Internet of Things (IoT) and internet enabled physical devices for Construction 4.0

Abstract

Industry 4.0 (I4.0), also called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, promotes the intelligence of manufacturing. The introduced new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud technology have brought the new model of production, also the chances and vision for industries. Construction 4.0 refers the spirit of I4.0 and introduces computerization and intellectualization applications in construction domain, which integrates existing engineering techniques, processes, and requirements and then establishes an adaptive, resource efficient, and smart construction process. The most representative technology such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) which digitalizes and visualizes the construction project, integrates different kinds information into the digital model, enhances the management of all construction life cycle stages. Furthermore, IoT is considered to be the internet's most revolutionary development, which connects millions of objects and devices and keeps increasing by surprising rapidity. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), the most key technology of IoT, was composed by different kind of sensors, control elements, and networks, which enables objects to have sensing, control and communicate capabilities. By WSN development, more and more facilities and buildings were enabled to have intelligent, human-like capabilities. In this chapter, the frameworks and applications are proposed for the integration of IoT technology and internet enabled physical devices in the construction industry, and the major advantages and challenges are explored and identified. Furthermore, a pilot study is introduced to illustrate the integration of WSN and BIM technologies for construction safety management as the example of IoT application. In the study, many WSN nodes were placed on an underground tunnel, which collected hazardous gas, monitored temperature and humidity information in real time, then all the conditions were fed back by a self-constituted network and dynamically displayed on a 3D BIM model. When an abnormal situation was detected in a location, the BIM model on a remote management system alerted the location by turning red, simultaneously, the flash alarm and ventilator on site also started automatically for evacuation alert and hazard removal. The system can much enhance human safety and reduce risk and operation cost in construction site management. Finally, the benefits, limitations, and suggestions are summarized for further research.