Las Vegas, NV

March 3-7, 2026

Open Menu
Close Menu

Critical Advances in Concrete

Share:

12/26/2018

Concrete is advancing in two critical ways. First, new systems are emerging, enabling construction professionals to remotely collect data from jobsites. Second, concrete—the material itself—is also advancing.

Monitoring Platforms

Addressing the first, concrete monitoring platforms can eliminate the need for trips to jobsites to collect data or samples for testing, which improves quality, minimizes delays, and reduces on-site labor cost.

For instance, AOMS LumiCon system consists of a sensor cable, which collects distributed temperature and moisture data along the length of the sensor cable to generate a 3D map of data from any concrete slab. The cables can be used in multiple concrete projects, reducing the capital cost of concrete construction.

Another key benefit is the fact that this type of technology reduces the labor cost for sensor installation and data collection. Further, it offers cloud-based data management and analytics capabilities that are enabled with LTE connectivity and a platform.

While this is one example, there are a number of concrete monitoring platforms available on the market, giving construction professionals a tool for collecting data about the material.

Materials Advance

The second way concrete is advancing is the material itself is changing. A crystalline admixture can reduce permeability in concrete by permanently sealing microcracks, pores, and capillaries, effectively protecting the concrete against water penetration and the effects of deterioration. This can extend the concrete durability and service life.

One example of this is on the City Springs project in the town of Sandy Springs, a suburb of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The project features a civic center with city offices, a performing arts center, retail, and more, all atop an underground parking facility.

The below grade concrete structure needed protection from the groundwater at the site, and thus the general contractor leveraged a waterproofing solution and PENETRON-enhanced shotcrete was sprayed on the below-grade foundation walls.

While these are just a few examples, concrete is evolving, all with the help of new emerging technologies, enabling more durable structures.

Join over 32,000 industry peers who receive construction industry news and trends each week. Subscribe to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 365.

Subscribe to the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 365 weekly newsletter to receive more great stories like this.