GPS system cuts costs in new airport construction

Digital construction technology has been applied to five new runways at Beijing Daxing International Airport by GPS technology provider Trimble Navigation Ltd.

"The whole construction process will be supervised and the project's quality can be mastered. Moreover, the project will be considerably speeded up," said George Chen, general manager of the US company's China Region.

Beijing began construction of a new airport in the capital in December and it is expected to become operational in 2019. It is the first time Trimble's technology has been applied to a Chinese airport runway's construction.

Chen said the new technology makes project management easier. For example, in the past, three or four workers were needed to break up the ground, but now only one person is required, and workers can work at night with the help of the system, which greatly improves efficiency, reduces labor costs and saves time.

Trimble plans to become involved in more airports, railways and water conservancy constructions in China in future. "We will also concentrate on how to bring our technology to China to realize localization, such as establishing a research and development center and joint venture in China. Furthermore, we will introduce more advanced software and systems into China," Chen added.

The California-headquartered company set up its first representative office in Beijing in 1998. It now has about 300 employees, establishing a training, support and service center in Shanghai and manufacturing plants in Shanghai, Suzhou and Changchun.

Its business in China mainly covers geo-information, digital construction and intelligent agriculture.