ReCyCONtrol project consortium – Key technologies for the digital revolution in concrete construction

Figure: Leibniz Universität Hannover

The project consortium involves numerous partners from industry and academia

Figure: Leibniz Universität Hannover

Diagram of the digital process chain

Figure: Leibniz Universität Hannover

Figure: BFT International

Developed solutions were presented at the final colloquium in Hanover

Figure: BFT International

Karla Knitter (BFT, left) interviews Dr.-Ing. Tobias Schack

Figure: BFT International

A video about the final colloquium is available on the BFT International YouTube channel.

Figure: BFT International

Over the past three years, the ReCyCONtrol research consortium, which receives funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, has developed a completely new approach to producing fresh concrete in which sensors continuously monitor all steps of the production process while using artificial intelligence and computer vision to adjust the fresh concrete mix in response to fluctuations in its raw materials.

In Europe and Turkey, about 600,000 batches of ready-mixed concrete are produced every day. According to estimates, over 80% of these batches are remarkably similar in composition, which results in enormously high repetition rates. Although a major part of concrete production today is fully automated involving the processing of predetermined concrete mix designs, it is still impossible to adequately consider fluctuations in the concrete raw material characteristics. As a result, typical concrete mixes involve costly, environmentally disadvantageous safety margins, including increased cement...