Tech Companies Collaborate to Enhance Construction Safety

Zyter, a digital health and IoT-enablement platform, has announced it is collaborating with Zurich, Qualcomm Technologies, Everguard.ai, and Rudolph Libbe Group (RLG) to advance the use of AI-based Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance construction safety. The goal is to help prevent jobsite incidents and accidents that can result in serious injuries and costly property damage.

The five companies are bringing together their technologies and risk knowledge to provide construction managers with a 360-degree view of construction sites and real-time alerts regarding workers’ adherence to safety regulations.

Zyter’s SmartSpaces platform, analytics, and front-end dashboard is being integrated with Everguard’s Sentri360 AI platform, made possible through the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator program and Qualcomm IoT services suite. RLG, a provider of construction and facility services, will beta test the collaborative solution at one of its jobsites, beginning in September 2021. RLG’s insurance provider, Zurich North America, will monitor the impact and evaluate the solution for use with other construction customers.

“Through this collaboration, we are exploring how to enhance construction site managers’ ability to see and stop at-risk behaviors and to identify any needs for supplemental training and other resources to support safety going forward. We want to help clients like RLG prevent accidents and injuries, and potentially save lives," Jon Tate, vice president of construction risk engineering for Zurich North America said.

Each technology partner is bringing different capabilities and expertise to the project:

• Qualcomm Technologies – The collaboration is enabled through the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator program and Qualcomm IoT services suite. This suite delivers comprehensive, end-to-end, IoT as a Service (IoTaaS) solutions, enabling the digital transformation of smart cities, connected spaces, and experiences globally. Smart solutions and technologies are at the forefront of driving the next generation of smart spaces and construction sites, enriching lives through the accelerated transformation of infrastructure and services.
• Zyter – Serving as a collaborator with the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator program ecosystem members, this smart construction solution runs on the Zyter SmartSpaces platform, which is used to break down silos of information by integrating and consolidating data from IoT devices and applications in a seamless interface. Zyter is also providing advanced analytics.
• Everguard –Everguard’s Sentri360 platform ties together industrial sensor technologies using sensor fusion, edge compute, and AI algorithms, enabling them to learn dynamically “on the job.” This has the potential to lower incidents, injuries, and corresponding costs. Everguard has been recognized as a unique solution for prioritizing construction safety and the digital management of construction sites, enabling a proactive approach to both safety and productivity powered by AI and sensor fusion.

Using a continuous stream of real-time data from IoT devices on workers and building materials, this collaborative solution will deliver an up-to-the second view of what is happening across the entire construction site to the Zyter dashboard. Additionally, through data visualization, analytics, and intelligent insights, construction companies will be able to easily monitor and address events, operational issues, and incidents. Advanced analytics will help construction companies determine worker productivity and safety scores, as well as gain insight into other metrics related to construction site management.

Initial efforts will focus on using AI and computer vision to enhance safety protocols already in place on construction jobsites for initiatives such as personal protective equipment compliance and geofencing of restricted areas.