Delays in construction projects don’t always begin with some major incident.
Sometimes, all it takes is the loss of a simple tool. There is an overdue arrival of materials. Crews are ready to work, while another crew isn’t done with their job yet. Equipment is stored somewhere on-site, while another crew needs it right away.
These aren’t particularly serious issues on their own.
However, in case of a large commercial construction project, it’s easy for minor problems to pile up.
This is precisely why getting a better insight into what’s going on on the jobsite is becoming ever more critical.
Construction Projects Lack Visibility
Construction businesses have access to lots of different kinds of data already.
There are schedules, equipment and personnel records, deliveries, inspections, workforce and drawings data, invoices, progress reports and many other things.
It’s not necessarily about lack of data itself.
The real problem lies in scattered data. Project managers may be aware of the schedule of material delivery, but another person would know where exactly the materials were delivered. The equipment manager would be aware of the availability of equipment, unaware that another crew had been trying to find it for the last hour.
By the time this all comes together, precious time could be wasted.
This is when real-time jobsite intelligence can make a big difference.
Real-time Jobsite Intelligence in Action
Imagine getting more insight into what’s going on at your construction jobsite without making five phone calls.
Where are the crews?
Where is that piece of equipment?
Is the material delivered?
Which sections of the site are currently active?
Is the equipment being used or left idle?
Is everything happening according to plan?
These are not futuristic questions. These are operational questions that are asked on a daily basis on construction sites.
The only difference is that connected technologies will make answering these questions much easier.
AIoT Connects the Dots
Connected technologies are creating exciting opportunities for the construction industry by leveraging the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, which often go hand-in-hand and are called AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things).
Technologies like RFID, BLE, UWB, GPS, sensors, and equipment telematics can gather data from a physical construction jobsite.
RFID can assist in identifying and locating assets or materials. BLE technology can be used in location-based and proximity applications. UWB can be utilized for highly precise positioning in certain conditions, while GPS can assist with outdoor tracking.
On its own, each technology provides a lot of useful information.
However, it becomes even more powerful when information provided by both technologies is combined together and analyzed.
Analyzing Is Just a Step Further
Location of the piece of equipment is useful to know.
However, location is not all there is to it.
Construction companies want to know how often equipment is utilized, whether it sits idly, whether resources allocation is efficient.
It is also true about the materials.
While it is useful to know that materials were delivered, it becomes even more important to know whether these materials are available at certain place and at certain time.
That is how we move from the simple tracking to understanding of the processes.
And here artificial intelligence can really become very useful.
From “What Happened?” to “What’s Happening?”
Traditional reporting is still very useful.
There will be daily reports, project meetings, inspections and progress reports in future.
However, it usually tells only the information that happened some hours or days ago.
Real-time data provides another opportunity.
Project teams can have an up-to-date picture of the current situation on the project site.
However, it does not mean that every decision should be automated.
Construction still relies heavily on the knowledge and experience of the construction workers.
Small Issues Become Larger When Detected Later
imagine a simple case study.
An item of equipment is supposed to be available for a certain operation. It is not at the place where the crew expects it to be.
If nobody sees it until the crew is prepared to start working, the schedule is compromised.
When the issue becomes evident in advance, it is possible to move the equipment without disrupting the schedule.
The same rule applies to materials, coordination of the workforce, access to the site, and other operations.
The sooner an issue becomes evident, the more choices the team has to solve it.
It is one of the key reasons why it is worth investing into real-time construction intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence Can See Relationships Humans Fail to Identify
A large-scale construction project produces huge amounts of operational data.
It would be impossible for a person to check each data point and see relationships between the data points manually.
Artificial intelligence algorithms can help with this task.
Depending on the system and quality of the data provided, AI algorithms can show unusual behavior, changes in the pattern, equipment utilization problems, and potential bottlenecks.
It doesn’t replace the project manager.
It provides one more source of information.
This difference is critical.
The idea is not to give control of the project to an algorithm.
The aim is to support better decision-making of people.
Construction Industry Becomes Digital Environment
Traditionally, the construction industry was considered highly physical one.
It is.
Of course, there will always be people working with concrete, steel, machinery, tools, and building materials.
But a digital layer is becoming increasingly apparent in addition to the physical environment of construction.
There can be sensors collecting data.
Location data is provided by tracking systems.
Operational information comes from connected equipment.
Analysis of the situation is possible through the use of AI.
All of these technologies altogether form a rich image of the jobsite.
That is what makes the concept of smart jobsite so exciting.
It does not imply a replacement of the construction site with technology.
Instead, it involves the integration of technology in the existing process conducted by the people managing the project.
The Role of CommCon AI
It is exactly the general idea behind CommCon AI.
The focus here lies in the introduction of AIoT technologies in the commercial construction industry and connection of different pieces of information related to workforce activity, access, equipment, materials, and the build progress.
The thing is not in yet another tracking system or dashboard for construction companies.
The key aspect is in forming a connected vision of the operation, which may be valuable for the management of increasing number of complex projects.
Construction Industry Does Not Need More Data. It Needs More Intelligence.
As the matter of fact, construction industry produces plenty of data.
Now, the question is what to do with it all.
Project teams should not waste their time trying to put different pieces of information collected by different means and disconnected systems together.
Can technology assist in the decision-makers in identifying what is relevant, and when?
This could be one possible way.
As the connectivity of construction projects increases, there is the possibility that organizations which are able to convert real-time data into action will gain an advantage.
However, the future is not necessarily about changing the existing ways of conducting construction operations.
The future is about providing the construction professionals with increased visibility into their current operations.
Sometimes, this visibility can prove to be the difference between identifying the issue tomorrow or solving it today.
This is how the technology of real-time construction intelligence can become more than just a technology trend.
To learn more about AIoT-powered commercial construction intelligence visit: [https://commconai.com/]
