Alicia Hearns

Alicia Hearns is a content marketing specialist with Giatec Scientific Inc, a global company revolutionizing the construction industry by bringing smart concrete testing technologies and real-time data collection to the forefront of every jobsite. Giatec Scientific Inc., is revolutionizing the construction industry by bringing smart concrete testing technologies and real-time data collection to the forefront of every jobsite. We are bringing long-overdue change to a conservative industry by addressing the current challenges in concrete testing, analysis, design, and production.

Eliminating Field-Cured Cylinders to Prevent Project Delays

Alicia Hearns April 28, 2019

For project managers and contractors, there is nothing more frustrating than when a job is running behind schedule. Not only does it eat into your profits, it also impacts your company’s reputation. Frequent delays on site are a very common problem in the industry. According to KPMG International’s Global Construction Project Owner’s Survey “only 25% of projects come within 10% of their original deadlines”. Delays are often blamed by a number of different factors, including; unavailable resources, improper material handling, poor productivity, equipment breakdowns, and poor work quality resulting in rework (Paul Netscher). Therefore, despite your best efforts to organize a carefully planned project schedule, many of these setbacks are out of your control. A frequent cause of delays on jobsites, that is often overlooked, is the time-consuming process of testing the compressive strength of concrete. Get Your First SmartRock…

Breaking Records Left and Right at Bauma 2019

Alicia Hearns April 18, 2019

Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit Once every three years, bauma, the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building materials, mining machines, construction vehicles, concrete testing, and more, takes place. This year the show was held in Munich, Germany and was the biggest bauma ever in the exhibition’s 65-year history. Not only did a record-breaking 620,000 visitors attend (up by 40,000 in 2016), but attendees also came from over 200 countries. That’s more representatives than the United Nations! The top 10 visiting countries, after Germany, were: Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Great Britain.In 614,000 square meters of space, including room for a selfie tower and a Ferris wheel, it took 13,000 trucks and more than 600 heavyweight vehicles to construct the show, held at the Messe München….

Accelerated Bridge Construction with Lower Costs, Safer Job Sites

Alicia Hearns April 16, 2019

In the United States, one in four of the country’s 600,000 bridges require rehabilitation, repair, or replacement. As a result, faster, safer, and more economic bridge construction is a frequent topic of discussion. Technological developments, such as the use of wireless temperature and strength sensors and the practice of Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), have been growing in popularity as a means in which to save time on site and shorten project schedules. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit When it comes to testing the compressive strength of concrete, break tests are the most popular method. However, this practice is also very time-consuming. That is why more and more contractors have been turning to smart technology, like wireless concrete maturity sensors, to shorten project timelines. These sensors monitor the strength of in-situ concrete in real time,…

Assessing the Future: Job Site Robotics Are Quickly Gaining Ground

Alicia Hearns March 19, 2019

The introduction of advanced technologies and robotics have continued to increase in popularity in construction. With large-scale robotic solutions, these devices are transported to a job site to execute specific tasks. For example, Tybot automates the task of tying rebar intersections on bridges and other large structures. While these types of machines are useful, their place onsite brings up issues of safety and practicality. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit The development of lighter and more adaptable robots, such as “exoskeletons”, have also made their way to construction sites. These devices are being used to help workers ease repetitive stress on their bodies while working. For example, the EksoWorks Vest provides arm and shoulder support to alleviate the strain of lifting objects. This would allow workers to stay on the job longer and help increase…

How Testing Concrete Strength Onsite Can Accelerate Your Project Timeline

Alicia Hearns March 14, 2019

When it comes to testing concrete during placement, the most commonly used method for evaluating strength is the break test. Break tests require concrete sample cylinders to be subjected to high amounts of pressure in order to assess the material’s compressive strength. Although this test method is widely accepted, results found in the laboratory are often not representative of the in-situ element. Curing conditions, the size of the cylinders compared to the onsite concrete element, and transportation to the laboratory of field-cured specimens are all factors which can skew the setting, hardening and strength performance of the cylindrical concrete samples in comparison to the actual structural elements made from the same concrete material. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit Technological advancements in the area of online concrete monitoring have made it possible to obtain in-place…

The Importance of Monitoring Temperature During Post-Tensioning Time

Alicia Hearns November 27, 2018

What is Post-Tensioning Time?Concrete has compressive strength, meaning that it can withstand its own weight within a structure. However, it lacks tensile strength. Therefore, as soon as everyday loads are added to a concrete structure, such as vehicles on a bridge, the concrete struggles under the additional weight. This is due to the lack of flexibility, which leads to cracking and weakening of the structure. Usually, reinforcing steel, or rebar, is embedded in the concrete to provide passive reinforcement. But it does not bear any load or force until the concrete has already cracked. This is where post-tensioning time provides additional active reinforcement. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit Post-tensioning has gained significant popularity over the past 30 years, especially in modern high-rise buildings, industrial floors, and residential structures. Today, this technique is used extensively…

Giatec Expert to Steer Standardizing Corrosion Detection

May 12, 2020

Andrew Fahim, Head of Research & Development at Giatec, to Lead Development of Corrosion Testing Methods.Ottawa, Canada: Giatec, world leader in concrete testing technologies, has announced that their head of research and development, Andrew Fahim, M.Sc.E., has been chosen to join the ASTM WK68960 and ASTM G01.11.5: “New Test Method for Measuring Corrosion Rate of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete” committee.As no standard currently exists, this ASTM committee has been established to review and standardize proposed methods that will be used to measure the corrosion rate of uncoated reinforcing steel in field and laboratory concrete.Giatec’s authority in the field of concrete testing and corrosion detection led to Mr. Fahim’s appointment to the ASTM committee. Last year, the company’s non-destructive testing device, iCOR®, the most advanced wireless corrosion measurement device for evaluating the health of reinforced concrete structures, was presented the…

Giatec’s SmartRock® AI Assistant, Roxi™, to Validate Maturity Calibrations

March 24, 2020

Roxi, the First Artificial Intelligence Program for Concrete Testing, Now Verifies Maturity Calibrations & Mix ProportionsOTTAWA, Canada: Giatec, world leader in concrete testing technologies, has announced that their artificial intelligence program, Roxi™, has been trained with the ability to detect possible errors in concrete maturity calibrations and mix proportions.Roxi was the first AI program created for concrete testing. It was developed in conjunction with Montreal Institute of Learning Algorithms, Mila, Quebec’s World-Renowned Artificial Intelligence Institute. With the help of Mila and Giatec’s team of AI experts, Roxi provides new insights into concrete curing by using machine learning algorithms. With this latest update, Roxi can uncover human error that may occur when concrete mixes are set up for maturity calibration, offering suggestions to correct calibration data. This includes the ability to analyze concrete mix proportions such as specified strength, slump, and…

Giatec’s SmartRock® Plus Solution Enters the International Market

February 25, 2020

SmartRock Plus Program for Ready-Mix Producers Now Offered in SwedenOttawa, Canada: Giatec, world leader in concrete testing technologies, has announced that their SmartRock® Plus solution for ready-mix concrete producers is now available internationally.As a value-added solution offered by high-quality ready-mix producers, SmartRock Plus enables contractors to see concrete temperature and strength data in real-time using Giatec’s SmartRock wireless sensors, allowing producers to “know their concrete” beyond the pour.As the first truly wireless sensor introduced to the market in 2015, SmartRock is the leading concrete maturity sensor for accurate monitoring of concrete curing and hardening. Unlike time-consuming and error-prone break tests, or cumbersome wired sensors, Giatec’s patented maturity sensor uses a highly accurate ASTM-approved testing method. This has translated into faster, safer, and more economical concrete construction.Conventionally, contractors are left to their own devices when monitoring the curing conditions and quality…

Giatec’s SmartRock Sensor Wins Innovation Award by TCA

February 21, 2020

Wireless Maturity Sensor Honored in Toronto at Best of the Best AwardToronto, Canada: Giatec, world leader in concrete testing technology, is pleased to announce that they have received the “Innovation Award” at the Toronto Construction Association’s (TCA) annual “Best of the Best Awards” for their flagship product, SmartRock®.The “Innovation Award” is given annually to a company whose “extraordinary achievement during the year is genuinely precedent-setting in terms of innovation. What sets the winner apart is their willingness to think outside the box and devise new and improved ways to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges”.As the first truly wireless sensor introduced to the market in 2015, SmartRock is the leading concrete maturity sensor for accurate monitoring of concrete curing and hardening on the jobsite. Unlike time-consuming and error-prone cylinder break tests, or cumbersome wired probes, Giatec’s patented maturity sensor uses a highly…

Unveiling the World’s Most Advanced Concrete Sensor at WOC

February 3, 2020

Re-Designed SmartRock Delivers Breakthrough Innovations to Every JobsiteLas Vegas, USA: Giatec, world leader in concrete testing technology, announced today at World of Concrete 2020 that their flagship product, SmartRock®, has been completely re-designed, making it the World’s most powerful concrete sensor on the market.As the first truly wireless sensor introduced to the market in 2015, SmartRock® is the leading concrete maturity sensor for accurate monitoring of concrete curing and hardening. Unlike time-consuming and error-prone break tests, or cumbersome wired sensors, Giatec’s patented maturity sensor uses a highly accurate ASTM-approved testing method. This has translated into faster, safer, and more economical concrete construction – even in extreme weather conditions.We’ve been able to save owners and contractors tons of time and money with SmartRock since 2015 and are impressed with the continuous improvements of both the hardware and software” says Walter Flood,…

CIM Announces Items Available at 2020 Auction at WOC

Construction Equipment Guide | January 30, 2020

The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program — a business intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management — announced the following list of items that have been donated for its annual auction at World of Concrete. The auction is scheduled for Feb. 5 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The silent auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. PST in the North Hall Room N263 and the live auction begins at 1 p.m. PST next door in North Hall Room N262.View the items available including a box of SmartRock® wireless concrete sensors and a 2-year premium subscription to the Giatec 360 cloud-based dashboard.

Your Guide to World of Concrete 2020

Procore | January 21, 2020

With World of Concrete 2020 just around the corner, Procore is gearing up for one of the most expansive construction exhibits of the year. Attendees can look forward to networking with thousands of construction professionals from around the world. Not only does the event provide an incredible opportunity to meet other industry professionals, but the exhibit hall (including and indoor and outdoor space), is one of the most incredible spreads of construction technology, tools and equipment.Scouting new technology to help transform your 2020? Visit some of the 20+ Procore integration partners that are exhibiting at WOC, including Giatec!Giatec SmartRock’s (Booth N1451) Procore integration allows teams to share real time reports for all of their major concrete projects. SmartRock® is simple to install and gives teams the most accurate information to make critical decisions, drastically reducing project timelines.

Smart Sensor Allows for Quick, Real-time Strength Data

Forconstructionpros | December 30, 2019

Flood Testing Laboratories long ago bought into the maturity method, eliminating the need for concrete cylinder break tests. However, the tools available to monitor concrete maturity haven’t always met their needs.“We’ve been using the maturity method to monitor in-place concrete strength since 1985. The issue has been that we need something that is rugged enough in the field that will withstand the construction atmosphere but also as minimally noticeable as possible,” explains Walt Flood III, principal engineer at Flood Testing Labs. “We’ve tried to minimize the exposure of the sensor to workman so that it doesn’t get in the way. Their operation is going to be the more important operation even though they probably don’t realize how critical the sensors are.”The Chicago-based construction materials tester has tried many different sensors and tools over the years to combat this issue, from…

Giatec Scientific Inc. – Revolutionizing Concrete Testing Technologies

Constructor Magazine | November 25, 2019

Concrete gains strength much more slowly in cold weather, requiring the use of heaters and blankets to optimize curing conditions, or adding accelerators to achieve target strength values more rapidly. This makes temperature and strength monitoring of your in-situ concrete critical when weather conditions are not predictable. One method that lets you always know how your concrete is curing and hardening is wireless maturity sensors. They are ASTM-compliant and simple to use. Temperature and strength data are accessible in real-time on a mobile app, meaning you don’t need to worry about doing time-consuming break tests, or searching for wires.Learn how SmartRock® wireless sensors can help you build concrete structures faster, safer, and more economically, even in cold weather.

Best Ottawa Business Awards: Giatec for Best in Sustainability

Ottawa Business Journal | November 21, 2019

Ottawa Business Journal: Ottawa’s authoritative source of business news, covering tech, tourism, real estate and other key economic sectors in Canada’s capital discusses the 2019 Best Ottawa Business Awards (BOBs) where Giatec took home the award for best in sustainabiliy.

5th Annual Canadian FinTech & AI Awards 2019

Canadian FinTech & AI Awards | October 16, 2019

Giatec Scientific Inc. was among one of the nominations for “AI Company of the Year” at the “Canadian FinTech & AI Awards” in Toronto.Read more about this award below.

Construction Innovation Awards 2019 Nominations Announced

Construction Business News | October 8, 2019

Giatec Scientific Inc. was among one of the nominations for “Best Innovation in Construction” at the “Construction Innovation Awards 2019” in Dubai.Read the full list of nominees below.

Predict Concrete Strength Before You Pour

Canadian Concrete Expo | October 8, 2019

The use of data and analytics has permeated all aspects of construction, and concrete is no exception. The value of data and information is really showing itself in this industry.“For more than a decade, concrete contractors have been using sensors to collect data about the characteristics of concrete during the early stages of placement,” says Stuart Galloway, President, Canadian Concrete Expo. “Now, due to the collection of all this data and to the presence of automation, these technologies are reaching the point where they can be used to predict concrete characteristics/performance.”“Venture capital is pouring into automation and other digital technologies,” says Aali Alizadeh, Chief Product Officer, Giatec. “Our sensors have been used in more than 4,000 projects worldwide. We are gathering more and more data on concrete temperature and strengths. From these 4,000 projects, we have tens of thousands of…

Giatec Scientific Leads Ottawa Firms on Globe and Mail List of Top-Growing Companies

Ottawa Business Journal | September 27, 2019

The accolades just keep pouring in for an Ottawa-based concrete sensor developer that is the region’s highest-ranked firm in the Globe and Mail’s inaugural list of Canada’s top-growing companies.Giatec Scientific ?– which helps contractors measure the quality of concrete during construction and over the lifespan of a building by embedding sensors in concrete as it is poured ?– placed 74th on the newspaper’s top 400 list of the country’s fastest-growing firms with three-year revenue growth of 705 per cent.

Giatec Named Top Growing Company by the Globe and Mail

September 27, 2019

Giatec ranked No. 74 in field of 400 of Canada’s Top Growing Companies in 2019OTTAWA, Canada, September 27, 2019 (Newswire.com) – Giatec Scientific Inc. is pleased to announce they have placed No. 74 in the inaugural Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies. This list ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. Giatec earned its spot with a three-year growth of 705%. The recognition comes two weeks after Giatec was recognized by Canadian Business and Macleans in their 2019 Growth 500 List, ranking No. 103.Concrete is the second most-consumed material on the planet next to water and Giatec has become the recognized world leader in concrete testing technology. Founded in 2010, Giatec has leveraged advanced technologies such as; Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, including; wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps, and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT)….

Giatec’s SmartRock® Nominated at New Civil Engineer’s TechFest

September 26, 2019

SmartRock® shortlisted for TechFest’s Best Use of Technology: Driving Efficiency in Design and Delivery award. OTTAWA, Canada: Giatec, the market leader of revolutionary concrete testing technologies, is excited to be shortlisted by New Civil Engineer’s TechFest Awards in the category of “Best Use of Technology: Driving Efficiency in Design and Delivery” category. Founded in 2010, Giatec uses Internet of Things (IoT) and smart technologies to revolutionize the construction industry; combining wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT).Our flagship product, SmartRock®, which was introduced to the market in 2015, is the leading wireless concrete sensor for monitoring the temperature and strength of any concrete pour. Unlike time-consuming and error-prone cylinder break tests, or cumbersome wired sensors, SmartRock® is simple to install and gives construction teams the most accurate information to make critical decisions in real-time. Used in over…

Techopia Live: Ottawa’s Giatec Scientific Scaling Up With ‘Discipline’

Ottawa Business Journal | September 23, 2019

Fresh off its appearance on the 2019 Growth 500 list of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, Giatec Scientific sent its co-founder and chief technology officer Pouria Ghods to Techopia Live to break down what’s behind the concrete sensor developer’s rapid growth.Giatec, which is also one of Techopia’s tech firms to watch in 2019, helps contractors measure the quality of concrete during construction and over the lifespan of a building. By embedding sensors in concrete as it is poured, Giatec’s technology allows builders to check the quality of the concrete in real-time from a mobile app as opposed to the traditional, laborious process of sending samples to a lab and awaiting the results. “This concrete sensor technology empowers them to make a decision on the job site,” Ghods told Techopia Live. The sensors, which are used by the likes of Tomlinson and other…

Giatec Ranked No. 103 on Canadian Business’ 2019 Growth 500 List

September 12, 2019

Canadian Business unveils annual list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing CompaniesOTTAWA, Canada: Canadian Business and Maclean’s today ranked Giatec Scientific Inc. No. 103 on the 30th annual Growth 500 list, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Produced by Canada’s premier business and current affairs media brands, the Growth 500 ranks Canadian businesses on five-year revenue growth.“The companies on the 2019 Growth 500 are truly remarkable. Demonstrating foresight, innovation, and smart management, their stories serve as a primer for how to build a successful entrepreneurial business today. As we celebrate over 30 years of the Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies program, it’s encouraging to see that entrepreneurship is healthier than ever in this country” says Beth Fraser, Program Manager, Growth 500.Giatec is the market leader for wireless concrete sensors. Our technologies have been used in over 4,200 projects worldwide, across 80 countries. Founded in…

About Giatec

Giatec is a global company revolutionizing the construction industry by bringing smart testing technologies and real-time data collection to the forefront of every jobsite. Giatec’s suite of hardware and software products has leveraged advanced technologies such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), including wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps, and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT) to drive innovation throughout concrete’s lifecycle and reduce concrete’s carbon footprint.

Our suite of hardware and software products has leveraged advanced technologies such as; Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT), including; wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps, and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT) to drive innovation throughout concrete’s lifecycle.

Combining wireless concrete sensors and mobile apps, Giatec has developed smart IoT-based technologies, like SmartRock® concrete maturity sensors, for real-time monitoring of concrete properties. This provides critical information to contractors so they can make efficient and informed decisions on the jobsite, ultimately saving time and money. Ready-mix producers also leverage the SmartRock® Plus cloud, which gives them access to concrete performance data to optimize their mix designs.