Aali R. Alizadeh, Author at Giatec Scientific Inc.

The Ultimate Guide to Concrete Formwork: Types, Innovations, and Best Practices

Aali R. Alizadeh December 9, 2024

Concrete is the backbone of modern construction, from the foundations of skyscrapers to simple residential sidewalks. Its adaptability is largely due to formwork, also known as shuttering, a system of molds or structures that hold the concrete in place while it hardens. This crucial stage of the building process ensures the concrete retains its desired shape, strength, and finish. In this post, we will explore different types of formwork, innovations in the field, and practical tips for selecting and using formwork efficiently in various construction projects. What is Formwork? Formwork refers to temporary or permanent molds into which concrete is poured. Without formwork, the liquid concrete would not stay in place long enough to solidify into its intended structure. More than just a mold, formwork plays a vital role in the structural integrity, shape, and finish of the concrete. A well-designed formwork…

The Best Concrete Sensor in 2020

Aali R. Alizadeh April 30, 2020

A Review of Top Wired and Wireless Temperature and Strength Concrete SensorsConcrete Construction PlanningIn a construction project, concrete is often on the critical path. Most of the jobsite activities can not be initiated unless the concrete that is placed for building structural elements such as beams and slabs has achieved sufficient strength (typically 75% of the specified compressive strength of concrete). If concrete is not cured properly in favorable temperature ranges (at least more than 5°C or 40°F based on ACI 306) after pouring, it is quite possible to have a slippage in the project plan and timeline due to the delayed strength development in concrete. Curing temperature is also important when it comes to mass concrete placements such as foundations. If the temperature differential between the surface and core of the mass concrete element exceeds a certain level, there…

Concrete Testing Goes Wireless

Aali R. Alizadeh June 3, 2019

Testing concrete’s strength is essential, but is also messy and expensive. One needs to create test cylinders, cure them properly, transport them to the lab for more curing (or field cure them), and then break them in a compression machine just to throw the broken concrete into a dumpster. Though it seems like a waste of time and resources, it is necessary to know concrete’s early age-strength for construction operations or the mix’s long-term strength to ensure the specified concrete strength is achieved.So, one makes the cylinders and waits several days before breaking the first set only to get a strength value at a single point in time. That value does not necessarily indicate the actual in-place strength of the concrete, even if it was field cured, but is rather an idealized value of what the given mix can achieve…

Make Your Construction Jobsite Safer and Faster with Smart Sensors

Aali R. Alizadeh March 25, 2019

Sensors embedded in concrete let you know when it’s cured and ready. Concrete is the material most widely used by humans — after water. As its ingredients are readily available almost anywhere in the world, it is the main component used by architects and engineers in the building of foundations, multi-story and high-rise structures, bridges, dams, and roads. With concrete playing such an important role throughout the globe, the longevity and strength of these structures is paramount.The strength of concrete is governed by a set of chemical reactions that occur under favorable curing conditions between cement and water during the first few days after mixing. This leads concrete to transition from a liquid-like material to a solid that can take any shape and form. Recent advancements in sensor technology have made it possible for this critical step in a construction…

Defending the Most Sustainable Construction Material: Response to CNN

Aali R. Alizadeh May 8, 2018

A few days ago, CNN published an article entitled “Concrete is a disaster for our planet: can the building industry break its addiction?” causing an uproar from thousands of construction industry professionals. Rightly so.The article, as we will discuss in greater detail below, was largely biased and founded on false or incomplete analysis.Since then, CNN has renamed and edited the article to “Can the building industry break its addiction to concrete?” to reflect a more neutral position.What Was Wrong in the CNN ArticleA number of points raised in the recent CNN article are not supported by the literature concerning concrete sustainability or the recent calculations of embodied carbon and energy associated with concrete construction.The CNN interviews with Fennell and Langenbach did not represent the overall picture on the reasons to use concrete, as opposed to any other material. The article…

Bringing the Uber Model to Construction

Aali R. Alizadeh April 4, 2018

The construction industry is one of the oldest industries in the world. It’s also one of the slowest to implement change. The proof? Textbooks I studied 20 years ago are still used in civil engineering schools worldwide today!How is that possible? For one, design practices have not changed much—at least not as much as in the other industries. More importantly, however, the adoption of new technologies in the construction sector is very slow.In one word, the construction industry is ‘conservative’.This can, to some extent, be expected as a result of how things work in the industry. The liabilities associated with the design and construction of structures are so high that they make anyone—from owners and engineers to contractors—extremely cautious about making risky decisions.For this reason, building codes and standard methods must be followed in the design, construction, and maintenance stages…

About Giatec

Giatec is a global company revolutionizing the construction industry by bringing smart testing technologies and real-time data collection to the forefront of every jobsite. Giatec’s suite of hardware and software products has leveraged advanced technologies such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), including wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps, and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT) to drive innovation throughout concrete’s lifecycle and reduce concrete’s carbon footprint.

Our suite of hardware and software products has leveraged advanced technologies such as; Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT), including; wireless concrete sensors, mobile apps, and advanced non-destructive technologies (NDT) to drive innovation throughout concrete’s lifecycle.

Combining wireless concrete sensors and mobile apps, Giatec has developed smart IoT-based technologies, like SmartRock® concrete maturity sensors, for real-time monitoring of concrete properties. This provides critical information to contractors so they can make efficient and informed decisions on the jobsite, ultimately saving time and money. Ready-mix producers also leverage the SmartRock® Plus cloud, which gives them access to concrete performance data to optimize their mix designs.

Wireless Sensors and NDT Technologies

Aali R. Alizadeh