One of the most critical and time-consuming phases in the construction process is waiting for poured concrete to develop strength, also known as the curing phase. Traditionally, monitoring this phase required cumbersome laboratory equipment and resulted in significant delays. However, in recent years, a new technology has emerged to help streamline this process. In 2015, Brendan Dowdall and Ryan Twomey founded Concrete Sensors to address this issue. The Boston-based company offers general contractors, concrete contractors, and engineers a solution to help accurately measure and predict concrete performance. A wireless sensor embedded in the concrete works with user-friendly software to provide real-time data on the concrete as it cures and dries. The Concrete Sensors mobile app can share the estimated strength, temperature, and relative humidity of the concrete. Furthermore, with a state-of-the-art in-house laboratory, the exact concrete mix can be tested with greater precision to better predict the results, thus saving days, possibly even weeks, on the project.
In recent years, Hilti has invested in digitizing the construction industry and simplifying workflows for contractors and construction engineers with innovations including: easier asset tracking (ON! Track); improved methods for designing base plates (PROFIS Engineering); fast and accurate solutions for bringing BIM designs to the field (PLT 300); and the recently launched solutions for providing traceable fasteners (TraceFast). Hilti believes that concrete sensors will be an excellent addition to its growing digital construction portfolio.
