Automation of Loose Materials Quantity Measurement Through IoT Based Technology – Sustainable Waste Reduction Technique

Abstract

In Pakistan's construction sector, which contributes over 10% to the GDP, waste poses a significant challenge, accounting for nearly 30% of project cost overruns, primarily from construction materials which comprise over 60% of direct project costs. Traditionally, the construction industry (CI) has struggled with inaccuracies, manipulations, and a lack of real-time monitoring in material management which leads to construction waste and cost overruns, inefficiencies, and potential mismanagement. To address these issues, this research introduces an IoT-based Vehicle-Mounted Weighing (VMW) Scale, designed to transform and optimize loose material quantity measurement and monitoring. Integrated with the Arduino IDE, this prototype offers real-time material quantity monitoring in transit and automates the priced Bills of Quantities (BOQs) generation, ensuring cost efficiency and transparency. The developed system was tested and optimized in the field for further evaluation in the projects, as a case study. Through rigorous field assessments and comparisons with conventional methods, the system confirmed its precision with 95% accuracy. Moreover, a practical case study highlighted its value, registering savings of up to 2.7% of Subbase and 5.94% of Aggregate base material. Significantly, this research highlights the IoT-based system's role in greatly reducing material wastage, underlining its contribution to sustainability in the construction domain. By mitigating inefficiencies, the study projects a path towards more sustainable, waste-reduced construction practices, emphasizing that technological interventions, like the IoT-based VMW system, can promote a more sustainable future for the construction industry.