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Communication Solutions on Job Sites Need Unity & Consistency. Does Radio Fit the Bill?

Paul Doherty of The Digit Group examines how radio wave technology could address fragmented communication on construction job sites, where reliance on local WiFi and dedicated towers often fails to provide consistent connectivity. He proposes a site-specific radio communication package that could enable real-time personnel tracking, materials management, and a 'site radio' concept for live project updates. The approach offers a unified alternative to the piecemeal communication systems common in the US construction sector.

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By Paul Doherty · Communication on Job SitesIcom AmericaPaul DohertyTdg
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Key takeaways

01

Current job site communication — reliant on local WiFi or dedicated towers — is inconsistent and compromises both safety and productivity.

02

Radio wave technology could enable real-time monitoring of personnel entry/exit, qualification verification, and materials tracking on construction sites.

03

A 'site radio' concept could create a two-way live communication channel for all project stakeholders, bridging existing communication gaps.

The construction industry has long grappled with communication challenges on job sites, where a lack of consistent connectivity can hinder operational efficiency and safety. The advent of radio wave technology promises a potential solution, paving the way for streamlined communication and improved site management.

The advent of radio wave technology promises a potential solution, paving the way for streamlined communication and improved site management.

In this video presented by Icom America, Paul Doherty, an architect and real estate developer with TDG, The Digit Group, delves into the intriguing prospect of employing radio wave technology on construction sites.

Doherty highlights the current communication hurdles on sites, dominated mainly by local WIFI or dedicated towers, which often fail to ensure consistent connectivity amongst personnel and equipment. Doherty explores how radio wave technology could foster a site-specific communication package, enabling real-time monitoring of personnel entries and exits and verifying qualifications and insurance coverage, thus enhancing site safety. Additionally, the technology could revolutionize site management by tracking materials ensuring they are correctly logged and located. Doherty also envisages a "site radio" concept, allowing stakeholders to tune in for live project updates fostering a two-way communication channel, thereby bridging the prevalent communication gaps on construction sites.

Radio wave technology could foster a site-specific communication package, enabling real-time monitoring of personnel entries and exits and verifying qualifications and insurance coverage, thus enhancing site safety.

Through such advancements, radio wave technology emerges as a potential game-changer in the US construction sector, offering a unified solution to the piecemeal communication systems currently in place.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

Hi. I'm Paul Dorothy. An architect builder, and real estate developer with TDG, the Digid Group. This whole idea of having a radio wave, technology, being used out on construction sites is very intriguing. For the most part, when we are out in a field now connectivity. We deal with either local wifi, certain sized projects may have their own dedicated, you know, tower there, because of the way that that type of construction is going on. But for the most part, there's not like a prepackaged way that I can go up make sure that I take a piece of equipment down and understand that everyone is connected all the time. The the lack of of consistency out on a construction job site is is a big factor. It's also something that is very intriguing when it comes to the understanding of how a construction site operates almost like a big orchestra. Right? It looks like organized chaos out there. But when you have telecommunications that are strong, Now, all of a sudden, you not only the people to people communication, but to things like equipment. One of the big issues out on the site, of course, the site supervision. Being able to understand who's coming on-site, who's coming off-site, are they are they qualified to actually come on-site? So here's one, use case. Imagine having, you know, this radio technology was creating a, like, a site specific communications package, that when a person comes on-site, there could be a trigger within that particular, you know, radio, technology that would understand who that person is. And then more importantly, do they have their workman's comp certificate? A big, big, big bugaboo out on job sites. People get injured and they're not fully covered or it's faked. These are the types of things that are real, you know, in the dirt under the fingernails types of use cases that be that would be very valued. Another way of looking about this also is being able to understand where stuff is Right? You know, the idea of site management is always a big deal. You know, where where the materials, having a radio technology could easily make sure that the QR code or some sort of, GPS, some sort of way of making sure that I am pile of bricks, and I'm here, that I can actually use the radio technology then to allow my job trailer to know where everything is would be invaluable. Another really, really cool feature about this, and I'm not sure if the technology can actually do this, but I'm assuming it can, is why not make this like a radio station for your project. In other words, all the different stakeholders, whenever they want, can tune in, and then be part of that two way communication and or also make sure that you have this idea of this that this site radio, you know, a umbrella that can actually then take certain pieces of information and push it out almost like a broadcast way of understanding where the different stakeholder would want to have information on what's the status of my project? Who's on-site? All of these very, very specialized things that write now are kind of not really packaged together, they're piecemeal together, where if there could be a solution that is one stop shop, drop it on the site and I'm operational. That would be extremely valuable in the US construction industry.

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About the author

PD
Paul DohertyPresident and CEO

As published by Forbes as “Changing the World”, seen on Bloomberg TV and reported by CNBC as one of America's Business Titans, Paul is a Registered Architect and one of the global Industry's most sought after thought leaders, strategists and integrators of process, technology & business. Paul is the Founder & CEO of The Digit Group, Inc. (TDG), a leading Smart Cities design, build, operate and solutions company, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. TDG's Smart Cities are being showcased as an example of leading design during the Venice Biennale Architettura 2021. He is an author, educator, analyst and consultant to Fortune 500 organizations, government agencies, prominent institutions and the most prestigious AEC firms in the world. Paul has spent the past 30+ years in the industry after graduating cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology and graduating from the Career Discovery program at Harvard University’s GSD.

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About the Expert

PD
Paul Doherty

Architect and Real Estate Developer at The Digit Group (TDG)

Paul Doherty is an architect, real estate developer, and president/CEO of The Digit Group (TDG), a smart cities and intelligent buildings consultancy. He is a licensed AIA architect with expertise in digital transformation, construction technology, and connected infrastructure. Doherty is a frequent speaker and thought leader on the intersection of technology and the built environment.

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