Reliable equipment is imperative to keeping a construction project as safe as possible.
Construction contractors and equipment rental firms want to be certain that their equipment complies with safety standards and is not responsible for worksite hazards or accidents. Workers’ lives, project integrity, and liability are always at risk on a build.
According to a study produced for the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction, unpredicted failures are the cause of 46% of the major equipment repairs in the United States. Further, the National Crime Information Bureau reports that less than 20% of stolen equipment is ever recovered. The NCIB further estimates the cost of equipment theft as roughly $1 billion in losses each year nationally.
OEM devices with embedded telematics offer a unique solution. Embedded telematics can instantly transmit malfunction alerts, predictive data, and breaches in security across a cellular connection. Accurate, up-to-date data about equipment performance combined with data about user behavior can save lives and ensure project success.
Embedded Telematics Helps Rental Companies and General Contractors Predict and Spot Malfunctioning Equipment
Embedded telematics can empower construction teams and equipment owners to take swift action both before and after worksite incidents caused by malfunctioning equipment. Safety managers and maintenance crews can coordinate using telematics data to prevent equipment damage and construction site accidents.
Safety data and alerts include:
- Engine failure
- Transmission irregularities
- Inefficient fuel usage
- Changes in emissions
- Break malfunctions
- Onboard computer errors
- Overheating
- Loss of drive
- Startup and shutdown problems
- Tire and track issues
- Metal friction
- Joint fatigue
- Stuck gears/moving parts
- Electrical issue
For example, embedded telematics gives rental companies and general contractors insight into which vehicles need to be pulled and repaired before there are any malfunctions or mishaps. If it looks like a particular bulldozer’s lift hydraulics are not performing as expected, the machine could be taken off the project for inspections and repairs.
Data-driven predictive analysis can also help stakeholders on a construction project determine exactly what kind of situation they are walking into before they return to the worksite. After a heavy storm, contractors may want to run a remote series of engine diagnostics to check in on the state of their equipment: which vehicles are still responsive on the cellular network, and whether or not engines were flooded or vehicles were crushed.
Telematics Can Secure Worksites with Geofencing
Job site security parameters are a top priority for rental companies and construction site contractors. It is not unheard of for equipment to be stripped for parts, driven across state lines, or even transported internationally without authorization.
Geofencing can be an effective way to monitor worksites and prevent theft. Unauthorized equipment movement is much easier to prevent or respond to when the location of any piece of equipment is only a few clicks away.
Geofencing enables the monitoring of:
- All vehicles on a construction site at any time
- Vehicle movements
- Any visitation to the site and whether or not it is authorized
- Removal of resources from pre-defined construction site radius
Connectivity is Key to Worksite Safety
All of the monitoring tools, data tracking, and safety improvements made possible through telematics depend on a stable cellular connection. Outages, or even just a weak signal, can mean missing crucial information that could save lives or keep equipment operational.
If a cellular network keeps going down, data may be lost forever or become obsolete by the time it is received. Imagine that a cellular network goes down just as an engine on a piece of equipment overheats. If that engine catches fire, the crew on the ground will not have much time to respond.
With embedded telematics running on a reliable connection, safety teams can have complete control over network usage and still respond quickly to emergencies. The engine malfunction can be detected early on, and the piece of equipment can be shut down before it overheats, saving time, costs, and lives.
Connectivity is also a critical consideration for OEMs as they design geofencing solutions for their telematic devices. Geofencing devices without a secure connection are a target for hackers wanting to monitor the location of construction assets for theft or sabotage. It is important to work with a provider who can suggest options for secure connections, including the latest encryption and identity authentication standards.
Safeguard Your Customers
Aeris makes it easy to manage telematics connectivity costs, security, and coverage by providing a secure global network, flexible rate plans, and dedicated support. With Aeris, your vehicles can connect to overlapping coverage from 600 carriers in 190 countries—all managed on a single robust platform tailored with the unique needs of OEM telematics users in mind.
Download our IoT Connectivity Buyers Guide for Equipment Telematics to learn what our global cellular network can do to enhance the safety of your products.
