Digital monitoring of concrete in place: how Smartrock Giatec works

Smartrock: what it is and how it works

Smartrock® is a new generation wireless sensor designed for monitorcontinuously and in place, The maturation and resistance of concrete. Developed by the Canadian Giatec, reference company in technologies for concrete control, this device is based on “Maturometry” methodan approach recognized internationally and coded in the ASTM C1074 standard – Standard Practice for Estimating Concrete Strength by the Maturity Methodwhich allows you to estimate the evolution of mechanical resistance without performing destructive tests, Starting from the temperature recorded over time within the structural element. This methodology, developed in the United States and widely adopted also in Europe and Asia, is based on the correlation curve between the high school index and the mechanical resistance, obtained in the laboratory for each mixture of concrete.

The sensor he comes fixed to the armor and drowned in the jet during the laying phase, without the need for cables, nutrition or subsequent interventions. Once installed, it does not require maintenance and can remain incorporated into the structure, providing continuous data on the maturation process. The system immediately begins to record the internal temperature of the concrete, transmitting the data via Bluetooth or Lora to an ‘dedicated mobile appavailable for iOS and Android devices.

THE’application processes data in real time thanks to an owner algorithm, which Calculate the high school index and compare it with a predefined correlation curve in the laboratory for the specific mixture used and previously set in the app (IoT logic). In this way it is possible estimate the trend of the resistance compression of the concrete element in place, allowing you to detect when it reaches a sufficient value to proceed with the removal of the cars that delimit the jet, post-tenship or apply loads, without having to perform destructive tests.

All data collected come Safely archived the GiaTEC cloud serversremotely accessible to all authorized users. This guarantees one Immediate and transparent sharing of information including designers, businesses, works management and workshops, improving operational management and decision -making process.

Continuous monitoring remotely with Smarthub: the construction site always under control

Smartrock®’s effectiveness can be further enhanced thanks toIntegration with Smarthub ™a compact and portable device that allows the Automatic remote connection to the sensors installed on site. Once positioned on the site, the Smarthub collects the data from the sensors and sends them directly to the cloudeliminating the need for physical access with smartphones or tablets. All authorized users can thus consult the evolution of concrete maturation from any place and connected device in real time.

This solution makes the even more efficient monitoringespecially in complex or dislocated projects, where to reduce manual activities and movements on site represents an advantage in terms of Safety, times and costs. The combined system Smartrck® + Smarthub ™ provides a continuous flow of reliable datafacilitating operational decisions and minimizing the uncertainties related to the resistance development times.

The advantages of Sagreck compared to traditional methods

The monitoring of the concrete resistance through Smartrock® sensors represents an important step forward compared to conventional techniques based on stating tests of standard auditions. THE advantages are manifold and significantly affect times, costs, safety and quality of the construction process.

Traditional tests on cubes or cylinders require long times for preparation, seasoning in controlled conditions and subsequent breakage in the laboratory at defined times obtaining punctual results. With. monitor in real time the development of the resistance continuously24 hours a day, directly on site. This allows you to make decisions in a timely mannerfor example for the removal of the bodies, the tension of the cables in prefabricated elements or the opening to traffic of infrastructure.

Furthermore, it should be considered that the auditions are accrued in Controlled laboratory conditionsoften not representative of the real environment in which the concrete in place matures (exposure to the wind, thermal excursions, thermal exchanges with metal custody or with the ground). The sensoron the other hand, being installed directly in the jetoffers a more accurate and reliable evaluation of the resistance on site.

There traceability and sharing of data allowed by the solution, moreover, improve transparency and documentation of the processalso facilitating quality management and tests during the testing phase. Finally, a more timely and reliable determination of the concrete resistance contributes to reduce the risk of early disarmament or early load, improving structural safety overall and reducing the possibility of disputes.

In a context in which to accelerate the construction times of the construction site, it can make the difference in terms of efficiency and profitability, having readings in accurate and always updated situ represents one essential tool to build in a safer way, optimize resources and guarantee quality of the works.

Heidelberg Materials: a complete solution for the digitization and sustainability of buildings

Technology Smartrck® It is not just a cutting -edge product: it is Integrating part of Heidelberg Materials’ strategic offerwhich offers its customers one complete digital solutioncapable of combining Innovation, sustainability and technical operational support.

Since 2022, following the acquisition of a strategic share of the Canadian Giadec, Heidelberg Materials is able to offer its customers the Smartrock® solution, integrating it into a service package which goes far beyond the simple supply. The approach is oriented to the creation of value for the customer: in addition to providing hardware, Heidelberg Materials accompanies companies and designers in All phases of technological adoption – From the initial formation to the installation of the app, from the calibration of the high school curves to the optimization of the mixtures. THE’technical assistance It is guaranteed above all in the first uses, to ensure that the system is effectively integrated into the construction site routines and in quality control.

The combination between the Smartrck sensors he is Low emissions concrete produced by Heidelberg Materials allows you to make one Digital and sustainable structural supply chainin line with the Decarbonisation objectives and with the expectations of the most demanding customers. The technology of digital maturometry, in fact, reduces waste of materials, times, travel and costscontributing concretely to the ecological transition of the construction sector.

Smartrock: practical applications

Below are some exemplary application cases of the concrete advantages of the solution. Although very different from each other by context and objectives, all these projects have in common theStrategic use of Smartrck® technology As a digital innovation lever, structural control and operational sustainability:

Smartrock and the digitization of construction sites: towards connected and intelligent construction

In the context of the digital evolution of the construction sector, tools such as Smartrock® are not simple control devices, but Active components of a digital ecosystem in which data, processes and decisions are increasingly integrated. The use of intelligent sensors for concrete monitoring represents, in fact, a key piece in the transition to the connected construction site, where the automatic collection of information becomes an integral part of the operational and management workflow.

Sagreck stands out for its ability to easily integrate with existing digital platformsthrough bees and cloud services, allowing a centralized management of construction site data. In this way, the information collected by the sensors can feed directly:

• systems of project management;
• monitoring dashboard in real time shared among the teams;
• BIM models updated with concrete data of progress and quality;
• Automatic reporting for the documentation of conformity and quality control.

Another distinctive aspect is the Availability of objective, traceable and historicalized data which contributes to the construction of a Digital memory of the construction siteuseful not only for the control during the work, but also for any post-intervention checks, sustainability audit or programmed maintenance.

In summary, Smartrock® fits fully between Edilizia enabling technologies 4.0promoting a Data-Driven approach, collaborative and predictive in the management of concrete and, more generally, of the entire life cycle of the work.