In the construction industry, environmental monitoring is the measurement and analysis of environmental conditions both on and around the work site. Environmental monitoring enables construction and infrastructure projects to ensure compliance with environmental plans, permits and other regulations, while mitigating and minimizing environmental impact.

The monitoring and management of environmental conditions also helps to protect against potential claims, it may even be a legal obligation on some construction sites, and responsible contractors are often favoured by clients. So the ability to demonstrate the environmental commitment by considering the potential impact of the construction site on the surrounding environment is becoming increasingly important.

At the same time, like many other industries, the construction industry is under constant pressure to improve productivity, reduce costs, and minimize waste in the operation. Contractors can use data gathered by a monitoring system not only to put accurate and proportionate actions in place to minimise environmental disruption and nuisance, but also as a tool to improve productivity.

Advantages of a permanent monitoring system

Unlike grab sampling by monitoring personnel, a permanent monitoring system continuously monitors the values to ensure that the parameters measured remain within acceptable levels or alert personnel to rapidly changing conditions.

A permanent monitoring system removes the need for time consuming hand held surveys or specialist consultants, but offers many other additional advantages.

It can also alert users to potentially unsafe working conditions at remote sites, allowing teams to allocate resources to work-safe sites and eliminate wasted journeys.

Not all permanent monitoring systems are the same

NIHON KASETSU has more than 50 years’ experience in the construction industry in Japan, providing engineered solutions for structures, formwork, scaffolding, powered access, construction wastewater treatment and monitoring systems. The Company has operated its own rental fleet for 25 years, and it is with this knowledge that 12 years ago developed its first eComo Monitoring System, suited to meet the demanding needs of the construction and civil engineering projects.

Not all permanent monitoring systems are the same, most of the systems in the market are not really adaptable and require an expert engineer to be installed and set up

Now, last eComo Monitoring System version, integrates a robust modular architecture, powerful online tools, a wide range of sensors, detectors and communication features that work together providing unprecedented monitoring capabilities, covering the full spectrum of construction and civil engineering needs.

Some of the features that make eComo Monitoring System unique are:

Accurate, robust and reliable

IP66 casings, military-type metal connectors, shielded cables or insensitivity to electrical noise, are standard features in any eComo Monitoring System. Aimed at the construction and civil engineering rough environments, eComo offers a rugged, reliable and flexible package that has been engineered for long-term deployment, making it particularly suited to remote and unattended monitoring in tough environments.

Endless range of sensors

eComo System has been developed to be able to manage a large number of separate physical and environmental factors thanks to its modularity. Parameters that typically can be controlled are: Noise sensor, gases concentration (NO, NO2, H2S, CO, CO2, SO, VOCs, etc), dust and airborne particulate levels, wind speed and direction, temperature, pressure, rainfall, vibration, concrete curing temperature, water level, water flow, water quality (pH and turbidity), etc.

NIHON KASETSU offers a wide range of sensors as part of eComo System, but the customers have the freedom to connect and use their own sensors if they want to, as eComo is an open system able to manage any commercial sensor with analogue output.

Plug & Play: no need to be an expert on electronics

eComo System is open, flexible and perfectly suited for a rental operation in the construction sector. But one of its main advantages is that it is extremely easy to set up and use by anyone, without any specific knowledge about electronics.

eComo hardware doesn’t have any cable compression gland connections, all the hardware and cable connections are made through military-type metal connectors. It is not even necessary to use a screwdriver to install an eComo System. Once installed, all the configuration is made through the online platform and its user friendly menus.

Online platforms: all the information available at one click

The whole eComo System is managed from NIHON KASETSU online Admin and User platforms, sophisticated web-based suite of tools and reporting functions that allows owners to set up the devices, and users to monitor instrument readings in real time. It gives users a clear overview of all data on a single dashboard page or on multilevel pages. Data can be viewed as numerical indicators and as trend lines on graphs. It is also possible to export historical data and overlay readings and charts to compare recent with historical data or correlate across different sensors even in units placed in different locations.

Users may have different access privileges and can predefine value thresholds for any of the sensors to alert nominated users by email, making eComo System a valuable tool in ensuring safety and pre-empting crises. At the same time, eComo is able to manage onsite outputs linked to those thresholds, triggering for instance the action of acoustic or light warning signals, opening barriers or hatches, or activating any device or machine.

Cameras

Webcams are excellent tools for taking pictures at a project site at regular intervals, or when triggered to do so. eComo System can integrate a wide range of cameras that can be viewed live in the User Platform either separately or included in a project Dashboard. eComo can be set to monitor the webcam’s FTP image site, to read new images and store in its database and to make the images available for viewing by web-based user.

Off-grid operation for remote sites

eComo System has a range of power supply options to increase its deployment options. The system uses standard 240VAC power, but it is also fitted with a 12VDC plug to be connected to a solar power kit. Where mains power is unavailable, unreliable or unsuitable, eComo System can be configured with a range of low voltage DC power kits that enable the system to operate continuously and entirely off-grid in remote or inaccessible work sites.

NIHON KASETSU is proud of providing a comprehensive guide and technical support to help clientes make the best possible choices. Don’t hesitate to contact us and our engineers will be pleased to help you find the optimal solution for your project.