D.E. Gemmill Inc. has deployed robotic plotter technology for transverse-joint layout, becoming the first U.S. company to use the technology for roadway construction.
The Pennsylvania-based pavement marking contractor added the Tyker Robot Plotter, which combines LiDAR mapping with automated layout. The company recently used the system on two Pennsylvania highway projects.
The process starts with LiDAR scanning to capture existing concrete joint locations after asphalt milling. Once new pavement is placed, the data is uploaded to the robotic plotter, which travels across the pavement and marks transverse-joint locations for the subsequent saw-and-seal operation. The technology is designed to automate a traditionally labor-intensive layout process while reducing workers’ exposure to active roadway environments.
