Construction Jobsite Intelligence Transforms with AI and IoT

Ask any project manager or superintendent what the most challenging part of managing a construction jobsite is, and they’ll likely say keeping track of the various events and updates taking place simultaneously. Did the cement pour happen at the correct time? Was the framing finished yesterday? What happened during the security incident the night before?

Unfortunately, more than 80% of construction companies are struggling to hire these superintendents and project managers, leaving existing site leaders stretched thin and managing multiple priorities and projects at once. This is where AI and the IoT can help. IoT solutions, including connected camera technology used on jobsites, combined with the analytical power of AI, convert visual data into actionable jobsite intelligence, removing the guesswork of managing multiple events.

Here is a snapshot of what is possible when AI and IoT are leveraged by project teams on jobsites.

The Impact of AI-Powered Jobsite Intelligence

Jobsite intelligence solutions powered by AI that interpret IoT-collected data can identify specific incidents and capitalize on them in real-time.

• Embrace More Informed Decision-Making from the Moment the Day Starts: Site leaders make several decisions before work even begins each day. They need to determine whether weather conditions are safe for workers and whether any staffing or scheduling updates are needed. Every minute lost is costly, and they need to know where to focus. Morning reports that provide insights from photos taken at dawn give superintendents a first look at the hygiene of their site before the day starts.
• Effectively Monitor Progress & Efficiency with Speed: Images captured over time are compared to one another and delivered in an automated snapshot of progress insights so that superintendents and project managers can easily share with leadership and clients. This cuts the uncertainty and overhead of tracking jobsite status and leads to more effective communication. Superintendents can make informed decisions rapidly, establish realistic priorities, and set attainable goals for the days ahead.
• Take a Proactive Approach to Safety: Project teams agree that when it comes to site safety, a proactive approach is better than a reactive one. The combined power of AI and IoT is able to identify safety concerns, including proximity to heavy machinery, workers at height, and lack of proper harnessing, for example, and provide a severity level for concerns found. Alerts can be sent immediately to project leads so they can intervene if a worker faces imminent danger.
• Using AI & the IoT for Security: Connected cameras can be used to signal monitoring teams in instances of theft. AI-powered search helps superintendents identify the exact timing and footage of security incidents for quick reporting and insurance claims. The ability to review footage from the day can also help them identify suspicious activity, like an unmarked vehicle that enters the site during a specific time period.

AI Capabilities Expand with More IoT-enabled Solutions

With the increased adoption of IoT technologies across the jobsite, superintendents and project managers can leverage additional AI capabilities.

• Achieve Real-Time Safety Alerts with Wearable Devices: More construction teams are equipping workers with connected wearable devices such as smart vests. Sensors can identify when workers are too close to heavy equipment, and GPS location tracking notifies supervisors exactly where workers are located. AI-powered image analysis can also alert managers when an employee is not wearing a hard hat or harness on a lift. Combined, these are powerful tools to help project teams manage a safe jobsite.
• Drive More Detailed Progress Updates: Integrations between AI-powered jobsite intelligence solutions and project management platforms will combine visual and other data to deliver real-time progress renderings. Project managers can see what was scheduled, what was completed, and what is still in the design phase.

A Connected Jobsite = A Proactive Approach

Managing construction jobsites is no small feat. Advances in IoT-enabled solutions and AI-powered software have elevated jobsite intelligence capabilities. Superintendents and project managers can transform the way they operate a jobsite and start each day with the insight necessary to drive productivity.

John Daley is the CTO & Co-founder of Sensera Systems