Industrialised, Integrated, Intelligent sustainable Construction - I3con

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION HANDBOOK 2
Figure 1. SensoByg organisation and subdivision into the four main applications
It is expected that sensor prices will drop significantly as the technology develops and thereby pave
the way for a more extensive use in the construction industry. SensoByg is a step in that direction.
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Objectives
The main purpose for the SensoByg project is to develop robust, reliable systems for monitoring
buildings, civil structures and building materials by means of wireless embedded sensor technology.
This paper will describe some of the important tasks being carried out during the project and give
preliminary conclusions. It is outside the scope of the project to develop the next generation of sensor
technology, e.g. passive sensors based on SAW technology. Hence, the demonstration of possibilities
is based on existing sensor technology. The outcome of SensoByg is expected to be the possibility to
create intelligent building materials and intelligent buildings and structures which again would
contribute to better sustainability in the construction industry.
SensoByg is organised in 5 technical focus areas and 4 demonstration projects (Fig. 1). Two of the
focus areas are wireless sensors and coupling/interaction where the sensors, to be applied in the
project, are developed. The focus area encapsulation investigates the possibilities to cast-in and to
embed wireless sensors in fresh concrete. It is crucial that the sensor is protected against alkaline
water and concrete slurry. The technical focus areas are linking together the individual applications or
demonstration projects.
The two last focus areas (decision support and system architecture) are developing a generic concept
for wireless sensor networks and the end-user tools.
Background
In 2007 the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation granted a R&D project to the
construction industry in Denmark. The project is titled SensoByg and its full name is "Sensor based
surveillance in construction". SensoByg started in March 2007 and it is running for almost 4 years
until end of 2010. It has a 3 M€ budget. The Ministry supports half the budget and the industrial
partners are obliged to deliver the other half in terms of working hours and consumables. The
SensoByg group of partners encompasses:
• Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is acting as overall project manager for the 12 industrial
partners and 6 R&D performers.