Showcase: Unique Construction Tech That Could Change Your Fleet (Part 1)

The best technology is innovative, practical, and problem-solving. We asked some of the top manufacturers in the industry their thoughts on their most unique technologies and the answers reflected a wide variety of solutions. Let's examine them. 

Komatsu IMC, Smart Construction

Komatsu’s intelligent machine control (IMC) embeds automation into dozers and excavators for consistent, accurate work with less reliance on staking. The machine measures terrain and assists operators to dig to digital plan, helping reduce rework and improve efficiency. Its semi-automation and safety features (such as 3D boundary control) help make new operators good and great operators happy.

Smart Construction Solutions were designed to add even more value, seamlessly, to IMC machines. As-built data captured during IMC machine operation is transmitted into Smart Construction Dashboard software, where it is combined with design and survey data to create a 3D twin of the job site. Teams can use this model to track daily progress, compare against plan, and make decisions using current information.

Can Smart Construction be retrofitted?

Smart Construction Remote saves driving time, enabling design files and machine support data to be sent to IMC machines remotely.

Develon Transparent Bucket

For Iowa contractor Jack Eike, president of BluGrade Earthworks, snow removal means long hours in the dark with zero margin for error. The biggest challenge? Blind spots created by the very tool used to clear the path.

To address this, Eike utilized Transparent Bucket technology on his Develon Dash 7 Series wheel loader. This system uses a multicamera setup to project a stitched, real-time view of what is directly behind the bucket onto an in-cab monitor.

Take an up-close look at Transparent Bucket technology

“Visibility is paramount at night,” Eike says. “The Transparent Bucket helped me see obstacles like curbs or hidden objects before my tires reached them.” By digitally “seeing through” the steel, operators can place material more precisely and avoid costly site damage — turning a notorious safety blind spot into a clear operational advantage.

Volvo retractable ladder

Volvo Construction Equipment has an industry-first electronically retractable access ladder, now available on select wheeled excavators like the EWR170. 

Replacing traditional vertical rungs, this feature unfolds into a sturdy staircase with ergonomic handrails, allowing operators to maintain secure three-point contact during entry and exit. This design significantly reduces the risk of slips and falls, which are common job site hazards.

And functionality meets durability thanks to the ladder’s smart integration: It automatically retracts into the undercarriage once the operator is safely inside or when the machine is in motion.

This prevents the impact damage often sustained by fixed steps on tight job sites or during travel. By improving access without compromising ground clearance, this technology exemplifies the Volvo commitment to practical, operator-centric innovation.

Landcros Connect (Hitachi)

Landcros Connect is a fleet management system by Hitachi Construction Machinery that gives customers clear, real-time visibility over their fleet of Hitachi equipment, as well as equipment from other manufacturers. Through an intuitive dashboard, users can track machine location, fleet utilization, operating hours, fuel consumption, and maintenance alerts.

In its latest update, Landcros Connect introduced Attachment Management capabilities that allows fleet managers to monitor individual attachments alongside machines for a more complete understanding of their fleet. The update also added expanded user-sharing capabilities, enabling information about a single machine to be accessed by multiple Connect users.

Hitachi rebrands as Landcros

As part of the company’s goal of providing ‘open solutions’, Landcros Connect was engineered to work openly across manufacturers for users who have mixed fleets. With reporting tools built directly into the platform, Landcros Connect helps fleet managers make more informed decisions and maintain a comprehensive overview of their operations.

Deere Path snow mapping

John Deere Path snow mapping technology is designed to help operators navigate winter operations with greater precision and efficiency. As an industry-exclusive solution, it gives operators a clearer understanding of road edges and boundaries, even in low-visibility conditions.

Built on the John Deere StarFire receiver and G5 display technologies, John Deere Path is available on motor graders and other snow removal equipment. It allows crews to pre-map road boundaries before snowfall, creating accurate guidance routes that are automatically sent to the John Deere Operations Center.

During snow events, near real-time mapping helps operators stay aligned with road edges, while audible alerts signal when equipment moves too close to predefined limits, reducing the risk of accidents and infrastructure damage.