IoT in Construction: Top Use Cases and Benefits in 2024

In 2022, the global IoT in construction market size was calculated at US$12.3 billion and it is estimated to grow to US$26.5 billion by 2027 with a 16.5% CAGR from 2022 to 2027.

These statistics represent the growth of the construction industry, which is continuously adopting new technologies to stay competitive. IoT applications in construction are helping the industry with better safety protocols and productivity at the site, escalated growth, and swift urbanization in growing countries.

The construction industry is unlocking new possibilities with the rapid embracing of the latest tech advancements. Thanks to IoT-enabled devices and sensors, construction firms can improve their productivity, manage job sites, and increase proficiency.

In this article, you will explore how IoT devices are used in construction, their importance, use cases, and benefits. It also covers IoT in construction project management. Let’s start:

Key Takeaways

• The global IoT in construction market size was esteemed at US$8.99 billion in 2021. By 2030, it is forecasted to reach US$29.72 billion at a 14.2% CAGR between 2022 and 2030.
• In the construction industry, IoT-enabled wearable technologies have enhanced happiness in the workplace by 3.5% and productivity by 8.5%. These wearables include smart glasses, smart helmets, and sensible wearables.
• The upsurge in demand for IoT in the construction market is driven by active safety management on sites using connected devices.
• The global market for IoT in construction was valued at $11.2 billion in 2021. It is predicted to grow to $44.2 by 2031 at a 14.6% CAGR from 2022 to 2031.
• According to a study by the US Company McGraw Hill Construction, 97% of contractors have positive ROI using BIM (Building Information Modelling) in Japan. They have recorded 41%fall in errors, a 23% improvement in waste management, a 21% escalation in project valuation accuracy, a 31% drop in reworks, and others.

What is IoT in Construction?

IoT in construction refers to a shared network of electronic devices that collect data in real-time. It is a fine combination of hardware and software, including components like sensors, wearables, smart components, and machinery. It enables professionals to communicate and interact at construction sites. Embedded computing systems help to identify every unique object while being able to work with existing internet infrastructure.

IoT devices in construction can track the use of equipment, increase worker safety, monitor environmental conditions, and improve project management using real-time data and analytics. Integrating IoT in construction optimizes costs and efficiency while reducing delays with better resource allocation, proactive maintenance, and others. Additionally, businesses can also acquire IoT-enabled project management software for flawless coordination and manage the bulk of construction tasks. Ultimately, it leads to safer, smarter, and proficient building practices.

Best Use Cases of IoT in the Construction Industry

IoT applications in construction have unlocked various opportunities for the industry. You need to go through all use cases to get detailed information on what is IoT in construction. Check out below:

1. Construction Site Monitoring

Construction site monitoring comprises using sensors to record the site conditions, enabling real-time surveillance, and compliance with safety. IoT devices used in construction site monitoring are beneficial to monitor environment factors like humidity, temperature, vibration, and noise.

It guarantees regulatory compliance and identifies possible hazards automatically. Combining AI with IoT will facilitate you with optimized resources, reduce delays, and improve site management overall.

2. Supply Monitoring

The best way for supply monitoring at construction sites is inventory management software development with IoT. It allows real-time tracking of equipment & materials. The use of RFID tags and sensors allows for alleviating wastage, precisely managing records, and guaranteeing timely delivery.

Various construction companies apply smart technology to diminish project delays, improve resource usage, and optimize overall site productivity. It ensures streamlined construction processes and higher cost savings.

3. Tools, Machines, and Equipment Tracking

There are multiple machines, tools, equipment, and IoT devices used in construction to improve the efficiency, evaluate usage analytics, get real-time location data, etc. All these equipment and machines need to be maintained on regular basis so that they can work swiftly.

Construction sites use IoT sensors to track equipment and tools and check whether they need maintenance or not. Equipment condition monitoring can save a lot of money as swapping broken parts can be more expensive.

4. Fleet Management

Fleet management is one of the use cases to understand what is IoT in construction. Real-time tracking of equipment and vehicles ensures decreased idle time, optimal utilization, and prevents illegal use. The use of IoT in fleet management extends to provide a more effective workforce, projecting to rapid project completion via resource allocation and better dispatching.

Observing maintenance needs, knowing the fleet’s status and location, fuel consumption, etc. would help to ensure secure and smooth operations.    

5. Project Management

IoT in construction project management uses a network of sensors to evaluate equipment health, material levels, and weather situations to make wise decisions. Construction firms also use IoT devices for workflow automation, which includes schedule adjustments to reduce risks, better resource allocation, and proactive maintenance.

Additionally, real-time equipment usage data enables businesses to improve resource allocation, possibly eliminating the dependency on lent machinery.

6. Just-in-Time (JIT) Sourcing

In construction business, systems with RFID tags on them can be used to count supply units. It helps to keep an eye on the count and if it goes down, the system will update a centralized computer to look into it.  

This minimizes delay in supplies and decreases idle time, while enabling companies to complete their construction projects within the timeline. It also leads to reduce money wastage as it eliminates the requirement of extra supplies and enhance project efficiency.   

7. BIM (Building Information Modeling) & Digital Tweens

BIM refers to a digital representation of functional and physical characteristics of a building. Integrating BIM with IoT applications in construction enables businesses to have real-time insights about construction growth. It results into reduced project timeline and better decision-making.

BIM with IoT can create a closed-loop workflow to build the construction site as per the designed model. It stays connected with IoT devices to detect any anomalies and fix them immediately.   

8. Remote Operations & Activity Monitoring

IoT devices in construction monitor all the activities within a construction site. IoT-empowered surveillance cameras and diverse measurement sensors facilitate controlling machinery remotely, enhancing the operation accuracy, and tracing the progress of employees in real-time.

Further, IoT-enabled devices can also monitor employee’s health and alert authorities in case of any irregularities. It prevents weakness and eliminates the risk of possible accidents. 

Also Read: IoT in Manufacturing: Top Use Cases and Benefits    

Key Benefits of IoT in the Construction Industry

In construction, the use of IoT applications has proven beneficial in terms of safety, monitoring, efficiency, and management. There are various benefits of IoT in construction you need to know about. Keep reading:

• Reduced Operational Costs

It is one of the key benefits of IoT in construction. IoT-driven applications detect inadequacies in fuel consumption, monitor inventory & supply chain management, and minimize idle time. It helps businesses reduce the overall cost of operations.

• Better Compliance and Documentation

IoT-enabled systems can record data automatically and are compliant with safety standards. These automatically created documents ensure agreement with regulatory requirements. With this, project managers can reduce their administrative load while optimizing the records’ truthfulness.

• Workers’ Safety

IoT devices used in construction significantly enhance on-site safety of workers by combining technologies and tools. It helps in risk monitoring and provides better security at the site.

• Concrete Curing

IoT-enabled concrete curing sensors are beneficial in speeding up the construction process. While casting, these sensors help in temperature examining and track the curing. It ensures better concrete quality, improvised curing conditions, diminish cracks, and speed up project timelines.

• Remote Management

IoT-enabled devices enable remote construction management to observe site conditions and track equipment in real-time. It also fosters better project oversight, seamlessly addressing issues and less downtime.

Concluding Thoughts

To conclude, we can say that the construction sector is escalating its growth by adopting newest technologies. IoT applications in construction have brought drastic changes by transforming data into valuable insights. Sensors embedded in wearables, and equipment have helped construction industry in better decision-making.

IoT devices used in construction have empowered the sector right from enhanced worker safety to remote monitoring of equipment and resources. The future of IoT in construction also holds higher potential ensuring project success.

If you are running a construction business and looking for a top-notch IoT development company to obtain a proficient solution, contact us. Octal IT Solution will help you to build an IoT-enabled solution to boost efficiency, optimize workflows, and maximize ROI.

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