Sarah McGuire

Senior Director SmartRock Plus Division at Giatec | Smart Concrete Testing Technologies. Passionate about concrete and bringing Giatec's revolutionary technology to the industry for all to benefit from. 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.

Concrete-Eating Robots – The Future of Recycling Old Buildings

Sarah McGuire January 29, 2021

The process of demolishing a building involves heavy machinery to crush concrete and separate valuable materials that can be reused. Current methods consume quite a significant amount of time and money in order to safely disassemble the building, extract parts, and transport the materials to off-site centers for repurposing. Furthermore, these processes use a large volume of water to prevent dust clouds from forming as a result of the demolition. Seeing this problem as an opportunity for innovation, a Swedish designer by the name of Ömer Haciömeroğlu aims to reduce the time, money, and materials needed in demolition with his innovative concrete-eating robots. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit “The ERO [short for “erosion”] Concrete Recycling Robot was designed to efficiently disassemble concrete structures without any waste, dust or separation and enable reclaimed building materials to be reused for new prefabricated concrete buildings,” explains their creator, “It does so by using a water jet to crack the concrete surface, separate the waste and package…

Salt Damages to Concrete Roads Outweighs its Benefits

Sarah McGuire December 15, 2020

Winter in colder climates such as Canada, Alaska, and the Upper Mid-West entails treacherous and unpredictable driving conditions, with snow and ice build-up making roads unsafe. For over 70 years, the solution to this problem has been to cover roads with sodium chloride…

Detect the Rate of Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures in Seconds

Sarah McGuire July 17, 2020

Corrosion is a natural process that begins when the steel rebar within reinforced concrete starts to rust. According to ACI, “corrosion occurs when the protective layer in concrete steel reinforcement is destroyed. Steel in concrete is usually protected against corrosion by the high pH of the surrounding portland-cement paste.” However, there are chemicals that can destroy the protective layer, making it susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion is very destructive to the lifespan and durability of your concrete structure, which is why it is crucial to regularly check for corrosion, which can be done with corrosion detection sensors. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit How are you currently monitoring corrosion in reinforced concrete? Does it involve drilling a hole in your structure, sticking a probe in, and using a logger to collect data that needs to be…

Potholes—An Expensive and Recurring Problem for Cities

Sarah McGuire June 26, 2020

Potholes are a huge problem all over North America, but nowhere are the detrimental effects more evident than in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. According to CTV News, the city experienced over 40 freeze-thaw cycles during the 2018-2019 winter, which created tens of thousands of potholes that need to be fixed. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit How Potholes Form: Explaining the Freeze-Thaw CycleDuring the freeze-thaw cycle, the water in concrete can expand by about 9%. As this happens pressure increases, and if pressure exceeds the tensile strength of concrete damage will occur. The thawing process that follows causes the pavement to contract and crack, furthering the damage. This repetitive cycle, combined with high volumes of traffic, can cause cracking, crumbling, and major potholes on road surfaces.Click here to find out how recycled tires can help repair…

An Analysis of Modern Bridge Inspection Technologies

Sarah McGuire May 29, 2020

Damaged and deteriorating bridges are a major concern when it comes to transportation infrastructures. According to the ARTBA Bridge Report, “1 in 3 U.S. bridges need repair or replacement” and there are over 46,100 that are considered to be structurally deficient. Each year millions of dollars are spent on keeping these bridges structurally sound and functional. Damage to bridges are a result of a number of factors, including; exposure to harsh environment conditions, variable loading and vibration, the presence of chlorides in de-icing salts, and more. In order to ensure the safety of these structures, a variety of both destructive and non-destructive technologies are used to both detect damage and repair it (Sika). Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit 6 Methods for Inspecting Bridge Damage and DeteriorationVisual InspectionMethod: Inspecting the structure with the naked eye…

Why Project Managers Value SmartRock® Plus Concrete Sensors

Sarah McGuire March 3, 2020

SmartRock® Plus is the next level in online concrete monitoring and branded concrete mix design, helping ready-mix producers differentiate their company, and mixes, within their local markets. However, this service doesn’t just help producers, it also helps contractors and field personnel eliminate the need for field-cured break tests, and saving valuable time in their schedules with using pre-calibrated mixes. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit When SmartRock Plus partners prepare a mix design, they pre-calibrate their mixes with SmartRock wireless sensors using cylinder break tests. Once this data has been collected, it is uploaded to the cloud interface where it can be accessed by the contractor onsite via the SmartRock Plus mobile app. By purchasing SmartRock Plus from these ready-mix producers, contractors have the potential to select suitable mixes designed for their specific project specifications and timeline. This is especially useful when working on high-rise projects, post-tensioned concrete, fast-track pavement repairs, and…

SmartRock® Plus: Helping Producers ‘Know Their Concrete’ Beyond the Pour

Sarah McGuire February 25, 2020

Since its commercial takeoff in the last three decades, the use of maturity sensors has historically been driven by contractors. In deploying this testing method on their jobsite, contractors get real-time temperature and strength data directly on their mobile devices, allowing them to make quick decisions. Before the use of mobile applications this was not a simple task. Now, with the incorporation of new technology and software, the simplicity of SmartRock’s sensors has solved a lot of existing challenges, such as costly third-party testing and project delays. However, the biggest hurdle that continues to be encountered when introducing the simplicity of this technology, revolves around the education and training of conducting calibration curves. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit This challenge is what inspired our SmartRock® Plus solution (formerly Smart Concrete) in collaboration with Stoneway…

The Impact of Thermal Cracking on Concrete Strength Development

Sarah McGuire October 3, 2019

Concrete temperature monitoring becomes more critical in cold weather as low temperatures decrease the rate of strength development during curing. That is why ensuring optimal curing conditions for your element is critical, especially during extreme weather conditions. The hydration process can be drastically impacted if freshly placed concrete is exposed to temperatures that are too high or too low, compromising the strength development of a mix design. Furthermore, if the temperature differentials are too high, thermal cracking can occur. By closely monitoring temperature variances in your concrete element during curing you will ensure that the strength, quality, and durability of your structure is acceptable. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit How Do Thermal Cracks Form?Thermal cracking occurs when the tensile stress of the concrete exceeds its tensile strength. In more basic terms, differences in temperature…

Avoid Thermal Shock and Cracking by Monitoring Temperature in Precast Concrete

Sarah McGuire November 16, 2018

Precast concrete is concrete which has been poured in a reusable mold or form and is then cured outside of a job site, such as a precast plant, and later transported and lifted or ‘tilted’ into place. Plants which manufacture precast concrete do so under controlled conditions in a facility dedicated to efficient and economical production. This method of construction is often used to speed up a project, reducing on-site labor, waste, and disturbances. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit What affects concrete curing temperature?Controlling temperature is important for fresh concrete as it can affect cement hydration reactions, setting time, compressive strength gain, and workability. Higher temperatures during the first few days of curing promote faster early strength gain but can reduce 28-day strength. Concrete strength continues to increase throughout a product’s life as remaining…

Choosing the Right Tablet for Your Construction Projects

Sarah McGuire May 3, 2018

In today’s digital world, the use of tablets in the business environment is becoming increasingly popular. This is true for the construction industry as well, where tablets are being used to give contractors and engineers access to data on the go during various building and infrastructure projects. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit Technological advancements such as cloud databases and expanding WiFi coverage are allowing engineers and construction workers to input, collect, and analyze project data in the field and subsequently share this data easily with team members. It is no longer necessary to fill out physical log books or drive to the office to manually upload data. Here are just a few examples of the efficient use of technology in the field: SmartRock®: Concrete smart sensors for real-time monitoring of concrete properties XCell™: A…

Increase Concrete Durability by Keeping Water Out

Sarah McGuire April 11, 2018

With concrete being the world’s most popular construction material, it’s clear why we must always push to find new ways of improving its inherent durability. And there’s no better to do this than to protect it from its nemesis—water. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit Why Is Water Bad for Concrete?When water accumulates on a concrete surface, it can infiltrate the pores and cause concrete cracking. It’s not surprising that roads are in constant need of repair in climates that experience frequent freezing and thawing cycles.Thankfully, researcher Konstantin Sobolev, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), has designed a solution: water-repellent concrete.How Does Water-Repellent Concrete Work?Typically when you have water buildup on a concrete surface, the water will start to seep into the concrete—slowly but surely. With water-resistant concrete, however, water…

How Recycled Tires Can Put an End to Potholes Forever!

Sarah McGuire April 6, 2018

Concrete and asphalt are the main materials that are used to pave the roads that paint our landscapes throughout the globe and connect us to one another. Every driver, bus dweller, and sidewalk trekker knows that where there are paved pathways, there are potholes. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit What Are Potholes?Technically speaking, potholes are structural failures in a road surface caused primarily by the presence of water in the underlying soil as well as the wear from passing traffic. These defects can damage a tire or a wheel and lead to very serious accidents.In Ottawa, Ontario alone, hundreds of pothole claims are made each year. With each claim comes the demand for repair, and with repair demands comes the need for adequate resources.Dr. Bonaso of Mechanical Concrete has recently come out with a…

4 Uses of SmartRock® Plus for Prestressed Concrete Producers

Sarah McGuire May 30, 2017

SmartRock® Plus was originally designed for ready mix producers, however, prestressed concrete producers now also see a lot of opportunity in this technology. There are four ways prestressed producers can take advantage of the SmartRock® Plus technology for real-time monitoring of temperature, strength, and maturity. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit 1) Temperature Monitoring: Many specifications and DOT requirements necessitate recording concrete temperatures during initial curing. SmartRock® Plus is built to do just that in a very robust, durable module. Each sensor will record temperatures for up to 31 days and report current temperature to the cell phone app for up to 4 months.2) More Efficient Use of Quality Control Staff: Many specifications require that a cylinder be broken before a bed can be released. When using heated cylinder methods to measure when a bed…

Road Salt Meets its Match With a New Type of Concrete

Sarah McGuire May 25, 2017

More Durable Concrete That Doesn’t React to SaltIt has been a known fact for engineers that road salt, used as a de-icing agent every winter to protect the roads from the dangerous build-up of ice, are also responsible for the slow degradation of the concrete to which these roads are made of. Each winter where temperature fluctuations facilitate the build-up of ice due to the cycle of snowing, melting and freezing, roads are constantly being layered with calcium chloride salt. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit The issue lies in the fact that calcium chloride reacts with what is known as calcium hydrate – an ingredient found in concrete, and creates by product compound called calcium oxychloride. This chemical has the tendency to expand as it forms and so when this happens in the pore…

Could SmartRock® Plus Replace Concrete Cylinders for Acceptance Testing?

Sarah McGuire May 8, 2017

In a typical construction project, the strength of the concrete is assumed to be the same as the strength of the cylinders cast from that same load of concrete. Cylinders are made in the field, by a technician and cured under standard conditions. The cylinders are not intended to measure the concrete in the structure, but rather as a check on whether the concrete producer batched the correct material. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit The problem with this cylinder break tests is that they are based on too many assumptions and fail too often. So, is there a better method for testing concrete in the field? Perhaps a method that analyzes the concrete in the structure itself?Using the Maturity Method to Estimate Concrete StrengthSmartRock® Plus is based on the concrete maturity function, a 65-year-old…

SmartRock® Plus: Real-Time Concrete Strength

Sarah McGuire May 8, 2017

Why would anybody need to know the strength of their concrete at any given moment on the jobsite? Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit In the construction world, time is money. The faster a project can reach completion, the more profitable it is for the owner, contractor, and concrete producer. By knowing the strength of the concrete, contractors can move to the next step in the process, along the critical path, and hasten a project towards completion.So, who would want to know real-time concrete strength?Some obvious people include contractors doing post-tensioned concrete, high rise construction, fast-track paving, concrete pavement repairs, and large industrial work. But this list also includes concrete wall contractors, foundation contractors, and those that just don’t trust the testing lab on site to do a good job.

Who Can Benefit from the SmartRock® Plus Solution?

Sarah McGuire May 8, 2017

Speeding up Construction Projects with SmartRock® PlusSmartRock® Plus is designed to speed up construction on projects incorporating critical path concrete. The days saved on a schedule can benefit the developer, the contractors, and the concrete producer. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit For property developers, the time of construction costs money in interest paid on construction loans and lost revenue from not having the facility open to rent-paying tenants or for businesses. By speeding up the construction process with SmartRock® Plus, these costs can be reduced to the developer and make the project more profitable.Similarly, construction costs for contractors can be reduced by incorporating SmartRock® Plus into the project. By speeding up the project, costs of equipment rental, form rental and labor can be reduced.When a concrete producer wins a project, they know they’ll get…

Space Concrete and the Future of Colonies on Mars

Sarah McGuire May 8, 2017

An Alternative To Shipping Tonnes of Concrete To MarsWith NASA predicting that humans will set foot on Mars for the first time by the year 2030, it comes as no surprise that the next step would be to initiate colonization on the red planet. And with the prospects of colonization comes the need for construction materials to build our Martian headquarters. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit But not so fast… how on earth do we plan on providing the time and resources required to ship the thousands of tonnes of concrete material necessary to build a sustainable Martian economy? And how do we plan on accounting for the showers of micrometeorites that constantly bombard the surface of Mars which would quickly punch holes into any ordinary structure we find on Earth?As it is logistically…

Giatec to Participate in 48Hrs in the Valley Summer 2017

April 27, 2017

What better way to feed and grow the Canadian innovative economy than to learn from today’s top business leaders?San Francisco, California, USA, June 20, 2017 – Giatec Scientific Inc. is honoured to be one of 21 amazing start-up companies selected to partake in an immersive two-days of invaluable networking, learning and sharing.48Hrs in the Valley Summer 2017 is a semi-annual event wherein a group of the most promising start-up companies across Canada are brought together to the city of San Francisco to participate in an in-depth program aimed at facilitating the acceleration of Canada’s innovation economy.C100, a non-profit, member-driven association of Canadian Business leaders based in the San Francisco area, deliberated over hundreds of nominations of Canadian companies and carefully chose this years’ group to take part in an exciting two days of breakout sessions, workshops, networking, investor meetings, speaker…

The Precast Show 2017

February 3, 2017

Date: March 2-4, 2017Location: Huntington Convention Center of ClevelandCleveland, OH United StatesThe Precast Show is the largest precast show in North America and this year it will be leaving its mark in Cleveland, Ohio at the Huntington Convention Center. This is the one place where you can find the foremost equipment experts and the industry’s most important suppliers all under the same roof! New products will be introduced by top suppliers as well as provide attendees with an exciting, hands-on experience with the latest products in all sectors of the industry. In addition to the 3 day trade show, there will also be seminars and advanced educational courses and many networking opportunities.The Giatec team looks forward to seeing you all at this year’s show! Be sure to stop by our booth at Booth #1172 !Get more information here: http://precast.org/theprecastshow/

World of Concrete – Vegas 2017

January 7, 2017

World of Concrete is the most important annual event of the year for the entire concrete and masonry industries! WOC features special product and action areas such as the Producing Center – a marketplace of materials, equipment, demos and seminars, as well as Technology for Construction. Technology for Construction features the newest products and tools for the construction industry!This year, Giatec is proud to be a part of the WOC convention! We will be featuring our newest concrete testing solutions such as the Smart Concrete and SmartRock2 for wireless monitoring of concrete properties. Our revolutionary corrosion detection device, iCOR, will also be showcased. In addtion, we will be announcing a new concrete sensor! Please visit our Booth #S13418 in the South Hall for a hands-on experience with these technologies and to receive exclusive WOC offers.Why attend this year’s WoC? Get…

ICRI 2017 Spring Convention

December 2, 2016

With the theme of “Highways and Bridges”, the ICIR Spring 2017 convention will be held in Montreal, March 15-17, 2017.

NACE International Corrosion 2017 Conference

December 1, 2016

Date: March 26 – 30, 2017Location: New Orleans, Louisiana | Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterCORROSION is the world’s largest corrosion conference and exposition and CORROSION 2017 is coming to New Orleans. Each year CORROSION welcomes more than 6,000 corrosion engineers, scientists, researchers, technicians, asset owners, inspectors, and other professionals from over 60 countries across the world. This comprehensive conference is filled to the brim with technical education and knowledge exchange plus opportunities to connect with industry experts and peers focused on the prevention and mitigation of corrosion worldwide.Giatec is proud to be showcasing our corrosion testing devices at this year’s conference! Come visit us at our Booth #2618!

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017

December 1, 2016

Date: March 7 – March 11, 2017Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USACONEXPO-CON/AGG is an exhibition is an international gathering place that takes place every three years for the construction industries, with a focus on construction, aggregates and ready mixed concrete. The event features exhibits of the latest technologies and innovations in equipment, products and services plus extensive industry-targeted education. With more than 700 new exhibitors this year, exhibits will showcase the latest technologies and innovations in equipment, products and services for the construction industries. Product concentration areas make it easy for visitors to locate specific products, services and exhibitors of interest.

Construct Canada

November 7, 2016

North America’s Largest Exposition, Networking and Educational EventDate: November 30 – December 2, 2016Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, CanadaThe 28th Annual Construct Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 30th – December 2nd, 2016 will be held concurrently with PM Expo, HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo and World of Concrete Pavilion in the South Building, and IIDEXCanada in the North Building. All shows combined will create The Buildings Show, North America’s largest exposition, networking and educational event. Visit 1,600+ exhibits, including 100+ international exhibitors, bringing the latest in design and construction innovation in products, technologies, best practices and applications.

The Big 5 Dubai

November 7, 2016

Date: November 21 – 24 2016Location: Dubai World Trade CenterWith more than 3,000 exhibitors from across the globe, this year the Big 5 has made it even easier for you to find the products you need and the best suppliers to do business with! Furthermore, the brand new floorplan layout, based on the new dedicated product sectors will now highlight the following:• MEP Services• Building Interiors & Finishes• Building Envelope & Special Construction• Construction Tools & Building Materials• Smart Building & Design TechnologiesThe Big 5 continues to be the first and foremost choice for construction industry professionals. Don’t miss out on the chance to seek out key suppliers, products and technologies – and all under one roof!

Sao Paulo Expo a Grand Success

September 27, 2016

From the 24th to the 26th of August, this year’s Concrete Show was held in the vibrant municipality of Sao Paulo, Brazil – and was proven to be greatly successful. With an increase in presence of more than 20%, visitors were mostly comprised of top level executives, managers, university faculty members, technicians, laboratory managers, manufacturer representatives and more. Based on past success, The South American Concrete Show has been an ideal platform for launching new products, generating new interest and networking and this year was no different! Here, we featured our latest technology in concrete testing devices, including the Giatec iCORTM and Giatec SmartRockTM devices.Newly partnered with MTS Sistemas do Brasil Ltda, we were also granted the privilege of co-exhibiting at this event with their dynamic team to introduce our technology. From the team at Giatec we would all like…

Excellence in Concrete Solutions Award

September 20, 2016

Giatec wins the Excellence in Concrete Solutions Award in recognition of its latest developments of smart NDT devices and wireless sensors for concrete testing.

ACI Webinar / The Maturity Method

August 3, 2016

There are a lot of reasons to attend a webinar such as convenience, CEUs, learning from experts and affordability.

Concrete Show South America – Brazil

July 18, 2016

In its 10th edition, it is recognized by the worldwide market as the most important meeting point for concrete production chain in Latin America.

The Concrete Convention and Exposition

July 16, 2016

The ACI Convention is devoted to bringing together the leaders in the concrete industry. These individuals work to improve the design, construction, maintenance, and

Maintenance & Resilience TOKYO

July 15, 2016

The event offers a great opportunity to meet visitors for making business meetings and technical information exchanges to the exhibitors who are engaged in

LankaBuild 2016

June 13, 2016

Sri Lanka’s No. 1 International Infrastructure & Development Show will be held from 12-14 August 2016 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre (SLECC).

World Conference on Non-Destructive Testing

June 13, 2016

Held in Munich, Germany from June 13 – 17, the conference will be taking place at the Internationales Congress Center Munchen (ICM).

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.

Sarah McGuire

About Giatec

Wireless Sensors and NDT Technologies

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