According to a 2016
ABIresearch study, health and safety are the most common
incentives behind wearable construction innovations. Among those innovations
are eyewear, watches, motion trackers, clothing, pedometers, cameras, audible
devices, and activity trackers marketed by 76 “companies to watch” at that
time. That market has expanded since.
One study by Genpact
Research Institute reported $593-billion is spent worldwide on
digital projects every year, with most of them resulting in only half of
expected benefits. It’s likely that wearable construction innovations will reap
the same rewards. The June 2018 article, Wearable
Construction Innovations: Where It Makes Sense, and Where It Doesn’t, points
out that one of the problems with technology in general is integrating it into
a business without causing negative ripple effects on productivity.
The ABIresearch study projected that wearable
device shipments will reach 501 million by the year 2021. So even the
staunchest resistor amongst us will be sorely tempted to try out products that
promise to boost productivity and improve safety. In the 2014 TechRepublic article,
Wearable
Computing: 10 things you should know, wearables are expected to become
central to business, healthcare and personal systems. Fitness watches are
already commonplace enough that a health incentive website I subscribe to
offers fitness points for syncing trackers to the website.
As this trend propels the Internet of Things (IoT) forward, it
naturally has spilled over into the construction industry, which has for
decades struggled with the need for more effective safety measures.
Sensors –
For anyone old enough to have worn a pager back in the 1990s,
that’s what some sensors remind me of. They can be fitted on belts, helmets and
boots and constantly collect data on the job. They can time stamp progress,
track worker movements (including trips and falls) around the job site, and they
can be programmed to sound an alert if someone is in an unsafe or restricted
area. Sensor technology has improved significantly
since first being introduced, and they are relatively inexpensive. Sensors
provide valuable job insight if the business analyzes the data collected and
uses it to affect positive changes on the jobsite.
Smart
clothing –
Worker productivity suffers when the worker suffers. Smart clothing is primarily about worker comfort in extreme climates and includes heated jackets, cooling vests, and self-charging work boots that can track user fatigue and provide lighting. You can buy jackets with reflective heating or battery packs for keeping workers warmer in freezing conditions. There are also cooling jackets that use a fluid system or built-in fans. Smart boots can be fitted with lights and data sensors that help ensure safety compliance and worker safety in dark conditions.
Smart glasses and helmets
Eerily reminiscent of Cyborg technology, smart glasses actually make more sense than other wearable technology. They add information to what the wearer sees by superimposing data or imagery onto the field of view and can be used with mobile apps.
They can also record data the user “sees” in the form of GPS-located stuff and even photographs. Smart glasses function well for on-the-job and on-the-project training. They provide a real-time connection to workers and allow precision work using augmented reality. The use of Smart Glasses is more cost-effective on large projects. The smart helmet goes a step further by combining the typical safety requirement of head protection with smart glasses.
If your firm is going to invest in wearable construction
technology, the important thing to keep in mind is that technology is only as
good as the commitment to integrate it thoroughly, then put it to use properly
and appropriately. That’s when the rewards in productivity and safety are most
likely to be achieved.
We are an industry where machine and computer power enhance the work of the person, in many cases, making the very jobs we undertake possible. Modeling wouldn’t be feasible if not for the computing power of today’s equipment, from Robotic Total Stations (RTS) units to laptops and cranes.
Making the investment in Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems can transform construction operations from the start of any project, leading to more efficient use of time and materials in all phases of the build, including long after the active construction project is completed. Through BIM, savings can be realized for the stakeholders in the project–from the building owner to subcontractors–and the operator of the structure benefits far into the future.
While economic situation brings focus on improving ways to increase efficiency in the workplace, these money-saving ideas should be in place during all times. They are best practices that not only save money, but they also save time and cut down on waste, which critical in these eco-aware times.