PIRGOS Lidar – Greece dynamically enters the 5G era in construction
The project PIRGOS (Pilot of a Retrofit System for Machine Automation), which is implemented by the MOBACT in the context of Target-X 2nd Open Call, is an important step towards the digital transformation of the construction industry in Greece. This initiative concerns the project machinery upgrade, with the aim of automation and remote supervision of machines through 5G technologies, promoting both the personnel safety, as well as the sustainability of constructions.
The application of the principles of Industry 4.0 and her high-speed telecommunications connectivity (5G/6G) has made significant progress in countries such as Germany, the USA, Japan and Australia. In contrast, in countries of Southern Europe and especially in Greece, the integration of digital technologies in the construction sector is still in its early stages. However, with the support of projects such as the Target-X, this reality is changing rapidly.
PIRGOS Lidar comes to fill this gap, bringing advanced technologies automation and remote control in construction. It converts conventional machinery (such as excavators, skid steers, bulldozers) into smart units, capable of operating with precision, efficiency and safety. At the heart of the system is the PIRGOS – Lidar System Made in Greece, a spatial imaging sensor designed and assembled entirely in Greece, specifically for construction site automation needs.
The project is being developed in close cooperation with the Wings ICT Solutions, one of the leading technology solutions providers in Greece. The Wings has undertaken the development of hardware and software of the PIRGOS Lidar system, leveraging its experience in IoT, AI and 5G technologies, while MOBACT focuses on their integration in real-world construction site conditions. This partnership guarantees a final product fully adapted to the needs of the construction industry.
The majority of automation systems up to now were based on wired solutions, which significantly limited the flexibility and the ability for remote supervision in real time. On the contrary, the use of 5G enables reliable and fast control, which is crucial for the interface with BIM (Building Information Modeling) models, ensuring the precise execution of design.
These capabilities make the machines not only efficient, but also fully integrated into a digital supply chain, which can meet the requirements of complex projects with lower cost and execution time.
The construction industry is one of the most energy-consuming and polluting worldwide, as it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, generates large amounts of waste and is responsible for significant CO₂ emissions. At the same time, it is one of the sectors with the most occupational hazards and accidents, often fatal.
PIRGOS Lidar offers telesurveillance solutions which reduce the need for human presence in dangerous areas of the construction site, drastically enhancing the employee safetyFurthermore, through the optimization of machine movements and her digital equipment management, is achieved reduction of fuel consumption, emissions and waste, fully harmonizing the project with its objectives EU Green Deal and the initiative Fit for 55.
The PIRGOS Lidar system successfully tested in real construction site conditions (open pit construction), proving the Functionality and the reliability of the system in demanding environments. The implementation of the project was based on the MOBACT's long-term experience in the field of machinery upgrading and the application of precision technologies in construction.
The PIRGOS Lidar project is not just a technological experiment, but a realistic proposal for modernization of the construction industry in Greece and the wider region of Southern Europe. It is proof that the technological and environmental innovation can keep up with the productivity, contributing to the upgrading of Greek construction activity, through the cutting-edge technology Lidar.
MOBACT, through PIRGOS and in collaboration with Wings ICT Solutions, confirms its role as a pioneering company in the digital transformation of construction sites, laying the foundations for a safer, more efficient and more green future.
