The internet of things, or IoT, is a broad umbrella term that encompasses the growing number of networked devices in both residential and commercial applications. These devices can take any number of different shapes and sizes, from smart lights and appliances in homes to smart thermostats in office buildings that can monitor occupancy and weather conditions, adjusting the interior temperature accordingly.
These sensors and smart devices, when used in industrial applications, have the potential to revolutionize these projects. How can IoT change the way companies look at construction projects and potentially shape the future of the construction industry as a whole?
Predictive, Not Preventive, Maintenance
A preventive maintenance plan is an essential part of keeping the fleet running smoothly, but even sticking to the manufacturer-recommended maintenance intervals isn’t always enough to keep equipment from breaking down. Modern equipment already comes equipped with a wide variety of sensors that keep track of the health of each vehicle. The introduction of the internet of things gives fleet managers the tools to monitor their fleet in real-time.
Instead of just sticking to the schedule, IoT sensors can send an alert when something begins to go wrong, often long before the vehicle in question starts showing symptoms. When paired with a machine learning program, these systems can even begin to predict problems before they occur, using historical data to find patterns that human analysts or mechanics might miss. When considering how costly equipment downtime is, investing in IoT fleet monitoring could end up paying for itself in no time.
Track and Replenish Inventory
Keeping track of every nail, board, and bag of cement mix is important, but for a large project, it can be an incredibly daunting task. Instead of trying to tackle this job manually, relying on IoT sensors and accompanying tracking software can make an enormous difference. These programs are designed to keep track of everything entered into their database — every bucket of nails or stack of lumber must be entered when it arrives and removed once it’s used.
RFID trackers are an invaluable tool for streamlining this process. Instead of manually entering and removing data or scanning each item by hand, RFID trackers allow the system to scan and add or remove things automatically once they pass a certain point. These systems still require manual oversight, especially when they’re just beginning to collect data, but once they’ve been established, they can easily keep track of a project’s inventory and even be programmed to replenish supplies automatically as they’re used.
Monitor and Protect the Environment
Sustainability and green construction are quickly evolving from industry buzzwords to an unavoidable fact of life for professionals in the construction industry. Right now, less than 5% of new buildings are certified green, though the sector is expected to be worth upwards of $145 billion in the next year or two. Instead of struggling to keep track of all the changes in the industry and how they might impact a particular project, investing in IoT monitoring for job sites can make all the difference.
IoT monitoring, in this instance, is only limited by the imagination of the users and their programmers. Sensors can keep track of everything from weather conditions to soil and water health, protecting the local ecosystem by alerting project managers as soon as one of its pre-programmed parameters goes outside its acceptable range.
Wearable Technology for Workers
In spite of innovations and changes made in the last couple of decades, the construction industry is still one of the most dangerous in the world. Wearable technology — beyond the popular options like Fitbit or Apple Watch — is part of the internet of things and can make an enormous impact when it comes to workplace safety. Smartwatches can track the wearer’s heart rate and other biometrics, as well as provide the option for fall tracking and even hands-free communication — and these are all available on mass-market wearables.
On construction-specific wearables, there are options for fatigue detection and microsleep prevention in hardhats, or pressure detection and location-sensing in work boots. The possibilities are endless, and while there is the risk that these tools could be taken too far and used to over-work or abuse workers, they can also be useful for keeping people safe on an otherwise dangerous job site.
Looking Toward a Networked Future
The internet of things may have started gaining popularity as a way to make homes more convenient, but it is quickly gaining steam in commercial and industrial applications. Many new pieces of construction equipment are already coming with IoT-enabled sensors that make it easier to keep them running. This technology has the potential to reshape the construction industry if existing companies don’t hesitate to adopt these new tools.
