Internet of Things application for smart construction assets

Internet of Things (IoT) devices allows data to be efficiently communicated using low power to a central server to report location, movement, temperature, and environmental attributes. With improvements in device connectivity distance, improved link margins, reductions in IoT hardware platform costs, and the availability of higher-capacity batteries, non-powered temporary construction equipment (e.g., concrete barriers) can become smart and trackable. For this study, a Long Range (LoRa) sensor platform is connected through an IoT Low Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) to test the feasibility of tracking construction equipment related to transportation. The signal strength relative to distance is analyzed along with the RF signal attenuation of signal strength through construction materials. The preliminary results show that a commercially available LoRa sensor, with an omni-directional antenna operating on an LPWAN can transmit up to 1,310 meters at-grade. It is expected that these types of sensor platforms can be applied to other types of non-powered construction equipment to introduce smart functionalities. From the study, it was determined that it is feasible to deploy a LoRa–based sensor network to track non-powered temporary construction equipment. The study also demonstrated that a cost-effective Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) housing could be effective after 300 freeze-thaw cycles.