Israeli tech firm RodRadar and Sitech Deutschland have joined forces to market a product that uses radar and AI technology embedded in excavation equipment to prevent cable and pipeline strikes in Germany and Austria.
RodRadar’s Live Dig Radar technology can detect underground objects in real time and alert machine operators.
Sensors embedded in a digger’s bucket scan the ground and alert the operator to buried objects and their depth.
The companies say the technology will cut excavation risks, prevent delays, and improve safety.
Each year, Germany reports around 100,000 cable and pipeline strikes, with excavation machinery responsible for nearly 80% of them. In Austria, the figure is around 34,000.
It’s estimated that German insurers pay out some €500m a year for excavation-related damages.
Outdated or incomplete utility data and human error are major causes.
“For the first time, operators can easily see underground hazards in real time, ensuring safer, faster, and more efficient excavation,” said Alexander Haag, chief digital officer at Sitech.
Sitech is now responsible for distributing the product in Germany and Austria.
Sitech Deutschland is the exclusive dealer for Trimble Civil Construction Solutions in Germany.
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