Denmark's national cluster organisation for the construction sector, We Build Denmark, has invested DKK 1 million in a new research project to set up a network of sensors to monitor real-time carbon emissions from construction projects.

The aim is to create a database for a simulation tool that accurately mimics and predicts the energy consumption and carbon emissions of construction projects down to the smallest detail. This means that, in the future, developers will be able to document a construction project’s emissions and consumption based on real figures, not just manufacturers’ information.

"In order to comply with building and construction standards for energy consumption and carbon emissions, the total emissions and energy use of a project are currently estimated using data from manuals and fact sheets provided by manufacturers of various machines, tools, lighting, and other construction site necessities. However, these estimations fall short of accuracy due to the vast number of energy-consuming and carbon-emitting sources and the lack of actual historical data. To address this challenge, our project aims to deliver a far more precise measurement of energy consumption and carbon emissions on construction sites by deploying a network of IoT sensors. These sensors will provide real-time data, capturing the intricacies of energy use and emissions that are impractical to calculate accurately with existing methods," explains project lead Assistant Professor Jhonattan Martinez Ribon.

The research project is called "Predictive carbon emissions monitoring and control system for earthwork and interior work using simulation and remote sensing technologies", and it is a collaboration with Danish IT companies Clevertrack and Acembee, which develop IoT sensors.

"We use the sensors to measure all energy consumption and all carbon-emitting sources at the construction site. For example, we measure the position, efficiency, and idle time of machines. This allows us to calculate fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and we can then use this data for our model," says Jhonattan.

The project is the first in a series and is initially intended for earthworks and interior work at construction sites. However, it can be expanded with sensors to cover a host of other aspects, he says:

"Energy and carbon emissions are only a fragment of what we are concerned about. We can also use sensors to measure aspects such as workers’ well-being or a wide range of other variables to improve construction."

The project's total budget is DKK 2 million, of which DKK 1 million has been granted by We Build Denmark. The system is expected to reach a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5, which means it will be tested and validated in laboratory and construction scenarios. The project aims to provide valuable insight into the development of emissions monitoring and control systems to help reduce the construction industry's carbon footprint.

The project will run for 18 months.

Contact

Assistant Professor Jhonattan Martinez Ribon
Aarhus University, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
Tel. +4520604976
Mail: jgmartinez@cae.au.dk