Digitalising construction sites with AI

AI-supported production control system digitalises construction sites – Cramo and Finnish company Bliot launching partnership

Cramo aims to spur the digitalisation of construction sites in partnership with the Finnish start-up Bliot. The solution provided by the two companies combines the construction production control system developed by Bliot with artificial intelligence. Using this solution, many of the tasks involved in site planning, measurements and everyday life on site can be automated and enhanced.

The construction industry, which is considered a traditional industry, is undergoing rapid modernisation. A growing number of Finnish builders have already deployed the Building Information Model (BIM), which is used to plan and model buildings in the initial stages.

“Our service, provided in partnership with Cramo, will bring the digitalisation of construction sites into the next era on a global scale as well. We will use the data from these sites in a versatile way. We collect this data using concrete and condition sensors, for example, as well as sensor networks for employees, tools, materials and geographic information, along with drone and video recordings,” says Kari Hirvijärvi, founder and CEO of Bliot.

“We will offer our solutions to builders as a service package that makes the digitalisation of sites easy. The service has one price, which includes weekly data collection as well as on-site training of personnel and the system package.”

AI supports decision-making

Cramo offers the site digitalisation package as a turnkey service. The package also includes the services of a digitalisation expert trained by Bliot.

“We want to make sure that taking the digital leap is easy and that the customer will get the benefits from using the system right from the start. The digitalisation expert trained by Bliot takes care of the regular data collection at the sites from the very beginning, stores the data and helps to analyse it,” says Tatu Hauhio, Managing Director, Cramo Finland.

During deployment of the Bliot system, Cramo’s expert takes care of installation of the required sensors and start-up of the software service. During the service agreement period, the expert will install the sensor network on site, collect data from the site on a weekly basis using drones and helmet cameras, and participate in the weekly meetings.

“In the production control, AI is harnessed to support decision-making. AI supports work in an accurate and agile manner on processes that were previously carried out manually. Algorithms predict, for example, the drying and hardening of concrete, and video data collected from the site prevents employees who do not wear safety helmets from being exposed to conditions,” says Hirvijärvi.

AI is developed and used in controlling the different stages of construction as well as in making quality, occupational safety and maturity observations. The site receives automatic alerts, for example, about potential quality and occupational safety risks through the system.

The service provided by Cramo is being piloted across Finland

Bliot has implemented the overall service in the Helsinki metropolitan area, and it has been well received by builders. Cramo and Bliot are launching the service first in Finland, but the goal is to extend this partnership abroad as well.

“Cramo wants to be the digital leader of the rental industry, and with this new solution, we can meet our customers’ wishes for closer cooperation. The service has generated a lot of interest, and we are planning to expand this partnership to other Cramo countries after the launch in Finland,” says Hauhio.

Cramo has exclusive rights to provide the Bliot solution in Finland

“Cramo already has experts on building sites as well as extensive customer relationships. Thanks to this partnership, we can bring top-quality technological expertise to the sites, under the guidance of experts who understand everyday life in the construction industry. This provides us with new opportunities,” Hirvijärvi concludes.

Cramo will start providing this service to customers in early 2019.

Bliot is a company that is changing the construction industry using its extensive expertise and technological know-how. Bliot’s mission is to digitalise the construction industry using cutting-edge technology. The customer is at the centre of everything, and the goal is to offer the customer safe, efficient solutions that concretely improve its business. Read more at bliot.io.