Smart Building Technology
Smart Cities

Smart Building Technology Creating a Safer Workplace

A smart building utilizes the latest computational tech to maximize energy efficiency and safety. For example, Internet of Things (IoT) devices can be distributed throughout such buildings, allowing environmental controls, energy use, and personnel activity to be monitored proactively.

A man walking from one room or floor to another need not have both floors fully illuminated the whole time. With IoT tech, LED lights tied into the overall network of the computer-managed structure can follow him as he moves. Accordingly, energy is preserved, reducing not only the cost of the building itself as regards infrastructural expenses, but overall environmental impact.


Insights Gained Through Smart Buildings Infrastructure

In the wake of COVID-19, such concerns are paramount, and beyond simple energy conservation, there are a lot of features inherent to a smart building that may well indicate such structures will lead the way for workers to return to central locations of employment. Consider these facts:

  • Body Temperature Detection
  • Enhanced Management of Space
  • Predictive Maintenance, Predictive Operation
  • Scenario Simulation Through “Digital Twin” Technology


Body Temperature Detection

IoT tech can be deployed to monitor the body temperature of employees. However, it would be smart to have a screening where baseline homeostasis for individual employees is established and programmed into smart building infrastructure. Most people are considered healthy at 98 degrees Fahrenheit, but some have homeostasis at a degree higher or lower–maybe even two or three degrees.

That said, once you know the healthy homeostasis of employees, this sort of thing can be programmed into the infrastructure of smart buildings, making it possible to keep tabs on all who enter.

Temperature screening will be most effective at entrances and exits, and there will be some hurdles to overcome–if it’s 104 degrees outside, some of that residual heat will remain on a person. So, it can be worthwhile to design temperature-controlled exits and entrances as a means of ensuring no collateral factors contaminate monitoring results.

The thing to keep in mind is that computer tech is only as “smart” as its operators; it has no conscious ability, so it can’t differentiate based on unknown variables. Even so, sickness can be identified by body temperature fluctuation, meaning someone who came in healthy and became sick while working could be identified and removed from other employees before anything spreads. Thus, the cost of tech implementation can well be recovered through reduced productivity losses.

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Enhanced Management of Space

With a smart building, greater surveillance of on-site personnel develops from technologically-optimized infrastructure. Given edge computing and cloud-based tech, massive real-time data sets can be used to determine who is who, and where they are, regardless of their movements.

Accordingly, you can identify space utility patterns and apportion socially-distanced work areas throughout the building. Then, if someone’s temperature spikes out of nowhere, they’re less of a risk to other employees.


Predictive Maintenance, Predictive Operation

Because IoT tech continuously produces streams of data, absolute thresholds of maintenance for infrastructure can be determined and maintained over the long term. Additionally, IoT tech facilitates predictive operations that can enable accurate prognostication based on such voluminous data. A smart building can accordingly pay for itself in reduced infrastructural expenses over the long term.

This reality can additionally extend to things like on-site sanitation technology. Imagine an advanced version of the Roomba with antiseptic solutions automatically traveling throughout varying floors of your smart location. There are other next-generation maintenance solutions being applied in smart buildings across the world as well, check out this link from Siemens to get an idea of what’s out there.


Scenario Simulation Through Digital Twin Technology

A digital twin is a simulation of the smart building consolidated to a virtual space. You can have digital “test runs” of varying environmental controls before you apply them, and similarly run scenarios where social distancing space allocation is explored before you build permanent structures.

Owing to cumulative basement-to-top-floor IoT, there’s enough data to run such scenarios with exceptional accuracy. Unexpected variables always crop up, but you can determine what is most likely to happen concerning a given change with a high degree of accuracy.

Incorporating Smart Architecture Helps Resume On-Site Productivity
A smart building has digital twin capability, predictive maintenance options, predictive operation potential, space management enhancement, and automated body detection potential. All these things can do a lot to assure bringing your workforce back into the office won’t be a problem. Smart buildings and their associated applications are primed to lead the charge toward total reopening of corporate centers and other business workplaces.


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BIM technology
Construction Technology

BIM Technology: Advancing Digital Adoption in Building and Construction

Things used to move slowly in the construction industry. But not anymore. There has been increased demand for new advancements, leading to innovation and cutting-edge trends. More than anything else, modern construction is impacted by the Building Information Modeling (BIM) revolution.

Construction projects today are much more efficient, thanks to BIM technology, which reduces waste, elevates quality, and improves efficiency.


What is BIM?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the DNA cord that links technology, processes, and people for better holistic outcomes in the construction and building industry.

BIM modeling involves the comprehensive creation and management of information about a built asset. It is a method of integrating structured, multi-disciplinary data into an asset’s lifecycle, from design to construction to operations, built on an intelligent model and powered by the cloud.


What is the Significance of BIM?

BIM technology aids in coordinating, planning, designing, and constructing precise and accurate data. Budgets, schedules, and feasibility are all helped by it. Additionally, it plays a role in standardizing data exchanged between project participants–whether at a desk or out in the field.

It assists with identifying the required amounts, parts, and types of materials. Besides facility management, it is also helpful for asset management and predictive maintenance.

Speculation on different scenarios is made easier by the rapid exchange of design information, allowing for more iterations of the structure, engineering system, and architecture.

Construction projects tend to cost less overall if they are completed quicker. The quicker you can use a space, the faster you can see a return on your investment.

A client may also notice an improvement in build quality through BIM. The use of BIM results in more detailed and accurate calculations and models, improving the quality of the structure.

In addition to imagining how a building will look and behave in its finished state, architects also get to drill down to details such as how artificial and natural elements will interact in the structure.

After the building is completed, the model can run preemptive maintenance and repair decisions to assist the facilities management team.


What Are the Benefits of BIM?

Improves the bidding process – Building owners can scrutinize bids accurately and fairly with BIM models that include project 3D models of all structural and MEP systems. Thus, the actual cost of the building materials is used in determining the final bid price.

Saves building costs and resources – Construction cost estimates are one of the critical benefits of BIM. This can be provided well before construction starts. BIM software can help architects estimate costs related to:

  • Materials
  • Shipping
  • Labor

A better way to communicate – A project can benefit from better communication between the architect, contractors, and other stakeholders. With BIM, all relevant information, including estimates, models, and design notes, is stored in a central location accessible to every person involved.

Reduces carbon emissions – Sustainability is a priority for building owners today. By replacing 2D drawings with live 3D projections, construction is far more accurate. A pre-bid plan that is accurate will have a higher likelihood of matching the final budget, and material waste can be drastically reduced.

By reducing energy and resources, the travel time involved in obtaining building materials will be reduced significantly, thereby lowering carbon emissions.

Ensures occupants of the building have a positive experience – BIM-enabled virtual walk-throughs and informative previews of buildings make obtaining critical stakeholder feedback easier. When designing buildings, it plays a crucial role to consider the perspective of the occupant community.

Detects and prevents problems early – BIM helps building owners plan maintenance cycles appropriately and prevent unplanned outages. In this way, facility management budgeting can be more precise. An owner can determine the maintenance cycle of major and minor building systems by analyzing BIM data across a portfolio of buildings assets. They can compare buildings and spaces based on their BIM data.

Reduces the lifetime cost of a building – Building owners recognize that using the BIM model can reduce project costs over time, which is why it is becoming more popular. BIM lowers maintenance costs by reallocating excessive maintenance expenses to design, based on the iceberg hypothesis.

Supports the smart management of buildings and facilities – Buildings are becoming increasingly intelligent as sensors are used extensively. Buildings with intelligent systems will detect when something is wrong and how equipment is being used. For instance, by remotely monitoring the HVAC system, an owner can determine when the system was installed, how it was done, and what maintenance is due.


BIM Marks a New Era of Digital in Construction

Construction has resisted innovation for decades, but BIM technology has managed to overcome that resistance. As a result, the emergence of digitization in the construction sector can be seen as a significant step forward on the road to widespread technological disruption for the industry.

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construction technology
Construction Technology

How Modern Technologies Pave the Way for Digital Construction

The construction industry is helping pioneer what’s called “digital transformation” in which businesses become more cloud-based, digital, and interactive. Here’s a look at how construction technology is improving the construction industry and beyond with greater accuracy, speed, and analytical capabilities.


Virtual and Augmented Reality

Most people already have a clear idea of what virtual reality (VR) is, as it’s some type of immersive digital presentation that simulates reality. Usually, it requires wearing a headset that displays a virtual environment. Augmented reality (AR) is a similar concept except it allows users to interact with digital elements in the physical world.

One of the main ways that construction technology involving VR is used at project sites today is with 3D modeling. VR allows you to design a 3D model of your project on a screen. The technology can be used to provide virtual “walkthroughs” for clients and help resolve scalability issues.


Building Information Modelling (BIM)

BIM is computer-aided design (CAD) software that enables construction teams to collaborate cohesively for the design and management stages of building. It’s used by engineers, architects, and builders to address production issues. The software helps keep a team connected throughout the project.


Robots in the Workforce

Machines with robotic capabilities have appeared in factories for decades to perform tasks that are often too dangerous for humans. Lifting heavy objects is one of their specialties. They are also useful for highly repetitious tasks that a human typically finds boring. Modern construction firms can use robots for laying bricks and transporting materials.


3D Printers and Prefabrication

The advent of 3D printers allows construction teams to print building components on-site, which speeds up overall assembly time. The prefabrication of structures off-site also saves time and money, allowing teams to build a complete home in just a few days.


AI and Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now used at construction sites in the form of machine learning software. The program can take a high volume of data and analyze it in seconds to come up with solutions to foresee problems that arise in real time. Automation is helpful in numerous ways, as it can be used to trigger scheduled events or speed up tasks.


Faster, Smarter Internet

Moving to the cloud is one of the first steps towards digital transformation. The cloud is where data is stored and analyzed from a wide variety of sources driven by IoT sensors. These interactive sensors provide a wealth of data about your operation in real time. Thanks to 5G technology, high volumes of data can now be transferred at lightning speed across the internet.


Surveillance and Delivery Drones

Drones can assist construction teams with aerial photography of the project site. They can also be used to deliver materials from one area of a site to another. Even though you may not see many drones in the sky at the moment, Goldman Sachs has reported that by 2025 commercial investment in drone technology will reach $10.9 billion.


Self-Healing Concrete

Since concrete is the most used material in construction, it’s helpful that a new type of self-healing concrete has emerged. This concrete contains fibers or capsules that, when cracked, release an adhesive liquid that repairs damage. This concept is just in its research stage, though, and is probably years away from widespread application in the concrete industry.


Conclusion

One of the key themes that ties all these modern construction technologies together is sustainability. Not only do these solutions point you toward more efficient processes while cutting waste, they generally involve less damage to the ecology than conventional solutions. Look out for the next generation of construction technology and prepare your business for a digital future.

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IoT in construction
Construction Technology

How IoT is Changing the Construction Industry

The construction industry has not stopped evolving for the past thirty years. Innovations are shaking up the building sector, which is increasingly open to the development of technological concepts such as connected objects and IoT (Internet of Things). These tools help improve the speed of construction, the efficiency of workers, and even safety on construction sites.


What is a connected object?

To put it simply, IoT is a network of interconnected physical objects that can share information, hence the name Internet of Things. So how can IoT transform the construction industry?


Energy-saving on construction sites

Sensors on water, gas, and electricity meters can provide real-time energy readings that operators can evaluate to bring optimization to the site’s energy consumption patterns.


Management of material stocks

Do you have enough wood or cement? Using a fleet of tracking sensors coupled with a control console in the form of an application or software simplifies inventory management.


Employee safety

Thanks to the new generation of connected headsets, you can improve the safety of your employees on construction sites. Indeed, these helmets are notably equipped with high-voltage line sensors to prevent the risk of electrocution. They can also signal the presence of workers on the tracks or announce the arrival of trains on construction sites taking place near railways.


Real-time monitoring

Sensor data assists construction companies in staying on schedule as well as driving rapid improvement of processes. Construction firms often incur large losses from downtime caused by a periodic supplier of stock or a worker’s failure to execute. IoT can help to stay on track.


Remote monitoring

Thanks to geolocation sensors installed on your machines and linked to an application on your smartphone, you can monitor your site in real-time and evaluate the activities of the various workstations even when you are far away.


Constructing with precision

Through the collection of large data sets, IoT empowers workers with actionable insights. Material and vehicle tracking are made possible, thanks to IoT. By using this innovation, the costs associated with property damage or losses or are reduced.


Hourly labor tracking

Construction sites often employ subcontractors for nearly every aspect of their work, from HVAC to glasswork to plumbing. But even if they receive a bill for 7,000 person-hours of plumbing work, the contractor is unlikely to cross-check that work. Tracking labor hours becomes easier with IoT at construction sites.


Access management

Access management can also benefit from advances in the connected building. Traditional badges and physical keys, which are complex to manage, can be replaced by mobile applications. This system can facilitate occasional and regular visitors, such as delivery people.

In addition, companies can deploy connected locks. Unlike physical locks, these can be reconfigured as needed to allocate or refuse access to a user identified using different devices (smartphone, biometrics, IoT chips, etc.)


Machine control

On construction sites, human operators control heavy equipment used for heavy machine work. IoT-enabled machine controls can simplify this process. Intelligent machines can improve efficiency and autonomy in the construction industry. These machines can function more precisely with IoT sensors, requiring less human intervention.

Also, a system like this can keep operators apprised of equipment status constantly, so a breakdown or failure won’t occur unexpectedly. Keeping construction equipment in good shape reduces the risk of downtime from unplanned maintenance.


Wearable devices

Construction has several good use cases for wearable technology and devices. In the field of Wearable technology is any device that provides information to the user through its connectivity. These sensors can monitor activity data and detect when a worker falls, which helps speed up response times to accidents.


Equipment maintenance and repair

Machines have sensors that allow them to communicate information about their condition and whether they need repair or service. Machines that can fail will likely fail at just the wrong time, so fixing them before they break makes more sense than waiting for failures to occur. IoT sensors for maintenance and monitoring can help to identify issues and schedule maintenance and repair. A digital revolution is underway in the infrastructure sector due to the democratization of intelligent objects. As such, construction industry will continue it steady path towards digitization. In the future, we are more likely to see new capabilities and tools become available that improve site safety, worker health, and productivity.

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