New construction logistics app underway

A research grant worth half of a million pounds has been awarded by the British government’s innovation agency, Innovation UK, to a partnership of Carto Group, Skanska UK, and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) for the development of a new construction logistics app.

The project, known as LAMP (Live, Automated Materials Plan), will utilise a range of data, including logistics plans, travel routes, quantities of materials, and base data, to make construction logistics more effective and efficient, thus saving both time and money while also reducing the environmental impact of transport and vehicles.

The app will use sensors to gain real-time location data from vehicles so that figures can be integrated into Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping and Artificial Intelligence in order to produce a recommended logistics plan that will be most beneficial and sustainable.

The Skanska UK Digitalisation Manager, Kamran Choudhury stated: “This ties in with Skanska’s strategy to deliver better results for our customers and clients, through our industry-leading approach to digitalisation.

“Using new technology through targeted research and development projects like LAMP, there is a real opportunity to revolutionise how the construction industry works.”

The Carto Group’s Chief Technical Officer, Nicholas Duggan added: “State-of-the-art data capture, enabled by things like low-cost sensors, the internet of things and artificial intelligence, together with analytical techniques has the potential to deliver significant efficiency savings and environmental improvements.

“This includes improving onsite planning, scheduling and ordering. Our expertise, close working relationships with Skanska and the BRE, our specialist resources and innovative culture will help deliver a solution that maximises the stakeholder benefits.”

A BRE spokesperson concluded: “BRE is delighted to be part of the LAMP project, which brings together the expertise and innovative skills of three dynamic organisations.

“Our particular interest is in how internet of things data can be captured during critical activities on construction sites and how this can be used to create key performance indicators, which will in turn improve wider sector performance.”

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