The global pandemic that hit our North American shores early in 2020 has brought profound change to how we work, live, and operate in the construction industry. Many companies weathered the storm, and those that did it the best relied on their resiliency to not only adapt to…
Reduce Heat Curing Cost of Concrete in Winter Using the Maturity Method
Every year, the construction industry goes through a recurring cycle. During summer, construction worksites explode in number and activity. This is the time when concrete strength development occurs at a steady pace. The summer weather contributes and does not slow concrete strength gain. This blog will walk you through some methods commonly used to ensure strength,…
Curing Boxes vs. The Maturity Method: Maintaining Concrete Temperature Onsite
Concrete curing temperature is undoubtedly a critical part of construction. According to a report by ACI Committee 308, the American Concrete Institute defines “curing” as “the process by which hydraulic-cement concrete matures and develops hardened properties over time.” This process can be negatively impacted if freshly placed concrete…
Salt on Concrete Roads Damage Outweighs the Benefits
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…
SmartRock 2 VS. SmartRock 3: What’s the Difference Between these Concrete Sensors?
By now, you might have noticed that we recently released a newly re-engineered version of our leading concrete sensor. This flagship product, SmartRock®, was introduced to the market back in 2015. In September of 2020, we were thrilled to release the third generation. The purpose of this blog…
Building Clean Energy: Mass Concrete Temperature Monitoring with SmartRock®
As global initiatives to go carbon-neutral continue to push the demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources, many are looking to wind farms as a green solution to energy needs. Wind power has been used as an energy source for centuries – from windmills grinding grain to sailboats traversing bodies of water. However, as more and more of…
Dallas Bridge Margaret McDermott Eliminates Testing to Save Money
Photo by Art Davis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Margaret McDermott Dallas Bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas, was intended to replace the I-30 bridge built in the late 50s to early 60s. The bridge cost over $100 million to build and features a…
Wired vs. Wireless Concrete Temperature and Strength Sensors
Since the commercialization of the maturity method, there have been important advancements in monitoring and computing technologies such as a simple thermocouple for concrete, wireless sensors, manual data entry, cloud sharing systems, and more. When deciding between wired or wireless loggers to measure the temperature and strength of…
Coring vs. Maturity? What’s the Best Way to Test Concrete Strength?
The quality of your concrete directly depends on proper curing and accurate strength tests. While there are several different methods used to test concrete strength, not all of them are equally efficient. Below, we compare two methods of strength testing: concrete coring and concrete maturity. For more methods,…
Mastering Post-Tensioning in Cold Weather Conditions with Smart Technology
Post-tensioning is a critical component of modern construction, providing the structural strength needed for large-scale buildings and infrastructure projects. However, when cold weather enters the equation, it can create significant challenges in ensuring the success of this process. Low temperatures slow down concrete curing and strength development, making…
Monitoring Concrete Temperature With Wireless Sensors
Monitoring the temperature of your pour after placement is one of the most important steps in the construction of a concrete structure. That is why ensuring optimal curing conditions for your element is critical, especially during extreme weather conditions. The hydration process (the chemical reaction between hydraulic cement…
Remotely Monitor Your Concrete Structures in Cold Weather
During the winter months, when snow has taken over every inch of not only your driveway, but also your jobsite, it can be incredibly frustrating to carry on with regular construction operations. If you are working on a concrete structure, the process of monitoring temperature and strength of…
The Limitations of the Concrete Maturity Method
As a company that develops and produces concrete testing equipment, we can’t stress how important it is to properly test concrete with reliable equipment. In the last decade, we’ve seen the arrival of real-time sensors that make it easier than ever to gather data and put it to…
How IoT Is Revolutionizing the Concrete Industry
The construction industry is experiencing a massive shift, with the Internet of Things (IoT) at the forefront of innovation. This transformation is particularly evident in concrete construction, where IoT is reshaping how we build, monitor, and maintain structures. At Giatec, we are excited to lead the charge in…
Giatec continues to uphold the value of bridging the gap between academic research and sustainable construction on the jobsite. Every year, we recognize civil engineering students, researchers and faculty across Canada and the U.S. with the Giatec Best Paper Award for Sustainability in Construction. Below is a summary of…
Role of IoT-Based Technology for Testing Concrete Strength and Temperature
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? You may have heard the phrase but don’t really know what it means. Don’t worry, it is much less complicated than you may think! This article defines the concept very simply as “taking all the things in the world and connecting…
Concrete Maturity vs. Concrete Cylinder Test: Which Method is More Effective?
When it comes to any construction project that requires the use of concrete, whether it’s a hospital, residential building, road, bridge, or dam, concrete strength testing is an essential step in ensuring the integrity and durability of a structure. Furthermore, whether or not a project will move forward…
What Is Post-Tensioning and How Does It Affect Concrete Strength?
Understanding Compressive Strength vs. Tensile Strength Ensuring your concrete is durable and stable isn’t just about achieving an acceptable level of compressive strength, which is the concrete’s ability to withstand loads that crush or squeeze it. You also need to consider its tensile strength, and the concrete’s ability…
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