring ensures vehicles maintain safe velocities through closure areas. The system's PPE compliance monitoring adds another layer of safety oversight, ensuring all personnel maintain proper safety equipment usage throughout their time on site.

The solution's debut at the Downer Engineering Conference in Palmerston North provided a powerful demonstration of its capabilities. Conference attendees experienced the technology firsthand through an interactive booth that showcased the R/VISION platform's person detection and zone monitoring capabilities. The live demonstrations, which included using toy construction equipment to simulate real-world scenarios, helped industry professionals understand the system's practical applications and benefits.

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