Digital Construction Site

A major motivation for digitisation in the field of construction projects is the maintenance of cost, deadline and quality targets. Here, 5G offers the possibility to use digital infrastructure during project implementation on construction sites, which has so far only been available in the offices of the participating companies. In order to apply modern methods such as the Building Information Model (BIM) comprehensively throughout all phases of a construction project, such an on-site infrastructure is essential.

Possible applications

A prerequisite for the use of 5G services on construction sites is the early availability of an appropriate network. In addition to the use of public networks, the construction of temporary campus networks within the framework of construction projects is also conceivable. The effort required for this is not only independent of public network expansion, but also the potential of application-optimized network planning.

As a low-latency broadband communications network, 5G will allow plans and models to be exchanged (sometimes in real time). Defects resulting, for example, from the circulation of different planning statuses in paper form can thus be effectively prevented. Server-based services, e.g. from the CAD sector, will be able to be used in 5G networks in the future, thanks to guaranteed service qualities, on site at construction sites just as much as in wired office networks. At the same time, this level of networking will not only be possible between office and construction site, but also between all the companies involved on site.

5G-based positioning can make it possible to locate people on construction sites even if satellite-based services are not available. This is especially true for positioning within buildings. Corresponding positioning services can then be used, for example, for positioning on plans, navigation within large construction sites or geotagging for the documentation of construction progress and defects.

The 5G technology can also serve as a technological basis for Augmented Reality (AR), occupational safety, the control of machines or the acquisition of sensor data using energy-efficient IoT sensors within the framework of Smart Construction.