The project developed a smart method for ensuring that concrete dries within the allotted time at the construction site. This would also help to effectively prevent damp damage in buildings.

What kind of problem did this project try to solve?

The timely drying of concrete on construction sites is important not only from a cost perspective, but also for avoiding structural damp damage. Construction work must be paused while waiting for concrete casts to dry as, for example, plastic carpeting cannot be installed on top of a damp concrete floor.

Objective: drying concrete according to timetable using a new method

The main objective of the project was to develop a new kind of smart and cost-efficient method for ensuring that concrete dries within the timetable set for it and for avoiding damp damage in structures. At the same time, the project was able to map structures at risk and progress in their drying.

A secondary objective was to assess the functioning of wireless data transfer methods (e.g. Wirepas, Lora and Sigfox) in a construction site environment.

The project connected IoT solutions to damp management systems used during construction. IoT (Internet of Things) is the network of physical devices and machinery, such as air humidity and temperature sensors, that are connected to the internet.

The project was carried out in a residential building under construction. Air humidity and temperature sensors were installed in the rooms to be monitored and the measurement data generated by the sensors was transferred wirelessly to a cloud service. Structural dampness in the drying concrete was measured at critical points. When the conditions were not optimal for the drying process, the system being developed alerted the site management to take action.

The measurement data was analysed using machine learning methods. The aim was to find a way to improve the predictability of the drying process. The data collected in this project can also be utilised when planning the execution of future sites.

Who benefits?

Construction engineers and construction site workers and contractors.

IoT-based control of concrete drying conditions on construction sites
Duration: 1 August–31 December 2017
Implemented by: NCC Building

Contact information

Esa Eklund, Development Engineer, NCC Building
Tel: +358 50 436 0801
Email: Esa.Eklund(at)ncc.fi