On the verge of a global summit aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG), Giatec, an innovator for building more sustainable concrete, announced a strategy based on a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to cut at least 400 million tons annually of GHG emissions, the equivalent of taking 110 million cars off the road.
Every year, 20 billion tons (10 billion cubic yards) of concrete is produced globally, making it the number one product created by humans. This translates to approximately two billion tons of GHG emissions.
Giatec believes its strategy can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20% by getting the construction industry to accept new ways to design concrete mixes.
After three years and well over $3 million in research efforts, Giatec launched SmartMix, the world’s first web-based AI program that applies millions of data points worldwide: the richest concrete dataset assembled. The data comes from embedded wireless sensors developed by Giatec. SmartMix analyzes all the variables for a project’s specifications and creates the best mix to reduce cement use and still meet performance expectations.
Cement is the “glue” that holds together the ingredients of concrete. Nearly a pound of CO2 is produced for every pound of cement made. That accounts for approximately 8% of global GHG emissions.
The strategy is laid out by Aali Alizadeh, co-founder and CTO of Giatec: “Our goal is to revolutionize the concrete industry. Our vast database with millions of data points enables SmartMix to make accurate decisions, optimizing costs and the environmental impact of concrete.”
Giatec is leading the way with the following: extending the SmartMix AI program that calculates the ideal amount of cement and chemical additives for any mix specifications and reduces CO2 emissions; innovating smart sensors which provide decision-making data, digitalizing the industry to help save time, money, and tons of concrete waste; mobilizing the brightest minds in sustainable construction at Giatec’s annual Net Zero Construction Conference; educating the industry with an ever-growing resource library aimed at teaching advanced concrete techniques; and planting one tree for every product order shipped worldwide to offset the impact of GHG emissions.
There will be an expected surge in concrete production over the next few years as post-COVID recovery plans take place including new infrastructure work. Giatec believes now is the time to start making changes that reduce GHG emissions of concrete production.
