Increasingly, the construction industry is taking advantage of a connected ecosystem to make their job-sites smarter by the use of IoT and sensors. Three areas serve as examples where sensors are building a connected network that helps contractors access data they couldn’t previously and prevent problems before they occur:
- Protecting workers – wearable sensors can detect injuries and proximity to high voltage, measure body temperature, perspiration and heart rate, and flag dangerous behaviors like drowsiness or distractedness. Researchers at MIT in the Safety++ project have developed a system composed of a connected carabiner, a jacket, an undershirt, shoes, and a customized mesh network. The system can alert workers to harmful toxins and decibel levels and detect whether a worker is carrying a dangerously heavy load. When the user attempts to lift the object, the sensor puts out a message to nearby workers who can come help and minimize risk of injury;
- preventing damage and loss – sensors placed strategically around the job-site provide data on environmental risks such as temperature, humidity, and dust particulates while also tracking long-term trends that could go undetected until it’s too late. Real-time data to proactively address a risk can save untold amounts of costs depending on the project; and,
- optimizing assets – centralized data from existing sensors allows tech companies to better organize information and recommend ways contractors can make the best use of their machines. Fleet managers are able to determine optimal equipment needs, manage fuel spending, and monitor operator safety. The use of predictive analytics allows them to flag equipment issues and thus proactively arrange upkeep, repairs or substitutes before a full breakdown.