Integrating IoT (Internet of Things) for Smart Construction

As the internet continues transforming our lives, more physical objects are getting embedded with this connectivity. This allows them to send and receive data. These connected physical objects are grouped together under the growing umbrella of the internet of things (IoT). 

Virtually every human interacts with IoT devices: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular connectivity are all IoT protocols. Smart devices like fridges, thermostats and even cars bring IoT into daily life. It’s no surprise, then, that the Internet of Things has trickled into construction. While the industry is still in its early stages of IoT adoption and deployment, projects that effectively apply the Internet of Things can achieve significant safety and efficiency gains. IoT can yield big wins in construction thanks to devices embedded with sensors or software that can transmit data back to other devices. 

Construction IoT 101

Since IoT is still an emerging field in construction, it’s helpful to frame it in context. At its simplest, an IoT device is any object that has connectivity to the internet or some other device. The key here is that the connectivity allows the object to send the data it collects. 

On the jobsite, IoT makes it possible to collect data on safety parameters like temperature and air quality, along with the movement of people, equipment and materials. Some IoT devices are relatively simple, like GPS sensors that only report location data. Others, like internet-connected drones — also called internet of drones (IoD) — can collect a broad spectrum of data about site conditions, project progress and more. 

The International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission issued a definition of IOT, saying that it’s “an infrastructure of interconnected entities, people, systems and information resources together with intelligent services to allow them to process and react to information from the physical and virtual world.” 

IoT Use Cases in Construction

Different teams apply IoT in various ways to connect dots on and consequently benefit the project. Some of the most common applications of IoT in construction include the following.

Site Mapping and Monitoring

Early-stage deployment of IoT to map the jobsite helps teams start on a strong footing. Then, with cameras to watch the jobsite — whether that’s a 360-degree camera with which a worker walks around, a security camera statically mounted or an autonomous or human-operated drone — teams gather data about site conditions and project progress.

IoT-enabled reality capture devices deliver an efficient way to track what’s happening on the project regularly. Since project progress monitoring has historically been burdensome, this yields notable efficiency gains for construction professionals. 

Environment Monitoring

Sensors can gather and relay data on various conditions, including temperature, humidity, air quality, noise and dust. With IoT, those sensors can communicate that data in real-time and activate alerts if any environmental metric reaches an unsafe level.

This kind of monitoring can also help ameliorate the adverse effects of a jobsite near existing structures. IoT-supported noise monitoring can help to ease neighbors’ concerns about how the project will impact their quality of life, for example. 

Quality Assurance Sensors

Some teams attach sensors to rebar before pouring concrete, allowing them to monitor how it cures and validate its strength gain. This builds in quality assurance without the need for core tests.

Similarly, moisture sensors near water lines can continually check for leaks. A leak-free scenario validates the plumbing. Plus, if a leak does occur, the sensors help teams catch it early, minimizing the damage and resulting required rework.

Additional sensors can be helpful for specific projects, particularly larger-scale ones such as structure sensors to check for movement, strain, vibration and cracks.

Tool, Equipment and Material Tracking

With IoT-enabled tags on these assets — or equipment with built-in IoT functionality — teams get a way to track location and usage. Contractors can locate material in the laydown yard, for example. And teams can track their high-value equipment, making sure it’s used as intended. Built-in IoT also alerts them to maintenance needs, helping to extend the equipment’s lifespan. When teams analyze the data delivered by IoT devices, it can help them optimize their supply chain and resource allocation on future projects. 

Wearables

Adding IoT objects to individual workers — maybe attached to their hard hat or vest or worn as a wristband — captures and relays data about that person. This can help monitor safety concerns (e.g., excess heat, proximity to fall hazards) and track movement. The latter helps project management teams understand what happens on the jobsite to pinpoint areas for optimization. Wearables paired with site monitoring IoT can flag any unauthorized personnel on the jobsite, building in a security layer, too. 

The technology used to apply the Internet of Things in construction is advancing. For example, IoT concrete sensors only became commercially available in the last decade. 

Today, teams continue to work on leading-edge solutions. Researchers at Auburn University recently created a specialized hard hat that contains a Core Temperature Visualization System (COTVIS), monitoring the worker for heat stress. If, as that technology evolves, it gains Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth connectivity, it can relay information to an alert system. That way, companies can monitor their employees' health and safety and make sure that they take breaks when needed. 

BIM and IoT

Some teams have started to connect IoT with another burgeoning three-letter construction technology: BIM. Short for building information modeling, BIM entails using both a 3D model of the project and the data and processes attached to that model to drive improved product outcomes. 

With IoT in play, what’s happening on the jobsite can more easily be tied to the 3D model. If a moisture sensor is integrated with the model and goes off, for example, it can highlight in the model precisely where the issue is occurring. This way, teams can more easily locate the sensor and address the problem. 

IoT can also be helpful when teams use 4D BIM — where the team has overlaid the schedule on the model. With 4D BIM, people can see how the project should progress over time based on visualizations powered by the model. When equipment and materials have IoT tags attached to them, teams can see if what’s actually happening on the jobsite matches what’s been planned in 4D BIM. 

Still, though, it’s early days here yet. As one study put it, “BIM and IoT integration research are still in nascent stages.”

Benefits of Using IoT in Construction

The benefits realized by deploying IoT on construction sites hinge on the type of IoT deployed, the data that object generates and how well teams can analyze and leverage that data. 

Even so, most applications of IoT in construction deliver a few common benefits.

• Real-time Data to Inform Better Decision-making

  Historically, superintendents had to walk the jobsite all day to figure out what was done — and what wasn’t. With IoT in place, teams can gather near-instantaneous data about what’s happening on the job, and do so without any human effort required to collect that information. This means teams get alerted quickly when a pivot is needed to keep the project on schedule or budget. When workers learn about issues right as they develop, IoT helps to reduce the likelihood of rework. At the same time, teams can use the data generated by the IoT device(s) to make more informed decisions about how to move forward.

• Safer Work Environments

  IoT makes it possible to continuously monitor the jobsite for safety hazards like excess heat or noise, poor air quality and more. When workers wear safety monitoring IoT, it helps protect those individuals.

• Better Quality Assurance

  IoT can support quality assurance in a variety of ways. Drones can collect detailed site analysis data to help set the project up for success early on. Sensors can help make sure quality standards are met for concrete, structural integrity, plumbing and more. And as components get installed, reality-capture IoT validates that work, or helps to identify where adjustments are needed to meet quality standards. 

• Smoother Project Handover

  When IoT devices are built into the project, they can be turned over to the owner at closeout. This way, the owner gets the means to continually monitor the structure, optimizing maintenance and ideally extending the building’s lifecycle. 

Challenges in IoT for Construction

Currently, many challenges around deploying IoT in construction are pretty basic.

• Connectivity Issues

  Getting connectivity on a jobsite isn’t always easy. A Wi-Fi-enabled IoT sensor does very little good if there’s no network to which it can connect. 

• Cost of Use

  The cost of IoT technology is also a concern for many construction companies. Once teams do invest, they face inventory issues (keeping track of these objects can be challenging since many are small) and maintenance concerns. Something as simple as forgetting to change the batteries in an IoT device could create an obstacle if the job had planned to rely on that object.

• Cybersecurity

  Teams need to be sure to address cybersecurity concerns around any data the IoT infrastructure creates. They should also obtain buy-in from any team members before requiring them to adopt IoT wearables, as these can raise personal privacy concerns. 

• Skill Gaps

  As with most construction technology, a skills gap exists for IoT. Few professionals are currently trained in integrating IoT devices with other solutions, like the company’s BIM or project management platforms. 

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The Long-Term Outlook for IoT in Construction

Some construction uses for IoT are widely accepted, like concrete and moisture sensors. Others, like wearables for workers on the jobsite, are less commonplace. 

All of that said, IoT is an undeniably burgeoning space. Experts expect a compound annual growth rate of nearly 25% between now and 2032. And as the construction technology ecosystem expands, the ability to generate real-time data on the jobsite will become increasingly valuable. As a result, IoT usage will likely continue to grow in the construction industry.

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