Digital measurement technology in foundation works / In-process monitoring to ensure quality-Paper

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The paper describes how digital tools are improving quality assurance and monitoring in specialist foundation engineering. Bauer’s digital platform centralizes project information and automates the collection, processing, analysis, and sharing of data from planning, production, and quality control. Mobile applications capture construction and manufacturing records directly, reducing paperwork, reporting time, and transcription errors.

Three case studies demonstrate real-time monitoring in practice:

- <strong>Copenhagen diaphragm wall:</strong> During construction of the Operaparken underground car park, sensors monitored slurry levels in open trenches. When levels fell below a warning threshold, the responsible person received a phone alert, enabling timely intervention.
- <strong>Feldolling MIP cut-off wall:</strong> Temperature sensors tracked curing in a section built during winter, helping verify the client’s requirement to maintain a minimum temperature of 10°C. Measurements and temperature trends were transmitted to a dashboard and provided as evidence.
- <strong>Cologne excavation pit:</strong> Up to 32 digital load cells monitored anchor forces across a deep excavation supported by several wall types. A solar-powered IoT device transmitted measurements to the cloud for dashboard display and targeted monitoring.

Together, the examples show how sensor data can be collected automatically, transmitted to the cloud, and viewed by authorized project participants. The approach reduces the need for manual site checks, supports faster responses to potential quality or safety issues, and gives clients timely, transparent access to project data. The authors conclude that integrated digital records enable more consistent analysis of construction processes and more focused monitoring of foundation elements.

Keywords

digital tools

quality assurance

monitoring

specialist foundation engineering

Bauer digital platform

real-time monitoring

sensor data

cloud dashboard

mobile applications

IoT devices