6 Ways to Use Data to Optimize the Worksite

People, equipment and materials are the most valuable resources on any worksite, but in today’s construction landscape, a fourth asset is playing an increasingly important role on larger sites: data. The data generated by a connected worksite creates a surprising number of opportunities to increase safety, efficiency and productivity.

Contractors who effectively leverage data generated by telematics devices and other digital technologies stand to improve their business and pocket bigger profits. The following are six of the most impactful ways to use data to optimize the worksite and increase project success.

1. Locate Equipment in Real Time

Making the most of every piece of equipment contributes to a healthier bottom line. Yet too often, equipment “disappears” on the jobsite, leading to downtime as crews and managers stop to search for it. Workers may inadvertently leave machines in the wrong place or intentionally hoard in-demand equipment.

Lack of visibility into the location of heavy equipment as well as machines such as air compressors and generators can drive project managers to acquire more units than necessary, resulting in overspending.

Telematics devices equipped with GPS sensors bring assets out of hiding. With the help of a cloud-based fleet management system and related mobile app, project managers can use their computer or mobile device to pull up a map of the site and pinpoint the location of every telematics-enabled asset. Some systems offer breadcrumb maps that show how the equipment got to its current location.

A good fleet management system also allows contractors to configure geofences and receive alerts when a piece of equipment exits its virtual boundary.

2. Right-Size Fleets Based on Utilization

The more heavily equipment is used, the less it costs per hour of use and the greater the ROI. Optimizing equipment utilization begins with measuring it — something many companies don’t currently do. Telematics data makes it simple.

Telematics devices provide usage data that is sent to a fleet management platform. In that platform, users can easily generate utilization reports that highlight under-utilized and over-utilized equipment by equipment category and even by specific unit.

Using this data, project managers can right-size their project fleets. They can return rental equipment that’s sitting idle or move under-utilized owned equipment to another worksite. Low-utilization alerts, available with some platforms, help managers act faster.

Equipment that’s over-utilized poses a different problem: Crews may not have the machine they need when they need it. To maintain productivity, contractors can choose to supplement heavily utilized equipment by renting or purchasing additional units.

Measuring utilization has another benefit. Utilization data from past projects helps contractors better predict equipment needs on future projects and create more accurate budgets and bids.

3. Track Tools With Innovative Technology Solutions

On large projects, tool loss is often rampant. Rather than accept the high cost of tool replacement, contractors can choose to track their tools.

A myriad of tool tracking solutions exists to serve the needs of different projects and worksites. Renting tools that come with Bluetooth tags securely affixed is one relatively simple solution. As a tool moves across the jobsite, its location is recorded by telematics devices embedded in equipment or by Bluetooth gateways placed in strategic locations throughout the site. The location data is then sent to a cloud-based fleet management system. This way, the system can reveal the location of each tool.

To create accountability for tools, contractors can check out each tagged tool to an individual. However, manning a tool room ties up personnel. Contractors can offload the  burden to a temporary equipment vendor that offers a managed tool trailer. Some vendors will custom stock the trailer according to the craft curve so that contractors pay for only the tools they need at each stage of the project.

Recently, at least one self-serve rental tool management solution has entered the market in the form of a smart, accessed-managed, custom-stocked Probox.

When workers are held accountable for the tools they use, they are more likely to return them and less likely to leave them lying around, lend them out or take them home.

4. Perform Just-in-Time Maintenance

Projects go smoother and crews work safer when equipment is properly maintained. With odometer and engine hour data provided by telematics devices, maintenance managers can practice just-in-time preventative maintenance instead of traditional calendar-based maintenance.

Maintenance based on manufacturer-recommended calendar intervals can result in under-servicing heavily used equipment, which can lead to breakdowns and higher repair costs. It can also lead to over-servicing equipment that’s used less often. Just-in-time maintenance, by contrast, is performed based on usage. It optimizes the maintenance budget and extends the useful life of equipment while reducing unplanned downtime due to equipment failures.

5. Manage Worksite Access

Worksite security remains as important as ever. By keeping unauthorized personnel out of fenced construction sites, contractors minimize the risk of theft and vandalism, keep workers and the public safer and reduce liability.

Relying on security guards to check or scan badges is inefficient. It can result in long lines at the gate, and it ties up security personnel who could be performing other important tasks.

Modular smart turnstiles that integrate with perimeter fencing are one easy-to-implement solution. Workers swipe a company-issued ID badge or key fob enabled with RFID, Bluetooth or NFC. The system authenticates the entrant based on worker profile data. The same badges can be used to grant or restrict access to certain buildings and sensitive areas or zones within the worksite.

A smart turnstile system automatically creates a digital entry and exit log, eliminating the need for manual recordkeeping. In the event of an emergency, the log can be quickly accessed and searched to enable a faster response.

6. Control Equipment Access

Restricting equipment access to qualified, approved operators is a critical measure for improving site safety. Today, many companies have yet to adopt it.

Adding keypad ignition locks to equipment is a smart first step. Ideally, to create personal accountability and monitor individual operator behavior, contractors would assign a unique PIN to each worker authorized to operate a certain piece of equipment. This approach is highly effective, though time-consuming when a project employs hundreds or thousands of workers.

A more streamlined approach for large projects leverages the same worker ID badges used to access the worksite. When RFID readers are added to ignition locks, workers can tap their ID badge to gain access based on information contained in their worker profile, such as assigned privileges or operator training and certification. 

The Role of a Cloud-Based Fleet Management System

Gathering data just for the sake of gathering data is pointless. Leveraging data to solve problems, create efficiencies and optimize budgets, on the other hand, can speed project completion, positively impact the bottom line and reduce total recordable incident rates.

Data becomes more useful or less useful depending on the software platform that ingests it. A best-in-class platform allows customers to generate a wide variety of reports, set up customizable notifications and alerts and track equipment from either a desktop app or mobile app.

Together, telematics devices and cloud-based worksite management platforms give companies the power to transform operations and gain a competitive edge.