IoT-altimeter in smart pallets for material tracking on multi-story construction sites

This paper introduces a smart tracking system that helps locate building materials on construction sites more efficiently, especially in multi-storey buildings where searching manually often wastes time and money. The system uses IoT technology with barometric sensors and LoRaWAN to measure height and identify which floor materials are on. A working prototype demonstrates its potential to improve material tracking. Next steps include testing the system on real construction sites and improving aspects like energy use, data synchronisation, and signal coverage to make it practical for large projects.

One of the biggest challenges on construction sites is keeping track of materials. In large, multi-storey buildings, workers often spend a significant amount of time just searching for the tools and materials they need. This not only slows down progress but also adds unnecessary costs to projects. The paper “IoT-Altimeter in Smart Pallets for Material Tracking on Multi-storey Construction Sites” introduces an innovative approach to solving this problem: smart pallets equipped with digital sensors.

The idea is simple but powerful. Standard pallets, which are already used to move and store materials, are upgraded with small electronic devices. These devices include barometric sensors—essentially digital altimeters—that can measure height based on air pressure. By doing this, the system can automatically detect which floor of a building the pallet is on. The data is then sent wirelessly through a low-energy communication system called LoRaWAN, making it accessible to site managers and workers.

A major achievement of this research is proving that the technology works in practice, at least under test conditions. The team built a demonstrator—a working prototype—that showed reliable results. The sensors were accurate enough to distinguish between different floors, which typically differ by three to four meters in height. Tests also confirmed that LoRaWAN could transmit the data effectively through the walls and floors of a building, without losing signals. This means the system can realistically operate reliably in the complex, noisy environment of a construction site.

Another strength of the concept is its practicality. Unlike many other tracking solutions, which require expensive infrastructure or fragile labels, this system is low-cost, robust, and easy to integrate into the way construction sites already work. Each smart pallet costs around 50 euros to build, and the battery can last for months before needing a recharge. Because the technology is built into the pallets themselves, it is also protected from wear and tear.

Of course, the project is still at an early stage. The system has been tested in controlled environments but not yet on real construction sites. There are challenges ahead, such as synchronising sensor measurements, ensuring reliable operation in very tall buildings, and developing efficient ways to recharge the batteries. Still, the research clearly shows the potential of the approach.

In the bigger picture, this innovation could help transform construction logistics. By providing real-time information about where materials are, it reduces wasted time, prevents delays, and allows better coordination between different teams. Over time, such systems could feed into digital models of construction sites, creating a “digital twin” that keeps everyone informed and makes projects run more smoothly.

In short, the paper demonstrates an exciting step toward smarter, more efficient construction sites. The smart pallet system combines low-cost hardware with clever use of IoT technology, showing that even simple tools like pallets can play a key role in modernising the construction industry.

This paper “IoT-Altimeter in Smart Pallets for Material Tracking on Multi-storey Construction Sites”was published in Smart Construction (ISSN: 2960-2033), a peer-reviewed open access journal dedicated to original research articles, communications, reviews, perspectives, reports, and commentaries across all areas of intelligent construction, operation, and maintenance, covering both fundamental research and engineering applications. The journal is now indexed in Scopus, and article submission is completely free of charge until 2026.

Citation:

Gehring M, Wala J and Rüppel U. IoT-Altimeter in Smart Pallets for Material Tracking on Multi-storey Construction Sites. Smart Constr. 2025(2):0003, https://doi.org/10.55092/sc20250023.