Construction Site Asset Tracker
A low-cost tracking system that is multi-protocol (LoRa and cellular) and monitors thousands of construction tools and equipment across multiple job sites in real-time. Engineered by Device Solutions.
On active construction sites, tools and equipment move constantly. When they go missing, the cost isn't just replacement. It's lost labor hours, project delays, and a logistics problem that compounds across every job site a contractor runs simultaneously. For large contractors managing thousands of assets across multiple sites, the problem had no good solution because existing tracking systems were too expensive to deploy at scale, too fragile for rugged field conditions, or too dependent on infrastructure that job sites don't have.
Our client needed a system that could: 1) track thousands of assets in real-time, 2) run on battery power, 3) survive the construction environment, and 4) stay affordable enough to tag everything worth tagging (not just high-value equipment). The technical challenge was significant - a hybrid LoRa and cellular architecture that could scale without scaling costs proportionally.
The Solution
Device Solutions led the technical architecture from feasibility through firmware, working alongside the client's internal product and cloud teams to deliver a system they could own and scale independently. The engagement began with a feasibility study to validate the hybrid LoRa/cellular concept and define the architecture before any hardware was built. From there the team executed across the full embedded stack:
1.) Custom LoRa Protocol Design Developed and implemented protocols tuned specifically for dynamic construction environments, where asset density and signal conditions change constantly.
2.) Cellular Data Optimization Engineered dynamic gateway pairing logic that routes assets to the strongest available signal, minimizing cellular data consumption without sacrificing coverage.
3.) Gateway Firmware Development Built robust firmware for the 4G LTE + LoRa gateway system, designed for reliability in field conditions where maintenance windows are limited.
4.) Power Optimization Reduced power consumption across the asset tag design to extend battery life and lower the ongoing maintenance burden for contractors managing thousands of units.
5.) AWS IoT Core Integration Integrated the full system with AWS IoT Core, enabling seamless data flow from field assets to the client's cloud infrastructure.
The Results
Contractors using the system gained real-time visibility across thousands of assets and multiple job sites simultaneously, all without the infrastructure costs that had made previous tracking approaches impractical at scale. The hybrid LoRa/cellular architecture delivered what the client needed most - a system affordable enough to tag everything worth tagging, durable enough for the construction environment, and reliable enough that contractors could depend on it daily.
The impact on operations was direct:
Thousands of assets actively tracked across multiple job sites in real-time
Battery life extended and cellular data costs reduced through dynamic gateway pairing
Field returns and maintenance burden reduced by power optimization across the asset tag design
Recognized as a top product by Concrete Contractor magazine
The Summary
Technologies & Services
LoRa protocol design and implementation
4G LTE cellular integration
Battery-powered embedded systems
Firmware development
AWS IoT Core integration
Power and data optimization
Recognition
Concrete Contractor Top Products Award