Technology and software: a time of change

HBC radiomatic’s new proximity warning system to keep a crane operator a safe distance away from the load and-or the crane. Image: HBC radiomatic

It won’t have escaped your notice anything vaguely technological involving a computer of any kind is likely to be linked with the term artificial intelligence. The crane and transport industry is no exception. In our sector, where safety is almost invariably the top priority, AI is helping there and in multiple other ways too.

At a distance from safety but still ultimately feeding into it, is the use of AI to, for example, boost efficiency of operations, lifting cycles and equipment availability. Practical tools keep appearing to help maximise productivity and minimise expenditure in terms of wasted energy, time, or a whole gamut of other resources.

How MCS Rental Software’s new eScan appears on screen. Image: MCS Rental Software

One new example from MCS Rental Software is using AI to help users of rental equipment. It has enhanced its eScan module which is an information system using QR codes. “The latest eScan release redefines how rental businesses manage equipment documentation, access asset information, and support customers on site,” the company says.

The AI Manual Assistance feature is part of the latest enhanced module. Chris Clark, MCS development director, explains, “We have a product called eScan which enables our rental customers to produce a QR code that they put on the machines and anybody can then come along and scan that QR code and get access to documents that the rental business has said could be accessed publicly. These could be manuals or they could be test certificates, if the machine’s gone through the workshop and had a safety check and the certificate could be uploaded there.

“The manual insights, basically manual assistance or ‘chat to PDF’ as I like to call it, because it makes a bit more sense, allows anybody to scan the QR code, chat to the manual and ask your questions about how to use that that piece of equipment.” Questions can be in any language and in the user’s own words. Answers are then also in that language.

To allay fears of the LLM (large language model like Chat GPT, for example) “hallucinating” or making things up to fill gaps in the equipment manual, Clark explains, “We want to use the LLM for its understanding of language. We don’t want to use the sort of inherent knowledge that’s in there. Behind the scenes the LLM is instructed to just use the information from the manual and if it doesn’t find any information then it will then come back to the end user and say ‘sorry, I can’t find that information.’ To help with this process of ensuring the accuracy of the results, we get it to always return the page number from the manual.”

“The AI tool dramatically reduces the time it takes to find relevant information, improving safety and operational efficiency,” MCS says.

The Versatile AI hook mounted sensor for data capture is a passive unit that doesn’t interfere with lifting operations. Image: Versatile AI

Jobsite intelligence

Another use of AI, specifically related to cranes, is a system from Versatile AI that gathers data about every lift a crane makes using sensors mounted in a device on the crane hook and then turns it into multiple ways of increasing efficiency. It is used by crane owners, contractors and project managers. Christian Erickson, Versatile AI marketing director, explains how passive technology is fuelling jobsite intelligence.

Steel erection demands speed, precision, and co-ordination. Crews race the clock with cranes as one of the most expensive and visible resources on a construction site. Traditionally, teams relied on gut feel, manual logs, or verbal updates to gauge the progress of a project. That is changing.

These tools do not require any change in how a crew rigs or executes a lift. The process looks the same in the field. What changes is what happens afterwards. With data from each pick captured and analysed, teams can make faster decisions, identify bottlenecks, and stay aligned on the sequence of work.

This technology doesn’t slow down work or require process changes. Crane crews lift as usual. The system collects and processes data in the background, often using machine learning to identify patterns, delays, or inefficiencies.

Versatile AI pairs a smart hook-mounted sensor with a dashboard that visualises lift activity in the context of the building sequence. Users include general contractors and steel erectors who want to connect field activity to building sequence and project milestones.

On a project in the USA, SME Steel used this setup to track installation pace, identify slowdowns, and adjust lift plans based on data collected and analysed by Versatile’s software. The visibility helped them stay aligned and hit key dates without friction.

“We didn’t change our workflow, we just started seeing everything more clearly,” says George Bishay, SME Steel project manager. “With the data, we could spot delays, tighten the sequence, and stay ahead without guessing.”

Adoption drivers

An idea of some of the data points and analysis available with the Versatile AI system. Image: Versatile AI

Data is now a competitive edge. Mid-size subcontractors move quickly when they see a clear return on investment (ROI). They use the Versatile technology to improve execution, strengthen relationships, and win repeat work.

Owners expect transparency. More clients demand data to back up progress reports. The ability to show clear lift histories, sequence compliance, or idle time reduction earns trust.

No one has time to babysit data. Passive collection removes the need to chase photos, checklists, or verbal updates. Data flows automatically, freeing leaders to act instead of react.

These tools don’t monitor people. They measure process. They help contractors protect margins by giving teams context: what’s happening, what’s next, and where risk is hiding.

Larger firms often stall on adopting this tech because internal change moves slowly. Where they hesitate, leaner crews keep collecting, allowing them to learn faster, tighten schedules, and show up stronger during project reviews. In a world where progress gets questioned, the crews with real numbers walk in with answers.

“For us, the value comes down to proof,” says Paul Breitenbach, SME Steel VP of field operations. “When you can show progress with real numbers, not just impressions or updates, you build trust with the GC, the owner, and your own team.”

The crane hook is no longer just a lifting point. For more and more teams, it’s a data collection node that tells the story of project performance, one lift at a time.

Using sensors in another way is HBC radiomatic in Germany which has a new proximity warning system to keep a crane operator a safe distance away from the load or the crane. By detecting the operator’s distance from a machine, the radiomatic Range Control keeps people and equipment a safe distance apart.

It can be set for proximity or far field control, or both. Detecting proximity protects the operator from getting unintentionally in the machine’s driving path or within the radius of moving components.

For field detection the Range Control stops an operator from driving the machine out of a safe view or accidentally moving it towards people or hitting obstacles. Reaction to the sensor data can be defined as a number of things, from alarms to slowing the machine.

Zones around a machine are defined as stop, warning or safe. The minimum distance between the operator and the machine can be defined for a proximity control. Entering a stop zone triggers an immediate machine stop.

Sick lasers can be required to operate over hundreds of metres. Photo: Sick

Laser focus

An established way of achieving collision prevention, accurate load positioning, and safe crane operation involves the use of lasers. Sick Long-range Laser Distance Sensors offer high-precision measurements and robust performance in challenging environments, the company says.

This is particularly useful in tasks requiring millimetre accuracy, such as assembling large structures. In collision avoidance applications laser sensors monitor a crane’s surroundings, detecting obstacles in real time to prevent collisions with nearby structures, machinery, or personnel.

A traditional mode of operation for laser sensors is for height and distance measurement for tower and gantry cranes, providing continuous feedback on hook height and load distance. This aids operators in maintaining safe clearances and optimising crane movements. In addition, using laser sensors to monitor crane sway and deflection in windy conditions or under heavy loads, enables the operators to adjust operations accordingly to maintain stability and safety.

The Sick Dx100/Dx1000 has a flexible communication interface to allow easy integration of the laser sensors into automated systems. It offers possibilities in automated crane systems for autonomous load handling, remote monitoring and more.

Wider benefits of sensor integration provide the user with sensor intelligence data to help predict and subsequently prevent unnecessary downtime. The transfer of data using one of the desired communication interfaces allows the end user complete visibility of the aggregated data in real time.

Sick laser sensors for accurate automated load placement by cranes. Image: Sick