PCL Across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Australia
Wireless Sensors Reduce Time and Costs on a Major Building Project – Leading to a New Corporate-Wide Best Practice
PROBLEM
Embracing innovation is at the heart of the company’s strategy for business success. “We’re always looking at new methods that will save us time, and our clients’ money, on projects while differentiating us from other contractors,” says April Smith, PCL field coordinator.
Aggressive project schedule on a 55-storey building
Testing in-situ field cured specimens is time consuming
Photo Credit: PCL
SOLUTION
SmartRock with real-time information on concrete strength using wireless sensors and mobile technology. In a quest to introduce time and money saving efficiencies, the Edmonton team looked at several technologies before deciding to test SmartRock from Giatec. “SmartRock was the only solution that met our evaluation criteria,” says Smith.
RESULTS
On the heels of this successful test project, PCL has shared the benefits of using SmartRock across the company’s operational units. Shawn Kitt, a superintendent with PCL, shares the opinion that there are advantages to using SmartRock anywhere the company is pouring concrete and the field crew needs to know early concrete strength. “For me personally, the next project I go to, whether it’s a bridge, a low-rise construction, or a high-rise building, if I’m pouring concrete, I’m going to seriously think about using this technology rather than field cures – just because I have seen the advantages first hand,” he says.
Eliminates the need for a third-party lab testing
Gives control of information to field crew on job site
Substantial time savings and project efficiencies
Ability to check results anytime without incurring additional costs or destruction
No need to do repair work on destructive testing
