4 Ways Technology Is Shaping Construction Site Security
4 Ways Technology Is Shaping Construction Site Security
A frequently brushed aside aspect of on-site construction is the necessity of site security for each project. Security and protection of a construction site aren’t typically everyone’s first concern; the focus with any project usually revolves around the work being done rather that what goes on at a construction site at the end of the day when everyone goes home. While experienced contractors will hire security companies for bigger and more expensive projects, smaller projects can seem like a chore to secure. Construction site security companies can be extremely costly on their own and do not always seem worth the investment, that is until money is lost due to equipment theft.
Construction sites are not only an easy target for theft risk, but vandalism is also a security risk that is nearly completely unavoidable; especially in urban areas. The Office of Community Oriented Policing at the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a study that revealed the most common thefts on a construction site includes lumber, small-scale tools, and appliances as high-theft-risk materials.
Luckily, advancement in technology has given the construction industry a huge boost in security practices and precautions. New technology is being introduced every day to better on-site security and safety for everyone. Implementing technological security practices leads to enormous returns on investment and more assurance in security reliability. Listed below are four of the newest and most talked about technology that is changing the way we approach on-site security.
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Drone Surveillance
Drone surveillance is the fastest rising product for new security technology in construction. Not only are drones being recognized for site security, but drones are also seen frequently in the industry being used to handle mapping, scaled measurements, weather patterns and landscape of construction sites before, during, and after construction. For these reasons, drones have immensely improved and sped up the quality of hard work that goes into every construction project. The industry is now pushing for the use of drones as site-security technology to monitor construction sites for surveillance as opposed to hiring security guards or leaving a site unmonitored at all. This is a huge step for the construction industry. Many drones can be operated with a smartphone or tablet, meaning you can amazingly keep close surveillance of your site in the comfort of your home or office.
Robot Security
As shocking it sounds, they exist! Knightscope is a company that very recently introduced security surveillance robots. These calendar-shaped, 300 pound, rolling robots are meant to monitor and scale through areas to scare off potential intruders. While these robots do not have the same physical or mental capabilities of a human guard, they can do enough to protect your construction site. According to the company, they move quickly and efficiently and can chase down any unwanted intruder to record their identity. These robots can be monitored at all times, from anywhere, making them an affordable and effective option to hiring guards through an expensive security company.
Keyless Ignition System
The same company manufactures many operating vehicles used on construction sites and use the same ignition across all machines to simplify their use for workers. The advantage to this is that no work is delayed having to find and keep track of the correct key for each machine. However, a huge downside to this is that a universal ignition makes theft on the jobsite much easier with many vehicles to choose from, yet, only one security roadblock. However, new technology has introduced keyless ignition systems that would make this risk virtually disappear. Different companies are incorporating different ideas for keyless ignition substitutes, such as chip readers and even electronic keys programmed to start a particular vehicle.
Advanced GPS Technology
Contractors have invested in advanced GPS technology with monitoring sensors to keep track of movement and positioning of materials and resources on the jobsite. Any sudden change of positioning of something located on a job site will send an immediate alert to the project owner, contractor, or security personnel on site. GPS technology has a similar effectiveness of surveillance cameras— and while are very effective— cannot physically stop theft from occurring on your construction site altogether. Using GPS monitoring sensors for site security is a good option for lower scale projects.
Sources
Five High-Tech Ways to Control Construction Site Theft
Construction Site Security Options Now Include Robots
