System and method for concrete placement

Abstract

A concrete finishing system may include a surface sensor, a depiction generator for generating a depiction of a profile of the concrete surface, and a display for displaying the depiction. The system may be used to perform a method of finishing concrete including arranging a surface sensor such that a work area for placement of the concrete is within a field of view of the surface sensor, capturing surface profile data of a surface of the concrete during placement or finishing of the concrete, generating a surface profile depiction based on the surface profile data, displaying the surface profile depiction, and informing personnel regarding a variation in height based on the depiction. The concrete slab formed with this process may include a floor flatness value above 35 and a surface free of ground areas and free of filled areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concrete finishing system, comprising:
 a surface sensor configured to capture surface profile data of a concrete surface, the surface sensor being arranged such that a concrete work area where concrete is being finished is within a field of view of the surface sensor;   a depiction generator configured to generate a depiction of a surface profile of the concrete showing variation in the flatness of the concrete surface; and   a display configured to display the depiction.   
     
     
         2 . The concrete finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein the depiction includes a three-dimensional depiction suitable for a two-dimensional display. 
     
     
         3 . The concrete finishing system of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional depiction includes a heat map. 
     
     
         4 . The concrete finishing system of  claim 3 , wherein the three-dimensional depiction includes a contour map. 
     
     
         5 . The concrete finishing system of  claim 1 , wherein the depiction generator is configured to display point values showing an elevation variance from flat at a particular point. 
     
     
         6 . A method of finishing concrete, comprising:
 arranging a surface sensor such that a work area for placement of the concrete is within a field of view of the surface sensor;   capturing surface profile data of a surface of the concrete during placement or finishing of the concrete;   generating a surface profile depiction based on the surface profile data;   displaying the surface profile depiction; and   informing personnel regarding a variation in height based on the depiction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein capturing surface profile data comprises capturing surface profile data after placement of the concrete and before further finishing of the concrete. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein capturing surface profile data comprises capturing surface profile data after initial forming of the concrete surface and before further finishing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein initial finishing comprises striking off the concrete or finishing the concrete with a bull float and further finishing comprises finishing the concrete with a highway straight edge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising instructing remediation of high or low areas that are more than ½ inch high or ½ inch low. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein capturing surface profile data further comprises capturing surface profile data after further finishing of the concrete and before machine finishing and hand finishing of the concrete. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein further finishing comprises finishing the concrete with a highway straight edge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising instructing remediation of high or low areas that are more than ¼ inch high or ¼ inch low. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein capturing surface profile data further comprises capturing surface profile data after machine finishing of the concrete and before substantial setting of the concrete. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein machine finishing comprises finishing the concrete with a power float or trowel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising instructing remediation of high or low areas that are more than ⅛ inch high or ⅛ inch low. 
     
     
         17 . A concrete slab having a floor flatness value above 25 and comprising a surface free of ground areas and free of filled areas, the slab being formed by a method comprising:
 arranging a surface sensor such that a work area for placement of the concrete slab is within a field of view of the surface sensor;   capturing surface profile data of a surface of the concrete slab during placement or finishing of the concrete;   generating a surface profile depiction based on the surface profile data;   displaying the surface profile depiction; and   informing personnel regarding a variation in height based on the depiction.   
     
     
         18 . The concrete slab of  claim 17 , wherein capturing surface profile data comprises capturing surface profile data after placement of the concrete slab and before further finishing of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         19 . The concrete slab of  claim 18 , wherein capturing surface profile data further comprises capturing surface profile data after further finishing of the concrete slab and before machine finishing and hand finishing of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         20 . The concrete slab of  claim 19 , wherein capturing surface profile data further comprises capturing surface profile data after machine finishing of the concrete slab and before substantial setting of the concrete slab.