A lot of industry professionals believe that too much technology has already been getting between the workforce and their job, making things a little more complicated than they already are. On the other hand, there are those who feel that IoT technology is helping the industry, especially the construction sector. It promotes safety and overall efficiency. That said, here are some important notes that you should know about IoT construction.
IoT Technology Can Help You Out When It Comes to Safety
There is no doubt that more and more industries are beginning to use IoT technology, and the construction industry is no exception to this. Although some would probably be skeptical about the idea of letting a drone handle the task of monitoring or the use of autonomous trucks, there’s a lot of benefits that can be enjoyed with the utilization of IoT technology. Workers won’t have to tackle dangerous jobs manually, as they’ll be able to control it from a safe location.
Safety Reporting
The first thing construction managers think when they are presented with the idea of using phones or drones on the job is accountability. The thought of having these devices monitor if there are safety violations or if the machinery is acting incorrectly can be a huge help.
For the past few years, technology has dramatically improved, and accurate safety reporting is what IoT offers. This allows the managers to know what exactly is happening, allowing them to address the issue before the problem gets worse.
Additionally, taking photos instead of having to file the reports traditionally could also help the workforce save time, and prevent making mistakes. Back in days, the workers would have to fill out reports, and it’s important that someone was paying a large amount of attention during the process; which can be very time-consuming. With photos being taken and sent to appropriate parties, one can save time and ensure that the information being transmitted is accurate.
This isn’t limited to smartphones alone. Drones are also becoming popular in the construction industry– they are used to take photos of the progress and ensure that everything is running smoothly. Likewise, it also analyzes the safety risks and factors that could trigger potential errors. To some, this might seem impossible, but with IoT technology, it can happen anytime soon.
Smart Traffic Cones Promote Construction Safety
IoT connected traffic cones protect construction workers, as well as driverless vehicles from impending accidents. It utilizes a software platform by managing and collecting data coming from motion sensor devices embedded on traffic cones.
This reduces roadwork fatalities by connecting traffic cones to the Internet, allowing road contractors to monitor the status, as well as the locations of traffic cones on the map. Aside from that, whenever a cone has been struck, or a construction worker or pedestrian is in danger, trigger alarms would notify the person in charge.
Worker Health
As we talk about workers’ health, it should be one of the top priorities– there’s no room for error. That means when the employees are injured or stressed; safety measures should be implemented to protect not only the injured worker but others as well. Unfortunately, those who are tired due to a tremendous load of work may not even realize that their health is on the line– their adrenaline is making them work beyond their capacity.
By requiring your workers to wear smart sensors, this would help them identify if the area is too hot, or if their heart rate is not normal. Also, these smart sensors could tell if the person has been working on his feet for too long and if he needs a break. Although some would say that it’s not important, for good and safety measure, a worker should take a rest when it’s needed.
These sensors aren’t only designed for people though– they can also be used in certain parts of the job site. For instance, it can be fastened to a harness and alert the foreman if something falls or drops.
Autonomous Trucks
Lastly, although this may seem odd for most, the prospect of driverless vehicles is no longer a part of sci-fi movies, but a reality. The purpose of this vehicle is to handle jobs that can be hazardous to humans, such as inspecting a bridge, blacktopping a road, or installing traffic signals. Since nobody is inside it, there’s no need to worry about a person getting injured while performing his job.
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Author Bio:
Chris is a Digital Media Strategist in Orlando, FL and is an experience freelance writer, PPC management, and SEO strategy. Chris is also passionate about startup marketing, environmental issues, and emerging technologies.
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