Impact of "The Internet of Things" in the Construction Industry.

What is Internet of Things (IOT) ?

The internet of things (IoT) is the internetworking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.

The range of applications is vast. When you consider the possibility of connecting any machine, any system or any site to the Internet to know at any time what’s happening, it rapidly becomes clear that the only limit in finding uses for IoT is our imagination.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming every facet of the building – how we inhabit them, how we manage them, and even how we build them. There is a vast environment around today’s buildings, and no part of the environment is unaffected.

However, construction is a practical activity that deserves practical examples.

Following are the possibilities the IoT is impacting design and construction sector.

Remote operation

If you can hook up a machine to the web either with a physical or a wireless connection, you can give it instructions remotely. It can operate alone in areas that would be hazardous to humans because of pollution. Similarly, wearable computing like Google Glass can help workers on site access instruction manuals in hands-free mode, or benefit from remote support that sees what they see.

Supply replenishment

When units of supply are labeled with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, a system on site can count them. When the count drops below a given level, the system can trigger a request from a central system to order more. Idle time goes down and projects have better chances of being completed on time. Costs are also contained because the construction company does not need to buy in significantly more supplies than it is likely to use at any one time. Instead, just-in-time provision becomes possible automatically.

Construction tools, machinery, and equipment tracking

likewise, you’ll know where that pneumatic drill ended up or how many excavators are currently located at a given construction site. This will help reduce the time lost looking for misplaced items as well as the cost of purchasing replacements. GPS data is already being used to monitor vehicle fleet locations.

It also allows excavating or landscaping equipment to be precisely positioned on a terrain to then automatically carry out directives using a virtual map of the digging, cutting or other terrain modifications to be made.

Equipment servicing and repair

Sensors in machines allow them to transmit information about their status and any need for service or repairs. Fixing machines before they break makes more sense than waiting for failure, which by Murphy’s Law is all too likely to happen just at the wrong time.

Remote usage monitoring

For equipment used by workers, whether power drills or articulated earth-movers, the IoT means construction hours can be logged automatically. Limits can be monitored, so as to prevent worker fatigue and possible accidents. Wearable computing in the form of wristbands can also monitor driver health and alertness. Action can be taken if the limits are in danger of being exceeded.

Green building

 The construction industry is a huge driver of landfill waste – up to 40% of all solid waste comes from the buildings projects. This unfortunate fact has ignited a wave of interest in sustainable architecture and construction. But the green building movement has become about much more than keeping building materials out of landfills. It is influencing the design and engineering of building systems themselves, allowing buildings to reduce their impact on the environment through energy management.

Today’s green buildings are being engineered to do things like shut-down unnecessary building systems automatically when the building is unoccupied, or open and close louvers automatically to let in optimal levels of natural light.

Power and fuel savings

Via the IoT, sites can send back information on the amount of electrical power they use, so that after-hours lighting can be adjusted for energy-savings.

Machines can send back information on idling time (which uses fuel) so that on and off periods can be adjusted without penalizing projects through the time needed to restart machines.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Google Glass offers AR, but you have to be wearing the Google Glass goggles to make use of it. The next step will likely be to integrate AR directly into equipment visors and vehicle windshields. Operational instructions or navigational and driving information will then come over the IoT in real time, and be overlaid onto the real-world view of the job to be done or the journey to be traveled. 

Intelligent prefab/ Precast

 Using prefabricated building components can be faster and more cost effective than traditional building methods, and it has an added benefit of creating less construction waste. However, using prefab for large commercial buildings projects can be very complex to coordinate. The IoT is helping to solve this problem.

Using RFID sensors, individual prefab parts can be tracked throughout the supply chain. A recent example is the construction of the Leadenhall Building in London. Since the building occupies a relatively small footprint but required large prefabricated components, it was a logistically complex task to coordinate the installation. RFID data was used to help mitigate the effects of any downstream delays in construction. In addition, the data was the fed into the BIM once parts were installed, allowing for real time rendering of the building in progress, as well as establishment of project controls and KPIs.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Computer models that have been used to direct real-life construction can in turn be updated by sensors placed in the buildings that have now been constructed. The sensors can send back information on the way that materials are affected by changing climates and the passage of time. They can supply information on possible changes in energy efficiency in roofing, how structures behave when there are earth tremors, or how a bridge bends under the weight of passing traffic.

Construction management

 Time is money, so any delays on a construction project can be costly. So how do you prevent your critical heavy equipment from going down and backing up all the other trades on site? With the IoT!

Heavy construction equipment is being outfitted with sensors, which can be remotely monitored for key indicators of potential maintenance issues like temperature fluctuations, excessive vibrations, etc. When abnormal patterns are detected, alerts can trigger maintenance workers to intervene early, before critical equipment fails. Performing predictive maintenance in this way can save time and money, as well as prevent unnecessary delays in construction projects.

How are you thinking of using the IoT in your next design or construction project?

What the technology can do for contractors?

It’s all about total cost of ownership (TCO). How much does unscheduled downtime cost when a machine breaks down? Why does one of your operators use 40% more fuel than the average? Which parts or consumables can wait longer before being replaced? These are questions you may be able to answer if you look at the available data.

One thing you shouldn’t do is ignore the new technologies. Install the free app or log in to the manufacturer’s website, maybe you’ll glean some bit of information about your machines and operators that makes a big difference. Just think, if you have 10 machines running and can save five gallons of fuel per machine every day, that adds $25,000 to your annual bottom line.

And if you’re in the market for a new machine, you have one more set of criteria to judge before putting down your money. Right now, only machines made within the last several years have telematics installed from the factory, and mostly in larger models with the highest operating costs. Retrofitted systems are available, so you might consider that option if you own a large fleet of equipment. Consult with a solution provider if you need help figuring out the return on investment before jumping in.

The future state of IoT in construction? It’s still really up to the imagination at this point. Maybe your excavator will send out a message that it needs a new hydraulic control valve, and a self-driving service truck will arrive at the job site and fabricate the part on its mobile 3D printer. One thing's for sure, the Internet of Things will definitely be an area to keep an eye on.

Reference : 

http://www.forconstructionpros.com/article/12169353/how-the-internet-of-things-is-impacting-the-construction-industry/

https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/4-big-ways-the-iot-is-impacting-design-and-construction

https://www.thebalance.com/how-internet-affects-the-construction-industry-845320/