Streamline Operations Using RTLS in Construction Projects
Real-time location systems (RTLS) are rapidly becoming an integrated part of everyday life. From the GPS on your smartphone to the RFID tag in an employee badge, the world is making use of RTLS in big ways. It makes sense that companies start using this Internet of Things in construction (IoT) to streamline their everyday operations.
Through the use of an IoT construction network of radio frequency broadcasting tags and stationary anchors (receivers), it’s possible to track the movement of thousands of assets and people on a building site. Imagine the ways your construction company can benefit from this bird’s eye view of the overall workflow. Know when workers are in their assigned areas, see when assets are carried off of the job site, keep an accurate accounting of labor hours, and much more.
What Makes Litum RTLS for Construction Better?
Litum IoT has a tailored RTLS for construction that is designed specifically to work within this industry. We use long-lasting batteries in our tags, sturdy hardware designed for the outdoors, and comprehensive, yet user-friendly software. Our hardware and software are perfectly suited for use in indoor/outdoor environments and ever-changing and dynamic construction sites.
Our system relies on ultra-wideband (UWB) frequencies to send and receive signals in the 6 GHz range. This is the latest technology in RTLS systems, which doesn’t interfere with cell phones, electronics, and walkie-talkies. It’s also resistant to outside interference that may hinder other transmissions. With low power requirements, high data rates, and accurate sub-meter positioning, UWB is an excellent choice for real-time location systems in construction.
If you are still curious about the benefits of construction RTLS technology, read on to find out how our solutions can help your company
Manage the Construction Site in Real-Time
What site manager hasn’t wanted the power of omniscience at some point to see everything happening on a construction project? By using real-time location systems in the construction industry, you can now have that ability.
Our RTLS continuously collects and logs data from RFID readers placed around the building site. All data from work ID tags and equipment tags are gathered and sent to your mobile device or computer via our software.
What are the benefits of IoT in construction? With our RTLS in place, you’ll get detailed reports of:
● Workers who use equipment and when
● Equipment and vehicle movement
● Worker and equipment location for any length of time
● Worker hours, overtime, tardiness, and missed days
● Completed and upcoming scheduled maintenance
There is so much that you can see and monitor through the invisible mesh network created by our UWB readers. No more running from one part of the site to another to keep up with your crew. Just check your tablet to make sure workers are being productive and working in the correct areas.
Improve Resource Availability on the Job
Another one of the benefits of IoT in construction is the improvement in resource management. With this ability to see the entire worksite and all assets on a digital map at once, site managers can also improve resource management. See at a glance which equipment is already in use on a large project. If a digger is needed in another area, check to see if any are sitting unused and send the driver directly to it.
Managers can also send some of the crew to another area of the site when it looks like those projects are short of assistance. No need for three-, four-, or five-way calls on the walkie-talkies. Just view the real-time map of the construction site and highlight projects for the day.
Our construction RTLS software also allows managers to:
● Assign equipment to specific drivers/workers
● Reserve equipment from another job site for future use
● Schedule a series of tasks for drivers
● Compare planned usage with actual usage reports
Monitor & Log Actual Labor Hours
Labor is one of the biggest expenses for any business. Keep those hourly wage costs under control with help from Litum IoT. We provide UWB-enabled ID tags for all construction workers to wear when they arrive until the minute they leave. Made in the form of a convenient belt clip, the tags are unobtrusive and lightweight. These tags will ping on the RFID readers placed around the site, logging the exact moment when workers arrive and when they leave the program.
Site managers can utilize this real-time location system IoT construction software to:
● Track workers who are consistently tardy or absent
● Track workers who work overtime, with permission or without
● Identify who has worked on certain parts of the project
● Create and export actual labor hours for accounting purposes
Real-Time Tracking of Construction IoT Keeps Your Crew Safe
Working in the construction industry is a risky occupation. Crew members and their managers must remain aware of their environment and best safety practices at all times to prevent injury. According to 24/7 Wall Street, construction labor and several other contractor positions were among the 25 most dangerous jobs in America for 2019. (1)
Falls, operating vehicles for long periods, and contact with hazardous equipment were all a big part of what made these jobs so dangerous. Construction sites tend to have all three going for them!
Using real-time location systems in construction provides a way for site managers to keep crew members safe, even when they become tired after a long day. The belt clip tags offered by IoT construction solution and worn by your workers come with multiple safety features, such as:
● Automated alerts that sound when workers enter an unauthorized or unsafe area of the site
● Fall detection systems that send alerts when a worker trips and falls or falls from a height
● Motion sensors that trigger alerts when workers haven’t moved for a prolonged period
● An easy-to-use SOS button workers can push when they need emergency assistance
Furthermore, many Litum IoT equipment tags come with additional sensors to track and prevent potential hazards like:
• Avoiding collisions with people and vehicles
• Geo-fencing sensitive areas and creating alerts for unauthorized access
• Enforcing skill levels and certifications to work on specific tasks
• Monitoring temperature
• Detection of certain gases in the air
Collision Avoidance is Essential for the Busy Site
Speaking of, collision avoidance is a great tool for preventing accidents on the job site. This is one of the benefits of IoT in construction and can be implemented using our technology. This is one of the benefits of IoT in construction and can be implemented using our technology. This is one of the benefits of IoT in construction and can be implemented using our technology. With our IoT construction tags installed on vehicles and moving equipment, drivers can be alerted to potential collisions with a visible and audible alarm. Thanks to real-time submeter location accuracy, the system can detect when vehicles or workers are getting close to one another and trigger the alert when within a predefined distance.
The system also logs those near misses for site managers to review later for reporting and assessment purposes. Managers can also flag and monitor drivers who have had a near miss to keep a close eye on them in the future.
Use our construction RTLS tags on a wide range of vehicles and equipment at your site, including:
● Backhoes
● Bulldozers
● Compactors
● Cranes
● Excavators
● Forklifts
● Generators
● Graders
● Jackhammers
● Loaders
● Rollers
Prevent Equipment Loss & Theft in IoT Construction
Your equipment and vehicles represent substantial investments. Yet, when costly tools are left unattended at a construction site, they become vulnerable to theft and susceptible to loss or damage from environmental factors.
Integrating real-time location systems into construction operations offers a notable advantage in terms of security. By affixing RFID tags to assets both on-site and during transit, Litum IoT provides a solution to mitigate these risks. Our RTLS for construction software enables the establishment of geofenced perimeters, tailored to specific needs. Whether it’s encircling the entire construction site, designated worksites, or the tool storage area, the system triggers alerts when tagged assets breach these boundaries, promptly notifying managers or relevant personnel.
Moreover, ensuring tools and equipment are properly stowed at the end of each day is simplified with our construction real-time location software. By displaying tagged assets, including those outside assigned storage areas, on digital maps of the site, workers can efficiently locate and return these items to their designated places, enhancing overall site organization and asset management.
Streamline the Organization of Your Construction Projects with Litum
What can RTLS provide for your construction company? Accurate, down-to-the-second updates, improved job site safety, and a way to reduce costs through streamlined workflows, organization, and management. As more companies begin to benefit from UWB RTLS – Real Time Location Systems in construction, the builder’s market will become more competitive.
To learn more about our construction RTLS solutions, reach out to Litum IoT for a free consultation. We have partners in over 45 countries who are ready to meet with you in person to discuss our products.
