When the Hammer Blows of Progress Intersect Technology

When the Empire State Building was built, the architects, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors used the most up to date early 20th-century technology available. It is hard for us in the 21st- century to fathom that construction crews in the early 20th- century were able to build high rises such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. Where they lacked our modern technology, they used innovation, organization, collaboration, and planning to maximize every detail of the projects. And of course, even today, that old saying comes to mind: Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention/innovation, and adaptation was as accurate back in those days as it is today. Those who built the skyscrapers of the early 20th-century were no doubt grateful for the building trade innovations advanced by the tradesmen of the late 19th century.  Unbeknownst to the workers the tools carried in their wooden tool boxes served as the baseline from which all future innovations emerged. I can imagine the excitement the workers exhibited  when new products, new methods, and inventions came on the market. Query, did they line up in front of the local co-op or hardware store a few days before the products release so to be the first to purchase whatever newfangled tool, that had been the talk in the local union halls.  I can envision the lunch bucket brigades as they sat around on whatever was available during their lunch break and while discussing the events of the day, some cocky upstart begins to extoll the virtues of the innovative tools (the newer technology) they were using on the project. He went on to declare that his grandfather would be amazed at the advances made in the construction trade. Reaching inside his toolbox, he pulled out a new Sears & Roebuck Craftsmen tool. Waving it around above his head, he exclaimed: “This is what I’m talking about.” And so it goes with every generation–something old, something new!

For a few months now, I’ve been intrigued by a group of young guys who carried hard-case backpacks (see the featured photograph) that I don’t recall ever seeing before. Top secret? I mused as a couple of the young fellas walked by. A few days later, as I entered the ground floor of the project, I noticed a hard-case open and a few feet away, a young man standing upright attentively looking at something above his left hand. What I observed tweaked my curiosity. I watched him as he held a pole (similar to a ski pole) with an iPad looking screen attached. As his eyes focused on the screen, and while he held the pole perpendicular to the metal decking, he slowly moved the tip of the pole back in forth–pause–in small circles–pause–point the tip to the left or the right–pause–perhaps make a few narrow adjustments–pause–push the screen a few times–pause. Seemingly satisfied, the operator would bend down and mark the spot (position) at the tip of the pole with a piece of colored chalk.  Interesting! In making my rounds, I would occasionally see two or three working together with more equipment including an instrument on top of a tripod. One day as I pondered the purpose of the technology, memories of years gone by came to mind:

It was in the early 50s, our family was visiting relatives in Oregon. Somehow water dowsing worked its way into a conversation. Curious, I inquired how dowsing worked. My grandfather, a man of few words, said: “Follow me.” He quickly found two L-shaped twigs under a large shade tree.  Cupping a twig in each hand, he said: “let’s go, we’re going to find us some water.”  As I followed him, he explained that when the twigs turned inward, I should mark the spot with the rock in my hand. We would then get a shovel from the barn and dig for water. I don’t recall if we found water, but we had a great time.

Water dowsing is a controversial (positioning) technique: the twigs turn in on each other, the spot (position) is marked, and then dig for the water. I bet you are wondering where I’m going with this! Well, here goes. Being the inquisitive person that I am, I determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious and apparent technological innovation. The process was rather tacit in that no construction sounds emanated from a pounding hammer, a drillers drill, a buzz from of a saw, a zap from a welder wand, or the grinding sounds from a grinder. The method so sterile, they could be decked out in suits and ties I learned from one of the young lads that the hard-case backpack carried a Trimble Single Point Positioning system, which is light years more advanced than the twigs used by the dowsers.  Using software previously downloaded onto the tablet (similar to an iPad), at the home office, the operator(s) are able to, with laser technology, layout precisely (within a fraction of an inch) interior walls, door locations, positions for electrical boxes (switches and outlets), pipe positions, and a host of other systems and applications that require Single Point Positioning. How cool is that?

For all practical purposes, the plumb bobs, transits, levels, squares, the 100-foot tape measures, and other tools of the old wooden toolboxes have given way to this mindboggling technology. Today, the architects, engineers, contractors, inspectors, and the construction trade in general benefit from (as the Trimble’s Website describes this technology): Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); Global Positioning System (GPS); Lasers; Optics; and Inertial.

I first became aware of similar technology while the pit was being excavated, but at the time, I didn’t pay much attention to the technology. Now, I understand that this technology is woven throughout the construction project–from the bottom of the pit to the top of the towers.

With the following photos and accompanying captions, I will attempt to illustrate how this technology works. 🔨

Lasers and Trembles Down in the Pit

Down in the pit, where the earth was flat, I came across this self leveling laser. The operator steered the tractor, while the laser via GPS maneuvered the back blade to the precise depth of the elevator pit.

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Checking depth of decking for concrete pour

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Right Console Screen

Center Console Screen

Left console screen

Kevin and his Trimble gear.

Kevin working his Trimble screen.

Checking laptop for proper room layout

Adjusting Antenna

Checking alignment of sleeves

Maintaining the Plumb and Verticality of a Steel Frame, Multi-Story Building Without Using a Plumb-bob

Using a

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The Robot

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