FAQ - Frequently asked questions
General
The Insite Construction System is an advanced solution for measuring and monitoring concrete. It includes a range of specialized sensors—TEMO, PREMO, and PHONO—that collect data and transmit it through one or more Nodes to a central Hub for analysis and monitoring.
Hub and Node
The LED indicators on the Hub provide important information such as battery status, cloud connection status, and any error messages. Each LED color or pattern corresponds to a specific system state, helping users quickly assess the Hub’s condition.
Click here to see an overview of the indicators.
The LED indicators on the Node provide important information such as battery status, cloud connection status, and any error messages. Each LED color or pattern corresponds to a specific system state, helping users quickly assess the Node`s condition.
Click here to see an overview of the indicators.
The Hub and Node are compatible with three types of monitoring systems:
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PREMO for pressure monitoring
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TEMO for temperature monitoring
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PHONO for monitoring concrete compaction and detecting sound-based changes within the structure
The wireless range between a Node and the Hub is up to 100 meters under ideal, unobstructed conditions. When operating in mesh mode, the signal can be extended by relaying it through multiple Nodes—allowing for a theoretical maximum distance of approximately 800 meters between the Hub and the furthest Node.
For detailed technical specifications, please refer to the "Hub-Node Communications" section in the user manual.
TEMO
TEMO is a sensor that uses a Type-T thermocouple to monitor the temperature of concrete during curing. In addition to temperature, it also helps estimate the concrete’s strength development over time, making it a valuable tool for quality control and construction planning.
Before using the sensor, the thermocouple cable must be cut to the required length, the wire ends stripped, and connected to the Node—ensuring correct polarity (brown to [+], white to [–]). To ensure durability, the measuring end should be protected using a shrink sleeve or insulating material. The sensor must be positioned securely within the formwork and fully surrounded by concrete.
Detailed instructions are available here.
A single Hub cannot be connected to multiple separate projects at the same time.
However, within one project, you can manage and monitor multiple dashboards, sections, or measurement points—allowing for detailed tracking of different areas or phases of a construction site.
Yes, data can be easily exported either as a .csv file for further analysis or as a PDF report for documentation and sharing purposes.
PREMO
PREMO is installed by drilling a hole in the formwork (diameter specified in the installation guide). The sensor is then inserted into the hole and secured using three screws, ensuring a stable and precise fit for accurate pressure measurement.
You'll need an Assembly Kit (screws, drill guide, spacers) for installation and a Maintenance Kit (replacement membrane and glycerine) for upkeep.
To uninstall the sensor, simply unscrew the mounting screws from the formwork. Then use the built-in handles as levers to carefully remove the sensor from the concrete surface.
More information you can find in the user manual in the chapter "PREMO - Deinstallation"
PHONO
PHONO is a sensor-based system that verifies the presence of concrete and monitors compaction at predefined critical locations within formwork and reinforcement structures.
Typical applications include:
- Dense reinforcement areas
- Embedded components
- Concreting against existing structures
- Areas with limited visual access
- Pumping concrete from below
- Quality assurance of filling and compaction processes
PHONO provides real-time information whether the sensor location is surrounded by air, liquid or concrete and records vibration energy from concrete compaction equipment. Based on this information, the system supports quality assurance during concreting operations.
PHONO uses a piezoelectric sensing element whose vibration and resonance characteristics change depending on the surrounding material.
The sensor evaluates these changes and classifies the medium surrounding the sensing element as:
- Air
- Liquid (water/slurry)
- Concrete
Additionally, the sensor can detect vibration energy from concrete vibrators and use this information to evaluate compaction activities.
The measurement principle is based on resonance and frequency characteristics rather than ultrasonic imaging or distance measurement.
No.
PHONO is not a concrete imaging, tomography, radar or volumetric scanning system.
PHONO does not create images of the surrounding concrete structure and does not generate a map of voids within a concrete element.
Instead, it determines the condition at predefined sensor locations.
PHONO helps reduce the risk of voids by confirming whether concrete has reached and surrounded critical locations. The system does not directly measure the geometry, volume or exact location of voids inside a structure. If a void prevents concrete from reaching the sensor location, the system can identify that the location is not properly filled.
Therefore, PHONO should be regarded as a concrete presence verification system rather than a void imaging system.
No defined detection radius or inspection depth is currently specified. PHONO is designed to evaluate the condition at the sensor installation point. For this reason, performance should be described as local detection rather than long-range inspection into the concrete volume.
A measurement cone or field of view is not specified for PHONO. Unlike conventional ultrasonic distance sensors, PHONO does not rely on directional scanning of the surrounding space. The sensing result is primarily determined by the material surrounding the sensor itself.
No minimum detectable void size is currently specified. Detection depends on whether the void affects the material condition at the sensor location. A void that prevents concrete from reaching the sensor can be detected indirectly through the absence of concrete around the sensing element. Because this depends strongly on sensor placement and geometry, a universal minimum void size cannot currently be stated.
PHONO can distinguish between:
- Air
- Liquid (water/slurry)
- Concrete
The system presents the result using the familiar traffic-light visualization:
- Red = Air
- Yellow = Liquid / incomplete filling
- Green = Concrete
Yes.
PHONO detects vibration energy generated by concrete vibrators. This information helps verify that compaction activity has occurred at the sensor location and supports optimization of the compaction process. The objective is to help achieve more homogeneous concrete and reduce the risk of honeycombing.
No.
PHONO is designed as a plug-and-play system and does not require project-specific calibration before use. The technology determines material conditions based on predefined resonance behavior.
The available product documentation specifies an operating frequency range of approximately:
2 kHz to 14 kHz
The sensor evaluates frequency and resonance behavior within this range to differentiate between surrounding materials.
Testing performed during product development did not identify measurement effects caused by cross-talk between sensors embedded within concrete structures. The practical impact of neighboring sensors is therefore considered negligible for normal installation configurations.
Yes.
One of the primary use cases is the verification of concrete presence in densely reinforced areas where visual inspection is difficult or impossible.
Examples include:
- Bridge structures
- Heavily reinforced walls
- Embedded components
- Existing structure interfaces
- Congested reinforcement zones