Construction site environmental monitoring means installing an outdoor monitoring station on site to measure noise, PM2.5/PM10, wind speed and direction, and heat. When a set value is exceeded it sends LINE and SMS notifications, and it can work with on-site sound and light alarms, so the site manager does not have to keep walking around to check.
A site manager has more to watch than progress: neighbours phone in complaints about noise, dust drifts next door, a wind picks up in the afternoon and you have to decide whether to stop lifting, and workers suffer heat stroke in summer. All of these depend on the current conditions on site, but a site is big and nobody can watch it all the time. This article covers the 4 things most often watched on a construction site, what one monitoring station can measure, how people are told when limits are exceeded, and how to estimate the cost.
What Are the 4 Things to Monitor on a Construction Site?
1. Noise: the most common reason for neighbour complaints
Piling, breaking and concrete pump trucks easily draw complaints once they get loud. Some cities and counties are promoting noise monitoring equipment for large projects. For example, a review by the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department mentions promoting noise monitoring equipment for Level 1 construction projects. With continuous noise recording on site, you can see at a glance which hours are loudest and whether you went over your own threshold, and you have records to refer to when a complaint is made.
2. Dust: PM2.5 and PM10 drifting next door
Dust is most likely during excavation, earth moving, and dry windy weather. Measuring PM2.5/PM10 continuously and getting notified when readings rise lets you spray water or cover with dust netting proactively, rather than waiting for someone to report you.
3. Strong wind: should lifting stop?
Article 22 of the Safety Rules for Cranes and Lifting Equipment (Ministry of Labor) states that when a fixed crane faces strong wind, heavy rain or other bad weather and operation could be dangerous, operation shall be prohibited. The problem is that the wind above a site is often stronger than at ground level, and judging by feel is hard to keep consistent. Measure wind speed and direction on site, and notify the lifting supervisor and site manager when your threshold is exceeded, so stopping and restarting lifts have a basis.
4. Heat: summer heat hazards
Summer sun and heat reflected from the ground put workers at risk of heat stroke, and the risk should be judged by WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature), not by air temperature alone. Heat alerts on site can use the Heat Safety Guardian WBGT Heat Hazard Alert System: it calculates WBGT in real time and, when the limit is exceeded, triggers the on-site sound and light alarm and notifies managers. To learn what WBGT is and how to read it, see What Is WBGT?.
What Can One Site Monitoring Station Measure?
YenProtek's FarmerPack is a solar-powered modular monitoring station, and you can choose sensor modules as needed. A common combination for a construction site is below (measurement ranges follow the 2025 official catalogue):
| Measurement | Why it matters on site | Measurement Range |
|---|---|---|
| Noise Level | Track construction noise and compare with the times of neighbour complaints | 30～130 dB(A) |
| PM2.5／PM10 | Dust and particulate management | 0～500 µg/m³ |
| Wind Speed | Strong wind alerts for lifting, work at height and scaffold safety nets | 0～70 m/s |
| Wind Direction | Tell which way dust is drifting | 0～359° |
| Rainfall | Judge excavation, drainage and stoppages in heavy rain | 0～240 mm/hr |
| Air temperature and humidity | Reference for concrete pouring, curing and general work | -30～80 °C、0～95% RH |
| Black globe temperature | Radiant heat from the sun, used for heat hazard assessment | -40～100 °C |
You do not need every item. First think about what draws the most complaints or worries you most, then choose modules. You can add more later.
Who Finds Out When a Limit Is Exceeded? Warning Lights, LINE and SMS
The station's readings go to the cloud, and you can see live values and history curves on a phone or computer. When a set value is exceeded:
- Managers are notified: the site manager, safety officer and subcontractor contacts are notified by app push, LINE, SMS or email, several at once.
- On-site reminder: workers wearing helmets and gloves may not look at their phones. Heat Safety Guardian has a high-decibel, high-brightness sound and light alarm that alerts people directly on site when limits are exceeded.
- Records are kept: the cloud keeps data and event records, so you have evidence for checking complaint times and for safety records later.
Solar Power, No Wiring, and Removable When the Project Ends
The biggest hassle on a site is running power and network. FarmerPack comes with solar power as standard and can run for 30 days or more without sunlight. The standard Heat Safety Guardian kit includes solar power and an NB-IoT communication module, with no need to arrange power or network cables, so it suits temporary sites and work areas where positions change often. When the project ends, take it down and move it to the next site.
What About Connecting Display Boards and Public Address Systems?
Some sites have asked: "Can lights and announcements go off together?" Heat Safety Guardian already has an on-site sound and light alarm. If the site already has electronic display boards, a public address system or other warning devices that should act when limits are exceeded, we can assess using a Smart Control Box to switch the equipment's power on and off. Whether and how it can be connected depends on the type of equipment, so please send us the equipment details first.
Fixed Monitoring Station vs Handheld Noise Meter and Dust Monitor: What's the Difference?
| Comparison Item | Handheld noise meter and dust monitor | Fixed site monitoring station |
|---|---|---|
| Who measures | Someone has to carry it to the spot | The equipment measures by itself 24 hours a day |
| How often | Whenever there is time, often once or twice a day | Continuous recording |
| Who knows when limits are exceeded | Only the person measuring, when they see it | Managers are notified automatically, and it can work with on-site sound and light alarms |
| Records | Handwritten or photographed | Stored in the cloud, with history curves |
| Nights and holidays | Usually nobody measures | Recorded as usual |
| Suitable | Spot checks and checking a single location | Needed every day, with records when complaints are made |
The two can be used together: the fixed station handles continuous recording and notification, and handheld instruments are used for spot checks at other locations.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of construction site environmental monitoring depends mainly on these items:
- How many stations to install: a large site, or separate noise and dust control along different boundaries, may need several points.
- Which sensor modules: noise, PM2.5/PM10, wind speed and direction, rainfall, temperature and humidity, and globe temperature, chosen as needed.
- Whether you need an on-site sound and light alarm: for on-site reminders and heat hazard alerts, add Heat Safety Guardian.
- Communication and platform: versions that use a SIM card have a data fee, plus an annual cloud platform fee.
- Installation: on-site installation can be added (currently available in Taiwan only).
Taiwan prices are as shown in the online quote tool: FarmerPack (with noise, PM2.5, wind speed and other modules) online quote and Heat Safety Guardian online quote. If you are not sure how to configure it, feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: At what wind force should crane lifting stop?
The wind speed at which lifting stops should be set according to the crane manufacturer's requirements, the relevant regulations and the site's work procedures. YenProtek's monitoring station does not set the standard for you. You enter your own thresholds, and when the wind speed on site goes over them you are notified immediately, with records of stoppages and restarts to refer back to.
Q2: Can the noise and PM2.5 readings be submitted to the environmental protection bureau?
The station's readings suit the site's own management and checking against the times of complaints. If the competent authority has requirements for monitoring equipment specifications, location and reports, follow the authority's requirements, and it is best to confirm them before installing.
Q3: Can it be installed on a site with no power or internet?
Yes. FarmerPack comes with solar power as standard, and the standard Heat Safety Guardian kit includes solar power and NB-IoT communication, so there is no need to run power or network cables.
Q4: Can the equipment be moved to the next site when the project ends?
Yes. The equipment needs no fixed wiring. Take it down and reinstall it at the next site.
Q5: Who is notified when a limit is exceeded?
You can notify the site manager, safety officer, subcontractor contacts and others at the same time, by app push, LINE, SMS or email. Heat Safety Guardian also has an on-site sound and light alarm.
Q6: Can it connect to the site's electronic display boards or public address system?
Heat Safety Guardian has its own on-site sound and light alarm. To make existing display boards or public address systems act at the same time, we can assess using a Smart Control Box to switch the equipment's power on and off. Please tell us the type of equipment first so we can confirm.
Further Reading
- Heat Safety Guardian | WBGT Heat Hazard Alert System
- Smart Worker Safety: Track Record of UWB Personnel Positioning, WBGT Heat Hazard Monitoring and Breathalyzer Devices
- Construction Site Safety Case: Smart Alcohol and Body Temperature Screening System
- Why Is Outdoor IoT the Real Test of IoT Capability?
References
- Ministry of Labor, Safety Rules for Cranes and Lifting Equipment, Article 22.
- New Taipei City Government Environmental Protection Department, Review of Construction Noise Control (2023).
