Image courtesy of Skanska (For the construction of a residential tower, Skanska deployed two Nextera Robotics Didge robots to continuous site monitoring, track progress, ensure quality control and uphold safety standards by comparing photos to Skanska’s BIM models to verify construction accuracy.)
By BARBARA HORWITZ-BENNETT
How are contractors leveraging IoT sensors, virtual reality (VR) and the power of artificial intelligence (AI) on construction sites?
CNR Magazine chatted with Skanska’s Director of Emerging Technology Albert Zulps about how the construction giant is saving time and money – and enhancing jobsite safety – with these advance technologies.
CNR: Where do you typically install IoT sensors on construction sites, what information is it collecting and how is your company leveraging the data collected by the sensors?
Zulps: Environmental sensors are typically used to track dust, vibration, temperature, humidity and differential pressure, especially during work near sensitive spaces like museums or hospital operating rooms. For example, maintaining humidity is crucial to protect artwork, while monitoring air quality and vibration helps prevent disruptions to medical procedures. We start by capturing baseline readings during inactive periods, then set thresholds and configure alerts to notify stakeholders if conditions exceed acceptable limits.
We also use embedded concrete sensors to monitor curing and strength development. These sensors transmit data via Bluetooth to the cloud, allowing us to assess concrete strength in real time and often remove formwork ahead of schedule, safely accelerating project timelines.
Additionally, sensor-equipped robots like DIDGE from Nextera Robotics to help us capture consistent site photos for progress tracking. These robots also measure lighting levels to ensure OSHA compliance and flag any maintenance needs, such as replacing burned-out bulbs. Beyond that, they can detect moisture on slabs (e.g., puddles), and their safety tracking module monitors potential hazards and safety compliance. This includes identifying missing PPE like gloves, safety glasses or hardhats, as well as observing ladder safety and other site-specific safety protocols.
CNR: Why is real-time data so beneficial?
Zulps: Real-time data is essential because it provides transparency, enabling rapid response when issues arise. It supports informed decision making.
For example, during a hospital renovation, we monitor air quality and differential pressure to ensure contaminated air from the construction zone doesn’t enter clean spaces like operating rooms. If pressure levels shift unexpectedly, our system immediately alerts the team so the area can be shut down and remediated before any impact occurs.
CNR: How are you using real time data to capture construction efficiencies, enhance safety and control costs?
Zulps: On projects like the Kaye development in Seattle, we’re using Nextera’s DIDGE robot to capture 360° site photos and compare actual progress against the schedule. This allows us to proactively identify issues like trade stacking or production bottlenecks before they impact timelines or budgets.
AI is used to interpret these images, detecting missing fire extinguishers, PPE compliance and other safety risks. During idle times, the robot is repurposed to stream live video, enabling real-time analytics on elevator dwell times, site activity and potential hazards. These insights help us intervene quickly and make informed decisions that improve both safety and efficiency.
We’re also using platforms like Evercam and ArrowSight to shift from reactive to predictive safety practices. These systems detect pinch zones, unsafe interactions between people and machinery and other risks, sending immediate alerts and enabling teams to prevent incidents before they occur. Beyond prevention, this data helps us analyze near misses and turn them into teachable moments.
In the past we have utilized location-based analytics from tools that allow us to study worker movement patterns and optimize material staging to reduce travel time and eliminate waste. This helps control costs while improving productivity across jobsites.
CNR: How are you using digital twin and virtual reality technology?
Zulps: We implement digital twin technology on projects when it drives the decision-making process or helps our teams to plan and communicate. One example is on a healthcare project in New York where the virtual building model was integrated into an immersive VR environment using Resolve VR. This allowed the facilities management team, Skanska staff and owner representatives to step into a shared, full-scale digital version of the building, before it was physically completed. Through this experience, they were able to identify bottlenecks such as access panels and valves
In this 1:1 virtual space, users can interact with the model in real time. For instance, they can reach up with a controller to test whether an access panel or shutoff valve is realistically reachable. This hands-on experience enables design adjustments based on accessibility and usability, ensuring that building systems are fully understood well in advance of project completion.
The digital twin also serves as a training tool. Facilities teams can begin familiarizing themselves with systems during commissioning, and the model remains a long-term resource for operations and maintenance after construction is complete.
Using Resolve, the project team on a New York healthcare project identified and prevented over 260 issues, avoiding more than $1 million in estimated rework.
CNR: What do you foresee for the future?
Zulps: Skanska continues to use site sensors and monitoring technology to enhance visibility and transparency across the project team, including owners, general contractors and trade partners. One of the most significant benefits we’ve seen is improved safety. Whether it’s monitoring air quality in an active hospital or securing an entire jobsite, camera and sensor technology has become a vital part of supporting our safety culture and enabling proactive risk management.