PERI UK and VEMAVENTURI Use Concrete Monitoring Technology to Reduce Construction Uncertainty

Real-time monitoring helps contractors improve concrete quality, optimise pours and make faster decisions on formwork removal.

PERI UK and concrete monitoring specialist VEMAVENTURI are using concrete monitoring technology to help contractors make better decisions during construction. The technology provides real-time data on concrete pressure, filling, compaction and strength development.

Many concreting decisions still rely on estimates and conservative assumptions. As a result, projects can face slower pours, delayed formwork removal and lower productivity. Real-time monitoring aims to replace these assumptions with measurable site data.

Real-Time Data Improves Concrete Operations

VEMAVENTURI, now part of the PERI Group, develops sensor systems for concrete construction. Its technology can monitor conditions inside formwork during a pour, giving site teams greater visibility where direct inspection is difficult.

For example, pressure monitoring can help teams optimise pouring speeds. Meanwhile, strength monitoring provides information about concrete development. Therefore, contractors can make better-informed decisions about when to remove formwork.

The company also uses PHONO sensors to monitor concrete filling and compaction. This helps teams assess areas that are difficult to inspect visually and reduces the risk of hidden voids or honeycombing.

Technology Supports Major UK Infrastructure Projects

The technology has already been used on major UK infrastructure works. During the HS2 programme, Balfour Beatty VINCI used 24 PHONO sensors on the A46 Bypass Bridge near Kenilworth.

The sensors provided live information about concrete movement during the three-day operation. More than 800 cubic metres of self-compacting concrete was monitored. In addition, the resulting data created a digital record to support quality assurance and compliance.

The project demonstrates how concrete monitoring technology can provide more than productivity gains. It can also give engineers evidence that concrete has reached difficult-to-access areas.

Digital Monitoring Strengthens Quality Control

VEMAVENTURI is also expanding its monitoring capabilities. Its systems collect sensor data and bring the information together on a digital platform. Project teams can then review measurements and use the data to support engineering decisions.

In South Korea, the company’s SONO Hub system enables rapid measurement of water content in fresh concrete. As a result, contractors can verify concrete quality before it enters the formwork.

These capabilities are becoming increasingly important as construction projects face stricter quality requirements and growing demands for documentation.

Reducing the Cost of Uncertainty

PERI and VEMAVENTURI argue that contractors should consider the cost of uncertainty alongside the cost of monitoring. Waiting for confirmation can keep labour, cranes and temporary works on site for longer. In contrast, real-time data can help teams make decisions when conditions are verified.

The approach does not replace engineering judgement. Instead, it provides engineers with additional evidence to support decisions throughout the concreting process.

As construction becomes increasingly data-driven, concrete monitoring technology could play a larger role in improving productivity, quality and programme certainty.