Construction resource efficiency improvement by Long Range Wide Area Network tracking and monitoring

Abstract Construction resource tracking and monitoring is among the top priorities in an industry that is in continuous pursuit of reducing waste. The concept of applying real-time location sensing (RTLS) technology has already been introduced in commercial construction applications. These report in a business process the position of valuable construction resources such as equipment, materials, and lately also personnel. While several other communication protocols exist (e.g., GMS, BLE, RFID), unfortunately little is known about the performance and applications of Long Range (LoRa), wireless data communication technology for very-long-range transmissions up to several kilometers at low power consumption. This paper first introduces the need for such technology and then explains the integration of LoRa in an Internet of Things (IoT) network, which enables to connect, collect, and exchange data for construction applications. A case study evaluates Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) in realistic and human-centric construction work environments, i.e., error, reliability, and other practical benefits. The experiences made with the developed LoRa-technology are in particular useful for demonstrating its applicability in construction logistics and lean management services.