PIRGOS (Pilot of a Retrofit System for Machine Automation) is an innovative project for the retrofitting of construction sector machinery, providing automation and teleoperation with the help of 5G connectivity. This process provides human safety and environmental sustainability and protection.

Industry 4.0 powered by high speed telecommunications networks (5G and/or 6G) is widespread mainly in Northern Europe, North America, Australia, Japan. In Greece and Southern Europe, the subject of networks upgrading and their applications in the construction sector is now getting traction according to our market research with certain projects making efforts for wide deployment (eg Target-X). The state of art lays its foundations into wired automation which highly limits flexibility and can hinder high speeds when remote monitoring is needed. 5G/6G connectivity ensures effective machine control (integral part of BIM), so that construction machinery can precisely execute designs, adhering to the exact specifications outlined in the digital models.

Environmental impact:
The construction industry has a huge environmental impact, from energy use, to emissions and waste. Equipment relies heavily on fossil fuels, and fabrication and shipping of materials are responsible for a large amount of carbon emissions, as well as several work accidents (including fatal).

PIRGOS solution has been derived by the long lasting expertise of the consortium with machinery upgrading and efforts to make construction operations more sustainable, by implementing 5G/6G principles to the construction processes. Demonstrated in real environmental conditions (construction open pit), the following environmental impacts are brought, allowing for full alignment of PIRGOS with the EU Green Deal and Fit for 55.