Winvic has become the first contractor in the UK to use technology that operates tower cranes from a ground control system.
The Skyline Cockpit aims to improve the safety and wellbeing of crane operators while routine analytics reports available through its cloud portal will allow for efficiencies to be analysed.
A 12-week trial period has been completed on a 33-storey purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development at Crown Place, in the centre of Birmingham.
The success of the trial will see Winvic use the remote operation technology for the rest of the project.
The 814-bed project is Winvic’s tallest project to date, with a 14-tonne capacity Potain MR225 crane used to facilitate several works packages.
- Constructing the hybrid precast and insitu concrete frame
- Facilitating the installation of the unitised curtain walled façade
- Vertically distributing internal fit out materials, such as prefabricated bathroom pods
Currently the crane reaches to 77 metres, but it will be climbed throughout construction to a maximum height of 102 metres.
The cabin, where the crane operator controls the crane from a ground command centre, contains a large panoramic screen measuring 2.1 by 1.2 metres,
The screen shows simultaneous views from the seven cameras placed on the crane, with algorithms combining the output from the cameras to create a panoramic view of the site.
They also use augmented reality to display the load line, expected landing spot, as well as real-time indicators including wind speed, slew, lifting, hoist, jib, and radius data.
The cameras aim to improve all round visibility, by eliminating blind spots and providing up to 40 per cent zoom resolution.
Handover of the Crown Place Birmingham scheme to the client, Crown Student Living, is scheduled for December 2025.
Mark Jones, Winvic’s managing director of Multi-room, said: “We’re pleased to be the first contractor in the UK to utilise ground control tower crane technology.
“It is transformational for the safety and wellbeing of crane operators and an important step for the industry.
“During our 12-week trial period, in collaboration with Skyline Cockpit and Radius Group, we analysed the data and assessed the benefits and we’re delighted to announce that we will continue to use this game-changing technology at the 33-storey Crown Place Birmingham for the remainder of the project’s construction.”
Alan Pulver of Crown Student Living said: “Winvic are doing an amazing job for us at our latest PBSA to be known as Crown Place, Birmingham.
“The ground control system for operating tower cranes will be a great advance to the construction industry, and we are proud to be associated both with Winvic and Skyline Cockpit in this groundbreaking venture.”
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