BIM-friendly concrete sensor produces concrete savings for Balfour Beatty

Gammon Construction, the Hong Kong business of construction giants Balfour Beatty, has significantly saved on concrete waste after the integration of concrete sensor data with BIM. It is a move which has been labelled ‘the world’s first digital twin of site concreting.’

In order to make this possible, Gammon has used the latest version of Converge’s ConcreteDNA Pro, integrating concrete sensor data with BIM to provide material performance analytics, forming a digital twin.

Sensor data is automatically transmitted to the cloud in real-time, measuring the compressive strength of the concrete as it cures. Before this, concrete data was manually collected by using the Converge app.

The updated ConcreteDNA Pro enables the user to track and ensure that concrete is meeting the expected standards by including concrete performance and temperature differential analytics. Cube testing procedures can then be reduced which results in lower carbon emissions.

More than 110 tonnes of concrete waste have already been saved after reducing testing by a third. Performance insights have enabled Gammon to optimise materials and select the correct mix to suit requirements, this means that less cement was used, in turn, reducing those emissions.

Thomas Ho, chief executive of Gammon, said: “ConcreteDNA Pro has allowed us to take strides in evolving our processes for the future of construction. We’re building more reliably, safely and to a higher standard, making huge gains on our sustainability targets.”