Project
ConstrucThor advances sustainable construction with high-accuracy measurement infrastructure
Summary
Organisation: ConstrucThor
Challenge: Enabling real world research for climate neutral buildings
Solution: Gantner Instruments DAQ System
The transition to climate neutral construction requires reliable measurement data and advanced research environments. At the ConstrucThor facility in Genk, Belgium, part of the Open Thor Living Lab, researchers and engineers test sustainable materials, construction methods, and digital building models under realistic conditions. For this ambitious project, measurement specialist Gantner Instruments delivered advanced data acquisition systems together with its local partner CN Rood. The systems were supplied to ConstrucThor to support large scale building research and long term monitoring of environmental and structural parameters.
The challenge
Accurate and reliable measurements in complex test environments
Research facilities such as ConstrucThor rely on precise measurement data to validate new building concepts and technologies. In large distributed test setups, sensors are often placed throughout the building structure, which can create challenges related to signal noise, cable lengths, and data reliability. At the same time, the facility must support continuous monitoring of temperature and other environmental parameters over long periods of time. To ensure meaningful research outcomes, the measurement infrastructure needs to combine high accuracy, scalability, and reliable data transmission.
The solution
Flexible and autonomous data acquisition systems
To address these requirements, CN Rood supplied advanced data acquisition systems from Gantner Instruments to ConstrucThor. These DAQ systems form the backbone of the facility’s measurement infrastructure and provide flexible, multichannel measurement capabilities. The systems operate fully autonomously without requiring a dedicated PC and are primarily used for high accuracy temperature monitoring with Type T thermocouples.
By positioning the DAQ modules close to the sensors, cable lengths are minimized, which reduces electrical noise and improves signal integrity. Advanced cold junction compensation further ensures highly accurate temperature measurements. The systems also support modern digital infrastructures by streaming measurement data through the MQTT protocol, allowing seamless integration into data platforms and digital twin environments. Internal buffering guarantees reliable data capture, even during temporary network interruptions.
The result
Reliable data and a strong partnership for sustainable innovation
With the measurement systems in place, ConstrucThor now has a robust and scalable infrastructure for monitoring sustainable building technologies in real world conditions. Researchers can collect accurate, continuous data that supports the development and validation of climate neutral construction methods.
The close cooperation between CN Rood and Gantner Instruments ensured that the right technology and expertise were delivered for this advanced research environment. By supplying the required systems and technical support, CN Rood enabled a reliable measurement platform that helps accelerate innovation in sustainable building design and infrastructure.
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