Optimistic forecasts for the UAE’s construction sector for the next few years are driven by factors such as encouraging macroeconomics, affirmative demographics and rising tourism activities. With Dubai Expo 2020 also on the horizon, the government is solidly behind smart development initiatives. As the UAE ushers in this new era of advancement, much has been predicted about the integration of ICT into every aspect of completed city developments, says Gamal Emara, Country Manager – UAE at HPE Aruba.
The computing capabilities of mobile & IoT devices have made them capable of aiding the planning, designing, and building phases. However, turning mobility into an effective tool requires not only computing power but also connectivity. At job-sites, wired connections are not feasible and cellular networks are not always available and hence a strong case can therefore be made for developers to utilise Wi-Fi solutions. These are not only easy to install and manage, but are now also affordable and rugged enough to see deployment in harsh construction surroundings.
The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a huge opportunity for the construction industry, which is constantly processing data and strives for workplace safety and efficiency. IoT needs a secure, scalable network to succeed and Wi-Fi offers what IT departments require for strong ‘construction IoT networking’.
Facilitating workflow
With the introduction of tablet devices, mobile project management has emerged as a worthy replacement to age old methods. Coupled with the broad ecosystem of feature-rich mobile applications and the ability to draw from vast amounts of remotely stored data and ‘cloud’ services, these devices are capable of granting contractors, engineers and supervisors access to blue prints, schematics and other vital documents. Moreover, with the ability to instantly push updates to all members working on the project, mobile computing devices can aid collaboration and revolutionise the building information modelling (BIM) process in real-time.
With site-wide high speed wireless connectivity for all mobile devices, workers gain the ability to transfer high volumes of data back and forth between not only each other but also headquarters (HQ). This significantly streamlines communications while cutting costs and improving operational efficiencies.
High speed wireless connectivity is an enabler of the following applications:
Wearables
A truck driver can be required to wear a “wearable”, which may come in the form of an activity band. Drivers and management can be notified if a driver is missing or is being unproductive. Construction workers on-site can wear a helmet and vest with RFID, vitals monitoring, GPS sensors, motion sensors, etc.
Smart GPS
Knowing GPS data related to where your equipment is located and how it is being used is important for identifying cost savings opportunities and keeping your fleet organised.
Asset tracking
At job sites, company assets are a major investment and the progress of construction is heavily dependent on their functionality. Heavy-equipment is often required to be left on-site overnight which makes them a prime target for theft. Asset tracking technologies help monitor their locations and automatically detect and report suspicious behaviour.
Equipment inspection
Similar to monitoring and repair, equipment inspections can be enormously enhanced by the help of smart sensors. With the advanced sensors available now, machinery can self-detect the imminent need for a repair before it becomes a larger issue. Lost/late forms, low accuracy and undue internal processing time are no longer an issue with electronic processes.
Site security
Another vital area of a construction site where mobile technology can be applied is in video surveillance. Not only does this enable better collaboration and remote supervision, it is essential for site security.
Evaluating IoT and mobility solutions for the construction site
An IoT solution implementation is not impossible to manage, but it’s not easy either. In fact, developing solutions for the IoT requires unprecedented collaboration, coordination and connectivity for each piece in the system, and throughout the system as a whole. The challenge for the developer is to find a robust enterprise-class Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) solution that is affordable in terms of the capital expense and operational overheads.
In line with keeping things simple, developers should also consider investing in controller-less ‘instant’ WLAN solutions. These solutions utilise a virtual controller on access points to deliver controller-like features including RF management and role based access control. It is prudent to invest in network management tools which can prove invaluable in providing maximum network availability. Companies must look for a service provider whose solution is based on the latest 802.11ac wireless standard as this delivers gigabit Wi-Fi combined with the device density and application intelligence required by today’s Wi-Fi networks.
There is also a need to balance cyber and physical security since smart devices are physical in nature. For any country keen to drive smart cities, both cyber and physical security should always be considered in the upstream of the project.
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