Gaia-X Project iECO: Joint Innovations Increase Productivity in the Construction Industry

A1 Digital contributed its expertise in cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics to develop innovative solutions for the construction industry. The goal was to demonstrate concrete application areas of digitalization and clearly prove the benefits using specific examples.

Significant progress in process optimization was achieved by creating a common data space, networking devices and employees on construction sites, and carrying out intelligent data analysis. These advancements could then be expanded into solutions for the construction industry.

Concrete Application: Summarizing Documents Using a Chatbot

Documents are created by users and made available to teams. This makes it easier to summarize documents for construction projects. Over 20,000 construction-relevant regulations, thousands of DIN standards, and various requirements of state building codes, lead to high bureaucratic effort and delays in construction projects.

The concept presented now includes, for example, an AI-supported construction assistant that simplifies employees’ daily work by directly answering specialist questions. The assistant learns with each added document, such as building codes and regulations, and uses semantic similarity to find relevant information and provide precise answers, including source citations. For maximum efficiency, different AI models can be tailored to specific application areas and combined with tools for complex tasks. This makes the construction process clearer and more efficient.

Intelligent Monitoring of Tools

Another focus was on the implementation of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for the intelligent monitoring and location of materials, tools, and small equipment on construction sites.

“Our involvement in the iECO project underscores A1 Digital’s role as an innovation driver in the digitalization of the construction industry,” explains Lukas Wallentin, Director VMS at A1 Digital. “The development of BLE beacon solutions for the precise localization and management of tools on construction sites has proven to be a game-changer. This technology enables construction companies to optimally utilize their resources, minimize losses, and significantly streamline processes.”

“The BLE beacon system works like a digital inventory,” explains Wallentin. “Every smartphone on the construction site can detect the small devices equipped with BLE beacons and send the data to a central web application. Additionally, GPS trackers in construction containers send the location data of the equipment. This gives foremen and site managers an overview of the location and movement of all assets and transports at all times. This reduces search times, prevents losses, and significantly optimizes resource utilization.”

Third Focus: Increased Safety

Another focus of the project was the development of a digital hazard reporting system for construction sites. Given that than 117,000 accidents on German construction sites happen annually, occupational safety is a central issue in the industry. The new system uses wearables and strategically placed anchor devices to warn workers of hazards early on. “Our digital hazard reporting system can reduce the number of accidents caused by carelessness and insufficient distance from construction machinery by almost 50 percent,” explains Wallentin.

In addition to the aforementioned personal wearables for workers and anchor devices to mark hazard zones, the system consists of a cloud-based software platform for configuration and monitoring. It can be flexibly adapted to various sources of danger such as cranes, elevators, or trenches, and is independent of the local IT infrastructure thanks to mobile network connectivity. “It not only increases the safety of workers, but also helps to identify hazard hotspots and continuously improve occupational safety.”

“The next step is to implement these technologies in advanced solutions and thus deliver on the promise of higher productivity,” explains Wallentin.

About A1 Digital

A1 Digital makes digitalization usable. Experienced cloud, security, and IoT experts implement demanding projects every day. Flexible solutions guarantee business success. The A1 Digital team stands for dedicated, personal consulting and practical implementation.