An IoT-Based Architecture for Real-Time Emission Monitoring at Construction Sites

The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while preserving operational efficiency. The widespread adoption of wireless sensing, processing, and communication technologies at construction sites marks a significant advancement, yet the use of real-time sensor data to decrease environmental footprints is still limited. This gap highlights the need to explore how site stakeholders and compliance regulators can effectively integrate emergent services, such as those enabled by Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, into their dynamic planning processes. In this paper, we present an IoT-based architecture designed for real-time emission monitoring at construction sites to enhance environmental sustainability and operational effectiveness. We demonstrate the use of this architecture with an illustrative scenario, named “EcoWatch”, which employs a single-board computer connected to a variety of IoT-enabled sensors to monitor key pollutants, including CO2, particulate matter, temperature, and humidity. EcoWatch is both customizable and scalable, offering potential benefits for regulatory compliance and operational efficiency within the construction sector. The capability to deliver real-time data insights enables stakeholders to implement proactive environmental management strategies, potentially contributing to advancing sustainable practices in the construction industry.