real-time data in the cloud

CiDRA Concrete Systems Inc. (“CiDRA”), is a Connecticut-based company that helps concrete companies overcome the challenges of producing the perfect concrete mixture. CiDRA designed and built the AIRtrac system to ensure the proper combination of aggregate, cement, water and air to achieve optimal strength and long-term durability. While CiDRA is headquartered in CT, it has worked 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 was engaged to help with research and development, as well as figuring out how the solution could be utilized to help CiDRA’s existing clients.

ADNET was engaged to improve accessibility to data from a sensor that CiDRA had developed. The sensor was installed on a moving vehicle and 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 they had developed, but to have the data readily available to be easily interpreted by those operating the equipment, and by remote workers who could see the data on real-time dashboards.

CiDRA needed assistance with this project in a very short timeframe, and ADNET immediately began assisting with the research and development process. ADNET worked with CiDRA to determine what data would be beneficial, how it would best be stored in the cloud, and what kind of reporting would provide the most value and insight to those who would ultimately be working with the sensor. Within a few weeks, ADNET had developed a solution that allowed CiDRA to pull data from the sensor, read it in real-time, display the data on dashboards and archive it in the cloud.

Azure was chosen as the technology that would make this possible because it was cloud-based and would be flexible enough to provide insight into the data that CiDRA viewed as critical. ADNET built custom dashboards using PowerBI that would show the data in real-time, much like a vitals monitor does in a hospital. ADNET also wrote an application that would move the data from the sensor to the cloud. Using cellular LTE technology, a process was created to view the data, then transfer it 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 is now taking 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.