Transport team wins for safety at Civil Contractors NZ Awards

02/06/2022

Congratulations to the Downer New Zealand Transport Projects team, who took home the John Carson Memorial  Award at the CCNZ Wellington and Wairarapa Awards on Saturday 21 May. The team won the Health and Safety award for their double-tracking work on the Trentham to Upper Hutt Project for Kiwirail.

A daily challenge for Kiwirail is to keep trains running while continuing to upgrade the rail network safely. Using machine control and avoidance technology, the Downer team were able to create a ‘digital shield’ to protect workers operating in this high-risk environment without the need to stop trains from running.

This machine control and avoidance tool involves the use of digital shields to prevent machines - such as the excavators we use on transport projects - from hitting hazards such as passing trains or overhead power lines. Digital engineers send a 3D avoidance model to the machine’s computer to create virtual “no go” zones. Using GPS, the machine knows when it is close to the shield. If the machine touches the shield it will shut down, and the operator cannot go further.

The CCNZ Awards judges commented that Downer’s use of new technologies has led to improved safety outcomes as well as productivity benefits, and has demonstrated the way of the future for protecting our work force.

Congratulations to everyone who worked hard toward creating this impressive safety innovation. Learn more about how we use this exciting new technology here.