Real-time crane monitoring for Brisbane's tallest building
Hutchinson Builders partnered with UPG to implement a real-time GPS crane monitoring system, meeting strict aviation airspace limits for the Brisbane Skytower.
Key achievements
Solution
Summary
UPG was easy to deal with, met our tight time frame for deployment and provided an active crane monitoring system with results accessible to any interested party anywhere in the country.
— Andy Rivers
Hutchinson Builders
Background
Meeting strict height restrictions in critical airspace
When Hutchinson Builders set out to construct the 90-floor, 270-meter Brisbane Skytower, in what was to become one of the tallest residential buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, they faced strict regulatory constraints. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforced a height restriction of 274.3 meters over the Brisbane central business district. Because the tower's crane operated within a critical flight path for nearby Brisbane International Airport, any structure in the zone risked interfering with radar and navigational control systems.
CASA granted permission for the crane to operate above the height limit during daylight hours only, subject to continuous real-time monitoring by CASA in Canberra and by Brisbane Airport itself. To comply, Hutchinson Builders needed a reliable monitoring solution to ensure the crane did not exceed allowed limits during operation or inclement weather, and that it was safely parked at night. They turned to UPG for assistance.
Solution
Deploying real-time GPS monitoring technology
To resolve the height restrictions, the crane was mounted on hydraulic jacks that raised and lowered the structure as needed. UPG installed GPS monitoring units—specifically NetR9 TIMs—on top of the crane's A-frame and at the end of the boom to track height and movement. These units transmitted live data to a secure website.
UPG deployed the entire monitoring system within a week. Using Trimble 4D software, UPG created a customized dashboard displaying various graphs and images on a single online page, granting stakeholders nationwide access to real-time information.
Initially, Hutchinson Builders used the UPG Monitoring As A Service (MAAS) option. UPG experts commissioned and managed the system alongside the on-site surveyor, allowing the construction team to operate immediately before undergoing formal software training.
Results
Setting an industry standard for sky-high construction
The roll-out and commissioning were completed seamlessly without delaying on-site operations. The system provided active, continuous crane monitoring, allowing CASA, Brisbane Airport, and site managers to verify height compliance at any given moment.
After several months of seeing the long-term benefits and user-friendly performance of Trimble 4D software, Hutchinson Builders transitioned to direct ownership of the system for future developments. As the first project to navigate CASA-controlled airspace at this scale in Brisbane, the monitoring method delivered by UPG established a new benchmark and industry standard for high-rise building construction.
