Vögele expand digital road construction solutions

14 January, 2022

First published in the January 2022 issue of Quarry Management

New functions in WITOS Paving Docu and WITOS Paving Plus increase both the simplicity and the accuracy of job site documentation and process optimization

Paving temperatures in real time on the smartphone; automatically generated paving and logistics concepts; plus other supplementary functions: Joseph Vögele AG are now using numerous user-friendly new features to adapt their digital documentation and process optimization tools even more specifically to suit the requirements of planners, construction managers, and paving crews.

Digital process optimization solutions significantly increase quality and efficiency in road construction, but are frequently also complex; this is why, for some years, road paver manufacturers Vögele have been offering a three-tier modular system with different functional scopes.

The three practical tools are designed precisely for the requirements of different construction projects and users, and some of them can be combined or expanded: the RoadScan non-contacting measuring system allows users to monitor paving temperature across the whole paved area, the WITOS Paving Docu documentation tool records and analyses both machine and process data, whilst the WITOS Paving Plus high-end solution allows all paving processes to be planned and then optimized in real time.

Vögele are now expanding these three solutions by adding numerous new features – practical functions which simultaneously increase ease of use.

Monitor paving temperatures by app

An important component in this is the new Jobsite Temp app: users of WITOS Paving Docu and WITOS Paving Plus who also use the RoadScan temperature measuring system can connect to the paver by QR code and activate the application.

The Jobsite Temp app now gives others working on the job site, such as paving supervisors and roller operators, in addition to paver operators, access to all the relevant information. Apart from viewing paving temperatures in real time, the foreman, for example, can see other data such as current pave speed, screed width and paver position.

To work out where a particular truck is unloading, he/she can also show positions of trucks, including the associated delivery note information. Likewise, roller operators have the facility to view their own position and distance from the paver and to define exclusion zones.

‘The Jobsite Temp app gives paving crews a comprehensive real-time overview of all temperature data,’ said Dr Stephan Weller, software products manager at Joseph Vögele AG. ‘This mobile solution with its clear icons and simple menu-based navigation is tailored exactly to the needs of users. After all, no-one on a job site wants to be held up by functions which require explanation.’

The app and the paver are networked via WiFi, with the result that information can be exchanged between the RoadScan temperature-measuring system and the smartphone, even where there is no mobile phone connection. To achieve this, the paver sets up a WiFi network with a radius of around 50–80m and acts as a server.

RoadScan: Automatic corrections

Vögele have also continued improving the temperature-measuring system itself. RoadScan’s infrared camera measures paving temperatures across the whole area behind the screed in a width up to 10m. To avoid faults in the thermal image due to moving objects, Vögele have now developed automatic correction: the RoadScan system compares up to four images for a position, allowing it to detect moving obstacles, such as those caused by scanning moving rollers, for example. These faulty measurements are removed from the thermal image, giving construction managers and paving supervisors a true-to-life overview of paving temperatures.

Furthermore, Vögele have optimized odometer calibration: RoadScan’s GPS receiver and the odometer are now calibrated automatically every 2m. ‘This prevents errors and saves additional effort,’ said Dr Weller. ‘As a result, the operator and paving supervisor are able to concentrate more on the paving process itself.’

WITOS Paving Docu and Plus with additional functions

The WITOS Paving Docu documentation tool, too, has new practical features which users can exploit to monitor paving data and progress even more effectively: paving crews have the option of entering target project values such as target tonnages, paving sections, or areas directly in the Jobsite app, and of tracking progress. In the relevant truck history, delivery notes from trucks which have already unloaded can also be displayed.

Vögele have also expanded the WITOS Paving Plus process optimization solution, making it easier for planners and construction managers to issue calls to tender: once the relevant planning data has been entered in the control module, they can create a template for a paving and logistics concept, and have it output in the form of a document which can be edited. This saves time and effort, yet still gives the individual responsible the option of adding his or her own information or comments.

‘All the new features and developments linked to our digital road construction solutions ultimately have the same objective: we want to make life easier for planners, construction managers, and paving crews and to give them the best possible support by providing reliable, straightforward, and transparent information,’ said Dr Weller.