1) Monitoring of Construction Materials

2) Monitoring of Major Hazard Sources at Construction Sites

3) Monitoring of Temporary Buildings at Construction Sites

• Inadequate safe distance between kitchens and temporary dormitories;
• Improper storage or use of flammable and explosive hazardous chemicals for construction, or insufficient protection measures, leading to fires, suffocation, or poisoning accidents;
• Unhygienic food at the site that fails to meet health standards, causing collective food poisoning or disease outbreaks;
• Temporary simple tents erected with inadequate safe spacing, which may lead to the “spread of fire to connected tents” (a chain fire accident);
• Unauthorized wiring (e.g., wires directly in contact with metal structures or steel pipes), which is prone to electric shocks or fires;
• Overall collapse of the roof when dismantling temporary facilities, or casualties caused by workers stepping into empty spaces or unstable areas.

4) Real-Time Monitoring of Mobile Objects (Vessels, Machinery, Vehicles, etc.)

5) Requirements for Portable and Removable Monitoring Points

The construction site of a large and medium-sized infrastructure project is a “step-by-step advancing” work site. Bridges are generally constructed in sections, and tunnels are excavated gradually. If fixed monitoring points are designed by following the model of urban monitoring points, the monitoring of the construction operation face—an aspect that managers care about most—will often face “loss of control” as the operation face moves forward.

The first three points mentioned above belong to fixed-point monitoring, while the latter two belong to mobile-point monitoring. Considering the characteristics of the construction site of large and medium-sized infrastructure projects, choosing “wireless” technology for networking is undoubtedly the most suitable and cost-effective solution.

The networking needs for on-site office work and construction operations mainly include solving the interconnection between the construction site and the project department (such as telephone communication, WiFi coverage, and terminal access), as well as networking for video surveillance, equipment monitoring, and machinery/vehicles. In short, it is to address the issue of comprehensive on-site monitoring and management of the construction site. Guo xin Longxin’s products and solutions can provide a one-stop solution for networking in almost all the aforementioned construction site scenarios.

II. Technology Selection for Construction Site Networking

The intelligent development of large and medium-sized infrastructure construction sites often involves multiple systems, including security monitoring systems, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems, dispatching and command systems, safety management systems, material management systems, video conferencing systems, and public address paging systems. However, such sites frequently face networking challenges:

Large and medium-sized infrastructure construction sites are usually divided into multiple sections, with each section spanning tens or even hundreds of kilometers. The larger the construction area, the more prominent the problem of difficult networking becomes. When it comes to networking across multiple sections of the entire project, the difficulty is further compounded.

Even within a single construction section, connecting information points (such as video surveillance points, data collection points, and project management offices of each section) is extremely challenging—especially for bridge, tunnel, highway, and railway construction sites located in remote areas with mountains and water bodies.

Deploying wired optical fibers would require crossing mountains and water, and due to the scattered distribution of these points, wiring construction becomes extraordinarily difficult, with long construction cycles and high total investment. Additionally, some points cannot be connected at all because they involve road-breaking construction. Therefore, wireless networking is the most suitable solution. But which wireless solution is the most practical and cost-effective?

The design of networking solutions for infrastructure construction sites must always be tailored to users’ specific needs. Specifically:

1. Wireless Private Network — iMAX 5G WMAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Network) System

For network interconnection in IT system construction, adopting a network based on the TCP/IP protocol is inevitable. However, the unique environment of IT construction at infrastructure sites means that using wired optical networks (similar to urban intranets) to address their networking and information transmission needs is often inappropriate—whether in terms of economy, reliability, or feasibility of system implementation.

While 4G/5G wireless technologies provided by telecom operators can meet the needs of small-volume, non-real-time information transmission, they have two critical drawbacks: first, the cost of data packages in the later operation stage will be extremely high, becoming an unbearable “burden” for system use; second, such solutions must connect to the public Internet, which easily leads to information leakage risks such as “unauthorized live streaming” of sensitive data.

Against this background, the iMAX private network system—featuring high reliability, ultra-long-distance transmission, and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) capability—has become the generally recognized optimal solution for the infrastructure industry.

A Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN, as abbreviated) refers to a locally distributed wireless network that transmits information between distributed nodes covering an urban-scale area. In essence, it is a wireless network built on the foundation of a metropolitan area network. A wireless private network, as its name implies, is a dedicated wireless network constructed independently by an enterprise or public institution and is not open to the general public (some private networks are equipped with public network interfaces to facilitate Internet access when needed).

Large and medium-sized construction sites are particularly well-suited for deploying private networks, mainly for two reasons: first, private networks are dedicated to a single user, ensuring higher security and reliability; second, they require a one-time investment with no subsequent costs for link rental or data usage, resulting in better long-term economic efficiency.

The iMAX 5G WMAN system provided by Guo xin Longxin boasts unique technical advantages and outstanding performance, including high bandwidth, large capacity, low latency, support for multiple networking modes, IP67 protection standard, ultra-long-distance transmission, strong anti-interference capability, high reliability, easy installation, and convenient maintenance. These features give it unparalleled advantages over other wireless systems when applied in large and medium-sized construction sites.

The iMAX wireless communication system is designed specifically to build wireless cities or solve ultra-long-distance network interconnection in outdoor environments, and all its device series offer extremely long communication distances. Among them, the iMAX-6000 series serves as the urban backbone network, while the iMAX-8000S and iMAX-8000H series function as edge access networks.

• Communication Distance: Under line-of-sight (LOS) conditions, the iMAX 5G dedicated wireless network system can easily meet access requirements. For example, the iMAX-8000 series products in point-to-multipoint networking mode can achieve coverage with a radius of 10 km or even 50 km; the iMAX-6000 series in point-to-point mode can reach a maximum distance of 100 km.
• Transmission Bandwidth: The iMAX-8000H is a metropolitan area network convergence system with 300/600 Mbps bandwidth; the iMAX-8000S is a point-to-multipoint wireless private network communication system with 100 Mbps bandwidth; the iMAX-6000 is a point-to-point backbone network communication system with 150/300/600 Mbps bandwidth. Furthermore, the total bandwidth of the system can be increased by N times through frequency division, making high bandwidth and large video capacity its core advantages.

All on-site information points of the intelligent construction site system (such as data collection and control points, video surveillance points, etc.) can be connected solely via the iMAX 5G WMAN system. The system demonstrates incomparable advantages, especially in supporting high-definition video surveillance services.

For the backbone network, solutions can be selected based on actual communication conditions, such as self-built optical cables, leased operator optical cables (private lines), or SD-CX private cloud virtual private networks (VPNs). If conditions permit, the iMAX 5G backbone wireless system can also be directly adopted.

Benefiting from the convenient and flexible networking advantages of the iMAX 5G WMAN private network, monitoring and detection points on the construction site are not limited to fixed locations—mobile portable monitoring points or vehicle-mounted monitoring points can also be deployed, further enhancing the system’s applicability. This mobility is particularly practical in scenarios such as bridge and tunnel construction, where monitoring positions need to be relocated as the project progresses.

2. Remote Wide Area Network (WAN) Connectivity — Cloud Exchange SD-CX + VPN Virtual Private Network Solution

For large construction enterprise groups, engineering projects are distributed across the country. While wireless private networks are feasible for internal connectivity within a single project, they are not well-suited for connecting different project sites—especially for remote, cross-regional networking. To achieve centralized network management for projects nationwide, WAN technology is essential.

Leveraging its years of valuable experience in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, Guo xin Longxin proposes a solution that combines “cloud exchange” with multi-mode gateways.

A cloud computing platform, also known as a cloud platform, refers to a service built on hardware and software resources that provides computing, network, and storage capabilities. Cloud computing platforms can be categorized into three types:

• Storage-focused cloud platforms (primarily for data storage);
• Computing-focused cloud platforms (primarily for data processing);
• Integrated cloud computing platforms (balancing both computing and data storage/processing).

With the development of cloud computing, nearly every enterprise is currently using or planning to use cloud services, which are available in three common deployment models: public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud.

The cloud exists “in the sky”—so how to connect “on-the-ground” business systems to the cloud?

• For public clouds, the Internet is typically used, with common access methods including broadband services provided by telecom operators;
• For private clouds, VPN or dedicated line access is preferred. Common options include dedicated lines from telecom operators, or self-built optical fibers/wireless private networks by users. Since private networks are dedicated to specific users and isolated from the public network, their connection bandwidth, reliability, and security are significantly higher than those of regular broadband.

Whether for public or private clouds, there is a common challenge: how to connect edge nodes to the cloud. Guo xin Longxin’s product lineup—including the 5G WAN multi-mode edge VPN gateways (e.g., iMWB-5GW1000, iMWB-5GW2000D series) and the 4G MAN dual-mode wireless gateways (e.g., iMAX-4GW300 series)—are powerful tools for solving cloud access for cloud computing edge nodes.

Take the iMWB-5GW1000 as an example: it is equipped with multiple Ethernet ports and can be used as a multi-network convergence gateway. In terms of wireless communication, it not only leverages 5G wireless technology to deliver high bandwidth, high reliability, and large capacity but also supports local high-performance WiFi 6 coverage. This enables more flexible delivery of optimal wireless networking solutions for users.

Why is Guo xin Longxin’s SD-CX solution regarded as the best option for remote cross-site networking across multiple construction sites?

First, a powerful hardware product

The iMWB-5GW2000D is a 5G multi-mode wireless gateway system under the iMWB brand. It supports both 5G Wide Area Network (WAN) (SA & NSA) and WiFi 6 Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) coverage (2.4GHz & 5.8GHz), and is equipped with Ethernet ports. It can be used as an edge VPN access gateway for cloud exchange platforms. While leveraging WiFi 6 wireless technology to achieve high bandwidth, high reliability, and large capacity, it also supports 5G network access to telecom operators’ public networks, enabling more flexible delivery of optimal wireless networking solutions for users.

The iMAX-4GW300 is a dual-mode wireless gateway system under the iMWB brand, supporting both iMAX Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) and 4G LTE (FDD-LTE & TDD-LTE) technologies. Equipped with 3 Ethernet ports, it can be used as a multi-network convergence gateway. While leveraging iMAX wireless private network technology to achieve high bandwidth, high reliability, and large capacity, it also supports access to telecom operators’ public 4G LTE networks—this enhances the adaptability of the system for wireless networking and enables more flexible delivery of optimal wireless networking solutions for users.

This device features an indoor design with a small size, light weight, and low power consumption. It can not only provide IoT terminal networking for industries such as construction sites, environmental protection, ports, water conservancy, and electric power but also meet the built-in needs of integrated systems (such as drones, portable monitoring points, vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted, and aircraft-mounted systems). It is an ideal choice for high-quality multi-mode wireless communication in the IoT industry.

In other words, these two devices can serve as integrated switching gateways to enable interconnection among various TCP/IP network devices (e.g., IP cameras, computers, tablets, advertising screens, PLCs, IP phones, IP broadcast speakers, etc.)—based on multiple access methods including local area network (LAN) interconnection, MPLS dedicated line access, Internet broadband access, iMAX wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) private network, and 4G/5G Internet access.

Additionally, for users who need to build a private cloud via home broadband wired networking, Guoxin Longxin offers a cost-effective edge VPN gateway option: the Layer 3 routing VPN gateway product iMWB-ROUTE400G. This product is a 5-port intelligent managed routing VPN gateway device with full Gigabit ports. It supports intelligent network management and Layer 3 routing configuration, and can be used as an enterprise-level router or a VPN access terminal.

Second, the Secure and Reliable “Hardware VPN + Cloud Interconnection” Framework

Guoxin Longxin’s SD-CX solution is an internet solution based on cloud platforms, which can be deployed on private clouds, public clouds (e.g., Tencent Cloud, etc.) or hybrid clouds. The virtual private network built on cloud systems is called “Cloud Interconnection SD-CX (SDN based Cloud Exchange)”. Guoxin Longxin focuses more on users’ actual application needs, with the fundamental principles of system design being enhancing security, reducing costs, and meeting requirements—this reflects the implementation capability of Guoxin Longxin’s technical solutions.

Specifically, Guoxin Longxin’s SD-CX solution achieves customized integration and cloud interconnection of “Wide Area Network (WAN) + Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN)/Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) + VPN technology”, where VPN technology serves as the core of the solution’s security assurance.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology establishes a “private network” on a “public network” (or an encrypted private network on a private network to improve security) for encrypted communication. VPN technology mainly relies on tunnel encryption protocols, with typical tunnel protocols including PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec. Guoxin Longxin’s solution is constructed primarily using hardware VPN devices in the form of “VPN server + VPN gateway”, which undoubtedly offers superior reliability and security.

Guoxin Longxin also has products such as BreezeAir wireless bridges and FibeAir IP microwaves, which can also be applied in construction site scenarios. However, they are not the first choice and will not be elaborated on in this article.

III. Network Networking Solutions for Infrastructure Construction Sites

Based on the networking requirements of different construction sites, scenarios, and business operations, the network networking solutions for infrastructure construction sites mainly include the following types:

1.Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) Private Network Solution —- Addressing Local Networking Within the Construction Site

The deployment of WMAN private networks for on-site networking at large and medium-sized infrastructure construction sites often needs to cover an area of tens of kilometers, or even hundreds of kilometers. Its topological diagram is as follows:

By adopting iMAX wireless metropolitan area network technology, which addresses the wireless private network access for construction sites, the video surveillance system can choose the current mainstream IP digital network video surveillance system. Generally, there are not many on-site monitoring points, and the storage time is not too long. Therefore, configuring IP network cameras (IPCs) at the front-end monitoring points and using network video recorders (NVRs) for storage offer the highest cost performance. To meet the demand for 24/7 uninterrupted monitoring at the construction site, IPCs are suitable to be infrared network integrated bullet cameras or infrared network high-speed dome cameras, and then a matching NVR system can be selected.

After the iMAX wireless system is built, the construction site actually has its own office private network, on which many services can be directly deployed, such as high-definition video surveillance, video conferences, office OS systems, information collection and control, etc. In other words, this solution can provide the user unit with more usage possibilities and further enhance the application value of the solution.

Wireless private networks have incomparable advantages in solving the construction of construction site private networks in terms of cost performance, reliability, and security. Please refer to What Do You Think of the Cost Performance of Integrated Project Networking Solutions? and In the 5G Era, Network Security and Physically Isolated Private Networks in Network Construction for Government and Enterprise Customers.

For construction in enclosed spaces such as tunnels and culverts, we have specialized technologies and networking solutions. Please refer to Wireless Private Network Solution with Medium and High Frequency Leaky Wave Cables.

Wireless metropolitan area network private networks can meet the networking needs of various construction sites and scenarios. Please refer to Which Scenarios in the Yaxia Hydropower Project Require Wireless Systems?

2.Remote Virtual Private Network Solution —- A low-cost alternative to “dedicated lines”

The schematic diagram of a typical SD-CX distributed construction site centralized networking topology is as follows:

In summary, the Guoxin Longxin SD-CX solution can connect various IP terminals including computers, IP cameras, video conference terminals, PLCs, sensors, IP broadcasting systems, large screens, etc. To a certain extent, any device based on TCP/IP network can solve networking problems with this solution. As an IP network channel, whether it is wired or wireless, optical network or wireless network, we adhere to the principle of recommending what users need and what is suitable, and customize comprehensive link solutions for users. Our starting point has always been the security and stability of the network, as well as the availability and practicality of services.

It should be emphasized that the Guoxin Longxin SD-CX solution is a comprehensive service-oriented solution based on GL Technologies’ own multi-mode gateway. It is no longer a simple product, but a set of methods and ideas to solve networking problems. Therefore, customization must be carried out on the basis of investigating and in-depth research into users’ actual business needs. For more information, please refer to the article 5G Virtual Private Network Solves Networking Difficulties for Government and Enterprise Customers.

Using 4G/5G for networking will incur subsequent usage costs such as traffic fees, dedicated line fees, and cloud service fees. Moreover, this networking solution cannot be adopted in areas without wired broadband and 4G/5G signal coverage by operators. Even in areas with 4G/5G signals, due to the inherent “tidal effect” of public networks, their bandwidth, reliability, and service quality are somewhat weaker than those of private network methods. For projects with high requirements for system reliability and large-capacity high-definition video surveillance needs, wired or wireless private network solutions should still be chosen.

It should be emphasized that this solution can provide users with relatively secure means to ensure the security needs of users’ business networking, especially when connecting to the public network. Networking through it can effectively prevent network security issues such as hacker intrusions caused by “exposure” on the Internet.

Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) private networks are suitable for networking within a certain area for enterprises and institutions in the construction industry, while wireless wide area networks are suitable for centralized networking of multiple remote locations across the country. The two solutions are complementary and can be designed in combination.

3.Mobile Networking Solutions – Mobile networking for vehicle networking, ship networking, etc.

As the construction site operation areas and work surfaces advance, monitoring and detection points also need to have mobility. In addition to tunnel excavation, bridge erection, rail laying, etc., there is also the networking of vehicles and equipment on the construction site. For vehicle networking on the construction site, please refer to Which Scenarios Are Suitable for Vehicle Scheduling and Management Systems Based on Wireless Private Networks?; for ship networking on the construction site, please refer to Ship Networking and Positioning Solutions.

The topology diagram of full networking in mobile scenarios of the construction site is as follows:

Take the “portable monitoring point” that can be freely relocated as an example. This monitoring point is customized by Guoxin Longxin according to users’ needs. It is a customized finished product integrating IP HD cameras, wireless metropolitan area network modules, and lithium battery solar energy systems. It supports various installation methods such as on flat ground, rooftops, and mountain tops. The diagram of its appearance is as follows:

There are many types of mobile monitoring points, including but not limited to portable monitoring points, individual soldier monitoring points, and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) monitoring points. For details, please refer to the relevant materials on the official WeChat account.

 

Overview

 

The two most difficult problems in the construction of intelligent management systems for large and medium-sized construction sites are actually solved by using Guoxin Longxin’s wireless network system for connectivity and lithium battery solar energy for power supply (see “Why Choose iPower Lithium Battery Solar Energy for Outdoor Power Supply?”).

Once the network is in place, intelligent, digital, and information-based projects on the construction site can be carried out smoothly, with numerous expandable applications. For example, AI-based analysis of videos can be conducted to determine whether personnel are wearing safety helmets, engaging in illegal operations, or entering dangerous areas, with timely disposal through the broadcasting system and information release system. Another example is the comprehensive management of tower cranes on the construction site (to prevent collisions and overloads, etc.) and the WiFi coverage system within the construction site, all of which can be expanded based on this solution.

Mobile monitoring applications such as vehicle-mounted/ship-mounted mobile points and detachable monitoring points inside tunnels are more complex and practical, with higher requirements for wireless systems and technical capabilities. Their organic integration with fixed monitoring points is more difficult, but this is precisely Guoxin Longxin’s strength. For the establishment of private networks for bridges and tunnels, please refer to “Wireless Private Network Solution for Bridge and Tunnel Management”.

Over the years, Guoxin Longxin has assisted our integrator partners in successfully completing networking and power supply projects for numerous large and medium-sized infrastructure construction sites such as bridges, tunnels, rivers, highways, and railways. Please refer to case materials such as “For Ship Networking, Choose Guoxin Longxin” (which includes a networking case of a national key project – the Yangtze River water conservancy construction site) and “Case Sharing of Wireless Networking for Power Tower Monitoring” (a networking scenario of a UHV power transmission and transformation line construction site). We have accumulated valuable experience in networking for infrastructure projects, and can tailor the most suitable designs and provide the most appropriate solutions for industry users. Welcome to call for consultation!