One of the best technological advancements in the construction industry has been BLE – also known as Bluetooth Low Energy. It has helped Contractors, Project Managers, and teams of all sizes provide more accurate and detailed information in real-time, giving them plenty of advantages in order to become industry leaders. Every modern construction site needs to implement BLE technology – but first, they need to understand what it is. 

What is BLE? 

BLE stands for Bluetooth Low Energy. It’s a wireless, low-power, personal area network technology that securely connects devices connected to the internet over a short-range. It was created with IoT applications in mind, which run on devices specific to almost every industry & vertical, like healthcare, construction, and wearable technology. 

The devices that IoT applications run on can be constrained and require extended battery use; BLE favors low power consumption over continuous data transfer, meaning when a device isn’t being used, it goes into a sleep mode to conserve energy. There are also devices known as BLE beacons, which are small radio transmitters that broadcast BLE signals within a given range, depending on the device. This type of signal can trigger multiple actions when it interacts with other BLE-enabled apps or operating systems that are within range – like mobile devices and wearables. 

Is BLE Similar to Regular Bluetooth or GPS? 

Yes and no. Similar to the Bluetooth you use to connect your personal devices at home, BLE operates in the 2.4 GHz band, but it uses different channels for transmitting data and remains in sleep mode unless a connection initiates. The actual connection times only last a few milliseconds, Bluetooth connects for a few seconds or hours at a time. 

Regular Bluetooth 

• Designed for continuous, two-way communication. 

• BLE transfers smaller packets of data over shorter periods of time. 

• Uses more energy. 

• BLE uses as much as 100 times smaller amount of energy. 

• Less limited with a longer range and higher data throughout a larger number of devices. 

GPS

• Effective for outdoor navigation. 

• BLE is more effective for large indoor settings like construction sites. 

• Less accurate and detailed navigational information than BLE. 

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How Is the Construction Industry Using BLE? 

Construction teams across the globe have been taking advantage of the benefits of BLE with the increasing demand for technology on site. By implementing BLE technology on construction job sites, industry leaders have been able to improve site safety, keep the progress of their projects moving ahead on schedule and on budget, and make more informed decisions with reliable, accurate data in real-time. 

BLE technology can take many different forms on a construction site, including: 

• BLE Beacons – can be attached to equipment or hardhats for location-based data of workers and assets. 
• BLE Badges – can be attached to clothing or carried as a card to help create security data points and make more informed decisions. 
• Access Control – for job sites that require strict perimeter control via gates, doors, and turnstiles. 

The many advantages of using BLE on a job site include: 

• More accurate and reliable asset tracking.
• Increased employee safety with contract tracing, sending and receiving alerts, and access control. 
• A valuable return on investment with improvements to the production process and management control.  

Construction Sites Needs BLE – Eyrus Can Help Get Construction Project Managers  Started 

The Eyrus team is focused on simple technology integrations with options designed to fit operational, data accuracy, and budget needs of the construction, technology, and manufacturing industries. With Eyrus’ workforce visibility app, construction leaders  can control information about workforces, as well as access worksite check-ins all from a mobile device. BLE technology beacons and badges give  multiple data collection options with virtually endless workforce visibility benefits. 

To learn more about the advantages of using BLE technology on your job site and how simple it can be thanks to the Eyrus Platform and app, book a features demo with the Eyrus team here.