The structures sector suffers losses of almost £1 billion a year due to theft. It’s time for security to fully adapt to the virtual age, says Alexis Potter of BauWatch UK.
As winter approaches, longer nights and prevailing economic instability are offering structural businesses little respite after a difficult year. In addition to monetary hardship, the effect of theft on those darker days is significant, as evidenced by cases such as the theft of railway cables. Materials such as copper remain key targets for organized and opportunistic thieves, turning structures into hotbeds of criminal activity. Recently, the theft of Aurubis copper in Germany cost Europe’s largest copper manufacturer some £200 million (£157 million).
If the current crime wave doesn’t subside, the construction sector will continue to face annual losses of about £800m due to theft. To make matters worse, increasingly sophisticated criminal activities are using technology such as drones and jammers to thwart security efforts.
To fight this emerging threat, many corporations are turning to imaging technologies such as computer vision and laser scanning to monitor on-site safety and security. These inventions are redefining the way corporations collect and interact with information, enabling proactive interventions and seamless collaboration between on-site and off-site teams.
“The developing synergies between BIM and complex imaging technologies also play a key role in on-site safety and security. “
In the past, construction site safety relied heavily on human guards. Today, depending on a site’s desires, we’re seeing a combination of generation and/or security personnel, taking human error out of the equation. As the industry continues to digitize, this generation relies on complex responses such as synthetic intelligence (AI).
Due to the increased use of AI, video generation is becoming increasingly automated and intelligent – a game-changer in the fight against increasingly complex crimes. AI integration improves surveillance systems by enabling real-time investigation of video footage.
Adding this AI-driven approach helps in aggregating data to draw on machine learning to identify trends in site activity, reducing reliance on reactive measures that are often called upon too late. By training algorithms with images of known security threats, these systems become more accurate and effective as time goes on.
Drones are also a must in site surveillance, especially in complex or large-scale projects, thanks to their ability to succeed in dangerous or dangerous areas. Its integration with AI complements the hazard detection capabilities, and its ability to program regime inspections adds an additional point of 24-hour security.
As effective as it is, AI isn’t the only tool used to fight safety and security threats. Developing synergies between BIM and complex imaging technologies, such as 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry, also play a key role.
By offering a comprehensive, real-time view of the structure’s site, BIM facilitates more informed decision-making, helping to anticipate and mitigate potential protection hazards and safety breaches. Companies can simulate various scenarios, helping to anticipate and mitigate risks. For example, you can model the flow of other people in an emergency evacuation, or you can use models to plan the location of security systems such as cameras and alarms.
In addition, the integration of technologies such as RFID and GPS tagging into BIM frameworks enables accurate, real-time tracking and control of assets, reducing the threat of asset loss. The combination of BIM, complex imaging technologies, and tracking systems in the end leads to a more controlled and secure structural environment. It allows for early identification of potential problems, greater planning, and effective control of resources.
In the future, the structures industry is actively adopting complex technologies such as AI-based monitoring, moving from reactive to proactive methods to deal with security threats. This transition is an integral component of the industry’s overall security strategy, which is critical to keeping up. Continuity of asset allocation and protection against ever-present economic risks.
The Construction Equipment Association’s recent commitment, alongside other industry groups, of £650,000 to combat machinery theft in the UK underscores the importance of this technological adoption.
As the industry faces an ever-changing threat landscape, those generational responses are indispensable, ensuring the steady progress and resilience of projects, from small subdivisions to giant infrastructure projects.
Alexis Potter is MD of BauWatch UK.
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