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Real-time
Construction-component Tracking System
The Need
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Accurate and timely identification and
tracking of construction components are critical to operating a well-managed and cost
efficient construction project. Establishing standards to support identification and
tracking technologies has the potential to enable the construction industry to seamlessly
integrate work processes at the job-sites. Knowledge of this information in a quick and
accurate fashion, would dramatically improve productivity and reliability. |
The Technology
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The prototype component tracking system
developed for this technology integrates field sensors, portable computers, wireless
communication, and real-time kinematic (RTK) global position (GPS) equipment. Individual
objects scheduled for arrival on the construction site are tagged at the fabricators using
bar codes or radio-frequency transponders (RFID). The encoded information is scanned
directly into a portable computer and wirelessly relayed to a remote project database. A
database query returns graphical representations (e.q. computer aided design (CAD)
information, or virtual reality mark-up language (VRML) models of scanned objects and
additional information as appropriate. These models, coupled with user-friendly web
browsing software, guide field workers through the acquisition of key fiducial points
using scanning devices integrated with GPS technology to determine an object's position
and orientation. |
Schematic information flow for discrete
component tracking |
The Benefits
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- Develop standards for part ID and tracking that the
construction industry will adopt.
- Develop means for real-time tracking of these items and
wirelessly transmitting that information to a construction project database.
- Demonstrate the utility of these techniques on full-scale
construction sites.
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Status
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The research on this technology will work with
industry to develop realistic business cases for deployment of the technologies based on
the standards. Collaborations will be sought with construction industry partners to ensure
that the standards being developed are responsive to industry needs and are compatible
with other industry standardization efforts. This
technology project is an extension of specific technologies developed during the National
Automated Manufacturing Testbed research conducted in FY98. It will be tested first at the Building 205 emission control system project on
the NIST, Gaithersburg campus, scheduled to begin FY 1999. The procedures developed during
this project will be extended to the much larger Advanced Measurements Laboratory
construction project (also on the NIST campus) during FY 2000. |
Barriers
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- The field data logger must be able to interface not only with
standard bar codes, but also with proprietary RFID tags, and a host of potential
"plug-in" position, attitude, and auxiliary "aiding" sensors.
- A standard uplink protocol is needed to permit third-party
software developers to enter the market and thereby develop specialty plug-ins which
access the dynamic database and calculate derivative quantities useful to contractors and
project managers.
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Points of Contact
- Karen M. Furlani, Research Structural Engineer, Structures
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 226 Room B144,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899, Phone: (301) 975-6078, FAX: (301) 869-6275, E-Mail: karen.furlani@nist.gov
- William C. Stone, Leader, Construction Metrology and
Automation Group. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Phone: (301) 975-6075,
FAX: (301) 869-6275, E-Mail: william.stone@nist.gov
References
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg,
MD <http://www.nist.gov>
- Karen M. Furlani and William C. Stone, Architecture for
Discrete Construction Component Tracking, Construction Metrology & Automation Group,
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Disclaimer Statement
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Neither the Construction
Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this
technology or represents
that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation. |
SL08 |
