CASE STUDY
From real-time 3D modelling to GPS tracking equipment and tools , construction sites are often hotbeds of the latest in cutting-edge technology . Getting devices to talk to one another , on the other hand , can be a challenge . After all , plugging a laptop into a wall is tough when the wall hasn ’ t been built yet .
This presents a clear use case for wireless as the primary method of network connectivity in the industry , an area which is proving just as transformational as the physical devices it connects . From gigabit speeds over LTE to the millisecond latency of 5G , the power of the Wireless WAN ( WWAN ) is allowing sites to achieve an Ethernet-like quality of connection but without the need to lay a single cable .
How 5G is powering the construction site of tomorrow
5G is expected to provide 10- to 100-times faster speeds . It could also unlock 10- to 100-times more capacity than current long-term evolution ( LTE ) networks . This will give those working in construction almost instantaneous access to data-intensive Edge and cloud applications , enabling multiple users to interact with each other in real time , from anywhere in the world . Given that construction sites are complex and constantly evolving environments , this will be a huge step forward .
With a higher data crunching capacity combined with more efficient connectivity channels through network slicing , 5G is also key to unlocking the power of massive machine-type communications in the construction industry . This technology will provide highly scalable and broad geographical coverage to help with complex construction and infrastructural projects such as Smart Cities , where the number of nodes will be considerably higher than on a normal project .
Looking further ahead , 5G will also prove key in accelerating the industry towards autonomous and remote operations – in other words , completing projects solely by machine alone , without the need of having people on site . Even though remote-control technology exists at present , 5G ’ s ultra low latency eliminates any delay in connectivity and ensure work is completed with adequate speed and precision . This could also unlock the capabilities of self-driving machines , which will be able to accurately map areas , recognise signals and communicate with other machines more efficiently .
A real-world example of 5G being put to the test in the construction industry light where one of the first real-world deployments of 5G connectivity was rolled out by Taylor .
Driven by a need for more advanced and agile software platforms to power everything from blueprint design to site security , Taylor noted that such applications require real-time data , which is only possible with immense bandwidth , low latency and constant uptime at the edge of the network with 5G .
Using an enterprise-grade WWAN Edge solution provided by Cradlepoint , the company has successfully deployed a number of new on-site innovations powered by 5G :
• Holographic building visualisation – Comprising mixed-reality smart glasses that Taylor ’ s employees and customers can wear on site to render a virtual model of the building or elements of the construction process , such as holographic structural steel , framing or electrical schematics .
• 360-degree 8K streaming and QR code scanning from wireless video cameras – Enabling site workers to deploy digital induction tracking , which is said to improve risk management by automating the process of ensuring every person on site has completed safety training .
• Internet of Things ( IoT ) structural sensing – Using smart sensors fixed to rebar and embedded in concrete aggregate to send data to the cloud where it can be subject to rapid and in-depth analysis . As a result , Taylor can determine whether concrete is poured correctly and track any shifting of concrete over time .
• Real-time design displays – Allowing staff on site to make changes to digital blueprints in real time on tablets and display on large monitors in trailers .
This case study shows that the future of enterprisegrade 5G has officially landed , both in the construction industry and beyond . With the connection quality and speed of fibre broadband , and the mobility and agility of wireless connectivity , it ’ s clear that the transformative power of 5G is already becoming a reality .
A platform for innovation
While 5G is making technological leaps forward at an accelerated rate , the construction industry is still only scratching at the surface of its full potential . Like the innovations which were helped along by the power of 4G LTE , we won ’ t know how 5G will manifest in exciting new use cases in the future . But what we do know is that this future is bright .
A demonstration of the power of 5G in the transformation of the construction industry was recently brought to
It ’ s clear that 5G will improve productivity , safety and compliance for construction and engineering . But
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