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A new 24-hour television broadcast will let viewers in Finland watch concrete dry in real time. The programme, titled Betonilive, launches on 3 April at 17:00 and will continue streaming until the concrete is fully dry.
The slow-paced livestream will be available online at Digita.fi/betonilive and on terrestrial TV channel 38.
The channel is operated by Digita, which is known for its role in Finland’s broadcasting and IoT services.
The concept combines construction science and slow television. A concrete slab has been cast with embedded moisture and temperature sensors. Viewers will be able to see both the visual changes in the material and a real-time data feed showing the drying progress.
“We wanted to offer something slower for today’s fast-paced world,” said Tuomas Kolkka, Head of IoT Business at Digita. “At the same time, this stream provides insight into the drying process and highlights the role of quality monitoring in construction.”
Betonilive joins a growing list of popular livestreams in Finland, such as Pentulive (puppy cam) and Norppalive (Saimaa ringed seal cam), but brings a new industrial angle. Digita hopes the broadcast will also raise awareness about the benefits of smart building technologies.
Modern IoT tools enable continuous monitoring of structural moisture levels. Kolkka says this is already improving safety and quality in construction projects. Ensuring concrete has dried properly is a crucial step in structural integrity and long-term performance.
The concrete slab and sensor setup were prepared by Mitta Oy, which provided its Wiiste monitoring system. The sensors are embedded directly into the concrete and transmit data on humidity and temperature. Mitta also handled the casting of the concrete itself.
“This livestream allows people to understand how this important material behaves during drying,” said Toni Luopajärvi, who oversees Wiiste products at Mitta. “It’s also a calming experience, whenever viewers choose to tune in.”
To access Betonilive via TV, viewers using antenna households may need to rescan their channels. Most newer devices will find the channel automatically, but older receivers may require a factory reset before scanning. Instructions are available in device manuals and on the Digita website.
Betonilive is expected to run continuously for several weeks, depending on drying conditions. The broadcast will end once the concrete has reached acceptable dryness according to sensor readings.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
