A nozzleman who has made a transition from hand-nozzling to using a robotic arm knows the value that mechanical technology has brought to our industry. Far beyond just saving human backs and arms during a shift of spraying concrete, robotic arms (booms, lances, etc.) have taken the application of shotcrete to the next level, facilitating rapid deployment of material to significant thicknesses, in hard-to-reach areas, particularly in underground construction environments (tunnels or mines).
This quantum leap in technology, while requiring training and skill to operate, makes shotcreting easier.
But what if those human factors that detract from the quality of in-place shotcrete could be controlled or eliminated? With the use of emerging technology, human error can be reduced or even eliminated.