RFID Applications for Construction RFID Applications for Construction of Transportation Projects of Transportation Projects

Edward JaselskisEdward JaselskisProfessor, Iowa State UniversityProfessor, Iowa State University

Program Director, NSFProgram Director, NSFWashington, D.C. October 17, 2006Washington, D.C. October 17, 2006

OutlineOutlineAsset TrackingAsset Tracking–– Bulk and Engineered MaterialsBulk and Engineered Materials–– Tools (individually and in tool boxes)Tools (individually and in tool boxes)

Quality ControlQuality Control–– Concrete cylindersConcrete cylinders

RFID in an Integrated System EnvironmentRFID in an Integrated System EnvironmentRFID for Transportation Infrastructure RFID for Transportation Infrastructure ApplicationsApplicationsConclusionConclusion

Asset TrackingAsset TrackingTracking bulk and engineering items using passive Tracking bulk and engineering items using passive RFID tags in late 90RFID tags in late 90’’ssPipe Supports/hangers received using RFID on two Pipe Supports/hangers received using RFID on two Bechtel projects (Red Hills and Exxon Baytown)Bechtel projects (Red Hills and Exxon Baytown)

CII Report 151CII Report 151--1: RFID Applications for the Construction 1: RFID Applications for the Construction IndustryIndustry

Materials Receiving: Materials Receiving: RedhillsRedhills Power PlantPower Plant

Materials Receiving: Materials Receiving: Baytown RefineryBaytown Refinery

RFID TAGRFID TAG

Pilot ResultsPilot ResultsRFID StrengthsRFID Strengths–– Time savings (one instead of two people and quicker Time savings (one instead of two people and quicker

data entry)data entry)–– Tags Tags reuseablereuseable–– Workers receiving materials on site liked technologyWorkers receiving materials on site liked technology–– ““FlagFlag”” written to tag indicated received itemwritten to tag indicated received item

RFID LimitationsRFID Limitations–– Beneficial to have visual identification on tagBeneficial to have visual identification on tag–– Metal interferes with readerMetal interferes with reader

RFID for RFID for PrecastPrecast Concrete MembersConcrete MembersRuentexRuentex CorporationCorporation

Material Tracking Engineered Items: Material Tracking Engineered Items: Active RFIDActive RFID

ISARC 2004 (SAISARC 2004 (SA--0143) Song, Caldas, 0143) Song, Caldas, ErgenErgen, Haas, and Akinci, Haas, and Akinci

Current Identification of Pipe SpoolsCurrent Identification of Pipe Spools

Identification using metal tags is: Identification using metal tags is: •• TimeTime--consuming, errorconsuming, error--proneprone•• Pipe spools get misplacedPipe spools get misplaced

Truck Passing thru PortalTruck Passing thru Portal

AntennaAntenna

Cable to 4 antennasCable to 4 antennas

10 ft

14 ft

14 ft

6 ftReader on/off

•• II--D and ID and I--Q Tags usedQ Tags used

•• 83 Pipe spools tracked83 Pipe spools tracked

•• 4 days and 70 truck passes4 days and 70 truck passes

ConclusionsConclusionsCurrent active RFID technology can Current active RFID technology can automatically identify pipe spools accurately and automatically identify pipe spools accurately and precisely as they are shipped and received on a precisely as they are shipped and received on a flatbed trailerflatbed trailer

No. of antennas & traveling speed are critical to No. of antennas & traveling speed are critical to achieving 100% reading consistentlyachieving 100% reading consistently

Deploying RFID systems at major portals Deploying RFID systems at major portals enables one to automate tracking pipe spools enables one to automate tracking pipe spools through the supply chainthrough the supply chain

Tool Tracking RFID ApplicationTool Tracking RFID Application

Active RFID tags Active RFID tags attached to attached to construction tools construction tools and equipmentand equipmentAssure that workers Assure that workers have the tools needed have the tools needed to do the jobto do the job

Courtesy of Dr. Paul Goodrum, University of KentuckyCourtesy of Dr. Paul Goodrum, University of Kentucky

IdentecIdentec’’ss Active Tag SystemActive Tag System

•• Tools tracked on four sitesTools tracked on four sites

Pilot Project ResultsPilot Project Results

All Tags Survived All Tags Survived ☺☺None Impacted Tool PerformanceNone Impacted Tool PerformanceAll Provided Usable Read Range for Tool All Provided Usable Read Range for Tool TrackingTracking

»» Over 5Over 5’’ -- 1010’’

Did observe decrease in read range with drop Did observe decrease in read range with drop in ambient air temperaturein ambient air temperature

Tool Tracking in Tool Tracking in GangboxGangbox

Tested at the Zachry ConstructionTested at the Zachry Construction’’s tool s tool center in San Antonio, Texas (March 2005)center in San Antonio, Texas (March 2005)

–– GangboxGangbox ReliabilityReliability–– Comparison between Barcode and RFIDComparison between Barcode and RFID

Kang and SuttonKang and Sutton

Gangbox Test: ConfigurationGangbox Test: Configuration

eLink Receiver

RFID signal monitoring application

Gangbox Test: ResultGangbox Test: Result

Total number of tools (out of 210 tools) successfully identified in the gangbox

206 / 210 210 / 210

Lid Opened Lid Closed

ConclusionConclusion

RFID tags were reliably identified in the RFID tags were reliably identified in the gangbox regardless of metal interference and gangbox regardless of metal interference and tag congestiontag congestionRFID based tool checkRFID based tool check--in and checkin and check--out out process took less time than Barcode based process took less time than Barcode based processprocess

RFID for Quality ControlRFID for Quality ControlConcrete TestingConcrete Testing

E化作業資料庫

eMbeddedeMbedded Visual Basic 3.0Visual Basic 3.0Microsoft AccessMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active SyncMicrosoft Active Sync

Courtesy of National Taipei Technology UniversityCourtesy of National Taipei Technology University

RFID in an Integrated System EnvironmentRFID in an Integrated System Environment

Facility MgmtFacility Mgmt

Asset MgmtAsset MgmtMaterial MgmtMaterial MgmtPersonnel MgmtPersonnel MgmtTool ControlTool ControlQuality ControlQuality ControlSafetySafety

ConstructionConstructionSupplierSupplierManufacturing Manufacturing and Product and Product TrackingTracking

Depart. of Civil and Environ. Eng.Depart. of Civil and Environ. Eng.Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

bakinci@cmu.edubakinci@cmu.edu

Automated tracking and capturing of Engineered-to-order products using RFID

and GPS

Burcu AkinciBurcu AkinciAssociate Prof.Associate Prof.

EsinEsin ErgenErgenPhD CandidatePhD Candidate

Automated tracking and capturing of EngineeredAutomated tracking and capturing of Engineered--toto--order order products using RFID and GPSproducts using RFID and GPS

Problem: Problem: –– Product history information is needed for better facilities operProduct history information is needed for better facilities operation and ation and

management. Current papermanagement. Current paper--based approach is inefficient and based approach is inefficient and ineffective. ineffective.

–– Current barcodeCurrent barcode--based and manual material tracking is ineffective and based and manual material tracking is ineffective and inefficient.inefficient.

Opportunity: Opportunity: –– Providing Providing ““level 1 intelligencelevel 1 intelligence”” on facility components using RFID on facility components using RFID

tags.tags.–– Combining GPS and RFID for automated material tracking.Combining GPS and RFID for automated material tracking.

Targeting all phases: manufacturing, construction, facility manaTargeting all phases: manufacturing, construction, facility managementgement

Arrival to site

Construction site

Storage Installation5

3, 4, 55, 6

Information Items that are transferred

1. Manufacturing info

2. Storage & handling manual

3. Inspection info

4. Storage & location info

5. Status info

6. Final location at the structure

7. Maintenance info

Operations & maintenance

3, 7

Info

Maintenance

Manufacturing

Storage at plant

Shipping to site

Reader & GPS

Manufacturing Plant Reader

RFID tag is attached

1, 2, 3, 5, 6

4, 5

5

Research Vision Research Vision –– Level 1 intelligenceLevel 1 intelligence

RFID for Pavement MonitoringRFID for Pavement Monitoring

Plant Quality Computer Plant Weighting System

PLANT TAG ELECTRONICBOX

TRUCKTAGINGSYSTEM

PAVER TAGBOX

PAVER Computer

GPS

Amr A. Oloufa, Ph.D., P.E.Amr A. Oloufa, Ph.D., P.E.Program DirectorProgram Director

Center for Advanced Transportation Systems SimulationCenter for Advanced Transportation Systems SimulationUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida

Home Office (Server) Batch Plant

Construction Site

PCC Lab

Field Test Results (Slump and Air Entrainment)

12

3

4

5

7

Electronic Batch Ticket using RFIDElectronic Batch Ticket using RFID

6

RFID TagRFID Tag

RFID TagRFID Tag

8

Transportation Infrastructure Transportation Infrastructure Construction ApplicationsConstruction Applications

Tracking modularized bridge componentsTracking modularized bridge componentsTracking materials being hauled on (and off) Tracking materials being hauled on (and off) site (e.g., concrete, asphalt, soil)site (e.g., concrete, asphalt, soil)Labeling Labeling –– Concrete cylindersConcrete cylinders–– Soil samplesSoil samples

Work zone access control for personnel and Work zone access control for personnel and vehiclesvehicles

ConclusionConclusionRFID is a proven technology that can benefit RFID is a proven technology that can benefit construction of transportation infrastructure construction of transportation infrastructure projectsprojects