CiDRA Concrete Systems Inc. (“CiDRA”), is a Connecticut-based company that helps concrete companies overcome the challenges of producing the perfect concrete mixture. The company is known for designing and building the AIRtrac system to ensure the proper combination of aggregate, cement, water and air to achieve optimal strength and long-term durability. While CiDRA’s headquarters are in CT, the organization works with a variety of clients in 45 countries across the world.
ADNET and CiDRA have had a longstanding relationship, with ADNET acting as a technology partner for the organization. When CiDRA was developing a new product, ADNET assisted with research and development. ADNET also helped determine how the solution could be utilized to help CiDRA’s existing clients.
Solving Complex Business Problems With Cloud Technology
ADNET’s task was to improve accessibility to data from a sensor that CiDRA had developed. The solution was to install the sensor on a moving vehicle designed to transmit data to the cloud in real-time. CiDRA looked to ADNET to see if there was a way to not only pull data into the cloud from the sensor, but to have the data readily available. This would allow it to be easily interpreted by those operating the equipment. It was also important for remote workers to be able to see the data on real-time dashboards.
CiDRA needed assistance with this project in a very short timeframe. ADNET immediately began assisting with the research and development process. Working closely with CiDRA, ADNET determined what data would be beneficial, how to best store it in the cloud, and what kind of reporting provides the most value and insight to those working with the sensor. Within a few weeks, ADNET developed a solution. It allows CiDRA to pull data from the sensor, read it in real-time, display the data on dashboards. They can also archive it in the cloud.
Leveraging Azure and Power BI
Azure was the chosen technology, since it’s based in the cloud. It’s also flexible enough to provide insights into the data CiDRA views as critical. ADNET’s custom dashboards, developed using PowerBI, show the data in real-time, much like a vitals monitor does in a hospital. ADNET also wrote a custom application that would move the data from the sensor to the cloud. Using cellular LTE technology, ADNET created a process to view the data. Then data gets transferred to the cloud for archiving and use in comprehensive analytics.
The most unique aspect of this project was ADNET’s ability to work alongside CiDRA to help build a new service offering for its clients. Given the compressed timeframe, along with the groundbreaking technology that the client had developed, there was a steep learning curve, which was met with ease. The combination of expertise, from CiDRA’s development of the sensor to ADNET’s ability to turn the data into something even more valuable, made for a perfect strategic partnership.
The project surrounding the sensor has been so successful, CiDRA took the next steps in partnering with ADNET to build an IoT device that will allow the technology and data to be more widely used by its clients.
