Architecture Design for Location Information Management System on Construction Site

Jae-Sun Park 1, Jang-Ryul Kim 2, Jong-Hwa Kim 3, Woo-young Sun 4 and Mu-Wook Pyeon 5 + 1 2 3 4 Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Konkuk University, Korea

5 Department of Civil Engineering, Konkuk University, Korea

Abstract. Recently, there have been active efforts to improve safety and constructability through location information management of construction resources. In particular, a separate architecture to collect and transfer data is needed in order to simultaneously operate different types of location information devices including GPS and RTLS. A system architecture which processes and applies the collected data is also required. In this regard, this study suggests a location information data architecture appropriate to the current circumstances.

Keywords: Location Information, Management System, Architecture Design, Construction Site, GIS

1. Introduction

1.1. Research Trend and Method The recent IT development and convergence of technologies of different areas are leading to the

emergence of cutting-edge construction technology, among which information-oriented construction is aiming at the effective management of construction work by managing and applying various information. Especially it intends to collect dynamic location information of construction resources (material, equipment, human resources) among various information handled on the actual construction site and efficiently manage them to not only enhance safety but also make effective use of construction costs. To operate different types of location information devices including GPS and RTLS in a certain area such as construction site, a separate architecture is needed to efficiently collect and transmit data. Most solutions required to simultaneously run a number of location information collection devices are developed and supplied by device manufacturers. But since different types of equipment are attached by construction resources including human resources, equipment and materials and different solutions specialized for the devices by manufacturers are provided, it is required to additionally integrate such special solutions for data collection and management. In order to efficiently eliminate this limitation, this study suggests the architecture for GIS(Geographic Information System)-based location information management system on construction sites.

1.2. Definition of System Location information management system on construction sites is defined as the system that construction

resources (equipment, human resources, materials) attached with GPS or RTLS (or RTLS+RFID) tag on construction sites firstly integrates location information and secondly integrates the system needed to support safe and efficient operation on construction sites and various subsystems needed for monitoring.

+ Corresponding author. Tel.: + (82-2-450-3459); fax: +(82-2-447 3435). E-mail address: (neptune@konkuk.ac.kr).

2011 International Conference on Information and Electronics Engineering IPCSIT vol.6 (2011) © (2011) IACSIT Press, Singapore

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Fig. 1 Concept of System

2. Trend of Technology Standard According to the definition of location information management system on construction sites made by

this study, the system is divided into USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network), UI(User Interface) which obtains location information, and Data Interchange and Management. The technology standard for the above-mentioned functions are described below in detailed categorization, standard name and description. System architecture will be designed according to the technology standard.

Table. 1 Technology Standard

High-level Categorization

Mid-level Categorization

Standard Name Description

USN (Ubiquitous Sensor

Network)

Middle ware

ITU-T SG16: RecommendationF.usn mw

USN Service & Middleware Requirements

Application Service

ITU-T SG13: Y.2221(Requirements for

support of USN

Requirements for USN application service support under NGN

environment

RTLS ISO/IEC JTC 1-SC31-WG5:

ISO/IEC 24730, 24730-1 Standard on RTLS(Real Time

Locating Systems)

User Interface

User Interface service

MND-ISO 13407

Human-centered design processes for interactive systems,

International Organization for Standardization reference

number ISO 13407:1999(E)

Data Interchange & Management

International Service

IETF RFC 1557 Korean Character Encoding for

Internet Messages

IETF RFC 2044 UTF-8,a transformation format of

Unicode and ISO 10646

Data Management service

ISO/IEC 9075 Information Technology -

Database Language - SQL(Structured Query Language)

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3. Architecture Design The architecture suggested in Figure 2 is composed of Client Server used by those involved in the

construction industry, Application Server that processes data transferred from different types of location information collection devices, Data Server that stores the collected data, and different types of location information collection devices. As for the Application Server, it is structured to provide a common interface to different types of various location information collection devices, so it is possible to efficiently operate a number of different types of location information devices through a consistent architecture which can collect, transfer, process and store data. Therefore this study suggests system architecture design as follows ;

Fig. 2 Diagram of Architecture - To secure flexibility, it applies MVC pattern that separates Model, View and Controller, and it is

developed with MFC of MS. - Server-side module is divided by layers by applying layered architecture. From the Client interface to

common interface layer, IOCP(Input Output Completion Port)-based proactor pattern is applied to develop event processing.

- During the development, server module is separated based on the characteristics of the data associated with construction or positioning/image monitoring.

- The interface between client system and positioning/image collection system is developed to check if the synchronized data is image and then selectively use communication protocol (socket, FTP, etc.)

4. Characteristics and Definition of Architecture Table. 2 Characteristics and Definition of Architecture

Classification

Elements of Architecture

Configuration

Function and Description

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UI Layer

<<MFC>>

Material / Worker / Equipment

Monitoring Client

Development of UI through MFC

Controller Layer

<<MFC>>

Material / Worker / Equipment

Monitoring Client

UI Control and transmission of necessary data by synchronizingthe communication layer of server

Sever Communication

Layer

<<Dispatcher>>

Communication Process

Check if the synchronized data is image and selectively usecommunication protocol (socket/FTP)

Application

Façade

<<Façade>>

Application Divide Process

Check if the synchronized data is related to business(construction), positioning or image and distribute the data tonecessary server module

Location Data Application Layer

<<Proactor>>

Location Data Process

As a component to develop a large-scale server applicationrelated to positioning/image, it transmits and storespositioning/image data and handles inquiries.

Positioning Common Interface

Layer

<<Dispatcher>>

Communication Process

Checks if the synchronized data is image and selectively usecommunication protocol (socket/FTP)

Business Application Layer

<<Proactor>>

Business Data Process

As a component which handles business (construction) throughvarious clients by a number of users, it is developed and releasedby subsystem. It works through a component that controlsresponses for the construction-related requests.

Data Layer

<<Active Record>>

DAO

A component that can access to application database and has thefunction of inputting, revising, deleting and inquiring data.

Application DB Database that stores data used and produced in Application

GIS DB A component that can access to GIS database and has the

function of inputting, revising, deleting and inquiring data.

5. Conclusion The existing architectures that process and manage data by location information device have advantages

in terms of commercialization and individual module management. However, the above-suggested architecture is more efficient when a number of different devices are involved because it enables the integration of different types of location information devices into a system, leading to efficient operation. Also, it would be helpful in providing various u-construction services including safe and precise construction via real-time interface with the fast changing dynamic construction elements such as workers, materials and equipment.

6. Acknowledgements This research was supported by a grant (07KLSGC04) from Cutting-edge Urban Development – Korean

Land Spatialization Research Project funded by Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime affairs of Korean government.

This work is financially supported by Korea Minister of Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs(MLTM) as 「U-City Master and Doctor Course Grant Program」.

7. References

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[1] Konkuk University, "R&D on Renewal of GeoSpatial DB based on the Dynamic Construction data", 4th Annual Performance Plan, Korean Land Spatialization Group

[2] J. S Park, Y. D Eo, M.W Pyeon, T.W Jung and B.Y Choi, The Development of technology to acquire and utilize dynamic spatial information in a construction site, 2010 Proceeding of International Conference on Convergence Content, 8(2): 321-322.

[3] J.B Anderon, T. S. Rappaport, S. Yoshida, Propagation Measuerments and medels for Wireless Communications Channels, IEEE Communications Magazine, November 1994.

[4] J.S Park, S.B Lim, M.W Pyeon, T.M Hong and B.K Lee, Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography 2009, 27(4): 505-513

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