What big data can do for the Construction Industry
Implementing machine learning and artificial intelligence in the construction industry allows companies to explore vast opportunities for data-driven optimization. Tread is generating a novel data set by capturing information that is being lost in existing workflows. On a job site, the Tread platform serves as a communication link for heavy equipment operated by different subcontractors at all levels of construction. Starting with the hauling industry, Tread equips fleets with an innovative tool that measures, tracks, and reports, without the need to install hardware in each vehicle. Adopting this technology serves to increase job productivity, reduce risk both to drivers and sites, and improve overall profitability for construction companies.
INCREASED UTILIZATION THROUGH SMARTER DISTRIBUTION
Tread wants to rethink how dump trucks haul materials in the current transport model. Vehicles run 50% empty, non-optimal routes are taken, and jobs are assigned to trucks without considering given to their starting location. The current decentralized model exists because technology and logistics is lacking, and the parties involved are fragmented. For the industry to evolve from traditional hub-and-spoke transport networks (Fig. 1a and 1b) into more sophisticated distributed networks (Fig. 1c), technology is required to evaluate all possible routings before choosing the optimal one (CSCMP 84). Innovation in technology allows multiple fleets, job sites, and dump sites to communicate information with each other in real time. Improved distribution means increased efficiency and better asset utilization, resulting in a higher ROI for heavy equipment on every job.
PROMOTING RISK MANAGEMENT AND DRIVER SAFETY
To provide oversight on fleet safety, Tread has partnered with Zendrive to provide new insights on driver behaviour. Using our app, fleets can evaluate performance and compare how drivers rank, flag risky driving patterns, and promote safer driving habits. Anonymized risk and performance analytics can be sent to insurance partners for savings on fleet insurance. In addition, Tread is creating transparency in the hauling industry by providing GPS tracking on all materials being transported. This digital trail documents the point of origin, the exact route, and the dump site for every load. Fleets armed with this electronic evidence will be able to account in real time the movement of materials and will be prepared for upcoming regulatory proposals mandating the tracking of excess soil.
BIG WINS FROM SMALL CHANGES
On projects requiring significant equipment spend per day, small improvements in efficiency can generate a substantial increase in profitability. Accomplishing this, however, often requires a concerted effort to identify problems, or a large investment in hardware. By using the built-in accelerometer and GPS in every smartphone, the Tread platform is a cost-effective way to implement tracking technology at scale. Applying machine learning and AI to our collected data sets allows Tread to identify inefficiencies in equipment usage, routing, and distribution, while simultaneously generating savings through digitization and improved communication.
To contact TREAD:
www.tread.io
1-888-55-TREAD
100-862 Richmon St. W.
Toronto, ON M6J 1C9
Bibliography
Fig. 1. Baran, Paul. “On Distributed Communications.” IEEE Transactions of the Professional Technical Group on Communications Systems Number 1, Volume CS-12 (1964). Print.
CSCMP, et al. The Definitive Guide to Transportation: Principles, Strategies, and Decisions for the Effective Flow of Goods and Services. Pearson FT Press, 2014.
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