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Project Details
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) I-30 project, known as the 30 Crossing Design-Build Project, is a significant infrastructure undertaking aimed at improving a critical stretch of Interstate 30 in Arkansas. This extensive effort includes widening and improving approximately 200 miles of highways and interstates, along with the replacement of 14 bridges.
Initiated in 2020, the project aims to enhance traffic flow, improve safety, and support future economic growth in the region. Key improvements include reconfiguring major interchanges and adding new lanes to accommodate increased traffic volumes.
The ARDOT I-30 project is a collaborative effort being led by the Kiewit-Massman (KMC) joint venture. The expected completion date for the project is slated for 2025, marking a significant milestone in Arkansas's efforts to modernize its transportation infrastructure and enhance overall mobility within the state.
D.T. Read Steel is a rebar subcontractor based in Virginia. D.T. Read deployed Advanced Construction Robotics' TyBOT on this project.
Objectives
D.T. Read has used TyBOT and have seen great results. So, when the opportunity came to use TyBOT on I-30, they said it was a "no-brainer."
- D.T. Read's main objective for using TyBOT on this project was to contribute to keeping the project ahead of schedule and to promote the future use of TyBOT on our projects, establishing us as an innovative rebar subcontractor.
Outcomes
TyBOT met D.T. Read's expectations for working in a fast-paced environment as they were able to deliver ahead of schedule, seeing substantial savings in time and money.
- Over the course of five months, D.T. read completed the I-30 Arkansas Brudge using three TyBOT units that tied a total of 669,142 ties.
"TyBOT contributed to a 30% schedule savings and provided a safer working environment for our crew. We are looking forward to expanding our team's expertise by training more members to become robot supervisors."
Erick Bowman, Area Manager, D.T. Read
Next Steps & Future Use
D.T. Read understands the benefits of having TyBOT augment their crews on jobs. They have invested in training their teams to use the technology to provide them with a competitive advantage and reduce the strain on their crews. They call this team the "Rebar Geek Squad."
Since I-30, D.T. Read has used TyBOT on the I-40 Gorge Bridge in NC (TyBOT’s first time in the state) and the Nasa Causeway in FL, and we are looking forward to incorporating it in all other projects moving forward. They are also looking into using IronBOT, ACR’s rebar lifting, carrying, and placing robot, with TyBOT on future projects that make sense.
BuiltWorlds Analysis
In BuiltWorlds 2023 Tools, Equipment, and Robotics Survey, respondents identified 15+ robotics solutions currently available on the market. While these solutions are being adopted by firms in the AEC space, implementation rates remain modest -- suggesting that contractors and construction companies are still working to identify the robotics solution that best suits their needs. The trend in higher adoption and lower implementation is reflected in the moderately low industry average satisfaction rates for robotics.
Robotic solutions with a clear use case and impact - such as ACR's TyBOT - tend to yield great results when deployed on-site. Most companies in the construction robotics industry design specialized solutions or a set of solutions to fulfill a specific function during on-site construction projects. Many of these solutions are primarily used during a particular phase of the project lifecycle. Construction robotics excel in the structured aspects of a construction project lifecycle, where tasks are repetitive, the environment is controlled, and the work can be executed without interruption.