Contractors today need to take advantage of every available tool to help them win projects, remain competitive and increase jobsite safety. Construction technology is one of those tools. Connected sensors and other technology solutions provide valuable insights into your jobsite conditions, your workers and your equipment.

Here are some of the tools offered by United Rentals that furnish data and enhance jobsite visibility to help you work smarter and more safely.

1. Equipment access control

Keypad ignition locks grant you full control of who operates your machines. Only the individuals or groups you authorize can start the ignition by entering the PIN you provided or scanning an RFID-enabled ID card. When you limit equipment operation to workers with the proper training and certification, you minimize the risk of accidents, injuries and property damage.

A keypad ignition system also enables you to track not only when and where the machine is used but also which person or craft uses it. By analyzing this data, you can measure productivity and improve equipment utilization.

2. Construction safety wearables

Wearables in construction help make workers safer and more productive.

SPOT-r Clips provide real-time worker location. That data can help you identify pinch points. If there’s a backup at the tool room, for example, you could add tool room staff to get workers back on the job faster. If the data reveals long waits at jobsite entrances during shift changes, you might consider staggered start times to eliminate delays.

These clip-on wearables also help you respond faster to safety incidents. For instance, they send an alert when a worker falls. If a crew member notices another worker in trouble or sees an unsafe jobsite condition, they can notify managers simply by pressing a button on their clip.

If a serious incident such as a chemical spill requires evacuation, the wearable device will emit an audible evacuation alert that clears workers out quickly.

3. Temperature and humidity monitoring

The WEDGE system uses wireless sensors to provide remote, real-time monitoring of jobsite temperature and humidity. The system can be configured to send alerts when measurements go out of a pre-set threshold.

With WEDGE, you can ensure that jobsite temperatures and humidity remain at optimal levels for both crews and materials. Temperature data allows you to optimize heater placement, remotely adjust smart heater temperatures to reduce fuel waste, and reduce the number of rentals heaters if certain jobsite areas are warmer than necessary.

Using WEDGE, you can remotely monitor concrete curing temperatures and adjust the temperature as necessary to ensure uniform and reliable curing. That reduces the need for costly rework.

4. Digital tools for equipment visibility

OEM or third-party telematics devices are constantly sending data about the status of your equipment. United Rentals can bring all your owned and rented equipment data together in one platform, Total Control®, eliminating the need to log in to multiple systems and enabling you to manage your entire fleet more effectively.

Through Total Control, either on desktop or using the Total Control app, you can receive low fuel alerts so an operator doesn’t run out of fuel unexpectedly. You can schedule maintenance and configure maintenance alerts to remind you when maintenance is due. You can also monitor your equipment utilization to help you identify under-utilized and over-utilized assets and right-size your owned and rented fleet. Low utilization alerts let you know when a piece of equipment hasn’t been used for a set number of days.

Construction technology that increases equipment visibility, worker visibility and jobsite visibility is here now and available to United Rentals customers. Leveraging this technology is a smart, affordable way for your company to stay at the top of its game.

Call us at 833.462.3799 or visit your local branch to learn how technology solutions can help you improve your jobsite safety and productivity.