How will 5G Impact Construction

The fifth generation of wireless technology, seen by some as the last piece in the connectivity puzzle, is on the horizon. Tom Jackson investigates what impact it could have.

The most significant advancement in construction technology in the last two decades is now visible on the horizon and promises to provide previously unimaginable levels of connectivity and productivity.

Today’s technology can connect the field and the shop with the office and drive autonomous machines, remote control, and some artificial intelligence, says Aviad Almagor, vice president of technology innovation at Trimble. But to fulfil this vision – to control a large number of IoT (Internet of Things) devices and get fully functional, real-time augmented reality and mixed reality on the jobsite – the industry needs the low latency and higher bandwidths that only 5G can provide, he says.

Many of today’s data acquisition processes, such as point clouds, images, or simultaneous localisation and mapping data are already run on cloud-based solutions and near real-time processing, says Ulrich Hermanski, CMO and executive vice president at Topcon Positioning Group. The data rates anticipated with 5G networks will open completely new perspectives on this, especially for building construction, he says.

5G will also take much of the computer processing that happens on your tablet, laptop or phone and move it to the cloud, says Joe Mosele, vice president mobility, IoT and 5G for AT&T Industry Solutions in the US. The cloud is a much bigger, more powerful and versatile computer than anything you can hold in your hand – this will lower the cost of all these devices, and drastically cut the battery drain and weight.

How does 5G work? 

In 4G LTE networks, the lag time between a signal being sent and received is about 90 milliseconds. The current target for 5G latency is ten milliseconds or less depending on the provider, says Burcin Kaplanoglu, vice president of Oracle Industry Labs.

“When you’re trying to control equipment remotely, you do not want any lag time,” he says. “You want to have the best control you can. It can be done on a 4G network today. But the lower the latency, the better your response time.”

With the lower latency and all the sensors and data that 5G can pour into a simulator application, the seat-of-the-pants feel on a simulator can be made as real as it is in the field, says Varney. If your remote dozer in the field hits a boulder, the simulator will lurch as hard as the machine in the field. This kind of feedback will make remote operators much more efficient, careful, accurate, and safe, and help prevent machine damage.

5G is vital for the advanced development of robotics and autonomous machines says Anders Candell, senior vice president at Skanska Group. These technologies require stable, high bandwidth for equipment steering, real time monitoring and digital workflows. “We will be able to understand the situation at a site to a greater extent and hence be able to optimise planning and avoid hazardous situations,” he says.

With the cloud computing enabled by 5G, the sensors will even be able to project trajectories and warn workers of potential problems ahead of time. Sensors will also be embedded in buildings, highways, bridges, and other built structures to monitor conditions, wear, and things like earthquakes and natural disasters.

Sensors and cameras will also allow inspectors to view progress on a job and certify completions and code compliance without having to leave their office and avoid these all-too common delays that plague construction today. The kind of remote monitoring that sensors and cameras provide will also break down the silos and the inefficiencies that arise between the different trades and the general contractor.