The Swan River Crossings project is replacing the ageing Fremantle Traffic Bridge with Western Australia’s first cable-stayed extradosed bridge.

ACS is proud to be contributing to this significant piece of infrastructure through the development and pilot deployment of a custom Proximity Warning and Awareness System for a crawler crane operating on the project.

The system was designed and trialled to assess how radar-based proximity awareness technology could provide an additional layer of situational awareness in a complex construction environment. Multiple radar sensors are positioned around the crane to continuously monitor proximity distance to potential hazards.

The radar feedback is processed by a PLC programmed by ACS, triggering both visual and audible warnings for the operator. As the crane approaches an obstacle, the alarm frequency increases, providing clear and intuitive proximity indication.

Key features of the solution include:

• Multiple radar detection zones covering the boom and rear of the crane
• PLC-based control and logic tailored to the application
• In-cab colour HMI providing real-time operator feedback
• Audible and visual alarms with escalating proximity warnings
• Robust CAN-based communications and braided harness construction

From design and engineering through to programming, commissioning and on-site validation, this project demonstrates how intelligent automation can be applied to improve safety on major infrastructure projects.

Thank you to the teams involved in delivering this landmark project and for the opportunity to contribute a solution that helps improve operator awareness and protect people, equipment and infrastructure on site.