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Project Leader
Ajit Pardasani
Phone: 519-430-7085
Fax: 519-430-7064
Email: Ajit.Pardasani@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Tracking of Construction Process and Materials
Scanning RFID chips in Tunnel Liner Segments in the Armtec’s Woodstock storage yard. The RFID chips can be scanned through the concrete
Objectives
To enhance the productivity of fabrication, supply, and assembly processes of building material suppliers, component manufacturers, sub-assemblers, and general contractors by developing computer-based tools to improve the efficiency of materials handling through data integration.
Background
In the construction industry, time lost or wasted can be attributed to the traditional methods of handling and locating prefabricated components. Moreover, as components are installed in the structure, tracking as-built conditions accurately is time consuming. This project will develop computer-based tools to integrate information and automate work processes including material handling, logistics planning, and construction process tracking. This will reduce waste enabling construction companies to increase the productivity of their workforce, and become "lean".
RFID chips are tied to the rebar of a tunnel liner segment at a predetermined location before concrete is poured. The encapsulated RFID tag is placed in the area shown by the red circle.
Statement of Work
- Develop a RFID based Life Cycle Tracking System for prefabricated components.
- In cooperation with key industry Partners, undertake a case study to benchmark the efficiency gains through the use of computer-assisted tracking as compared to the traditional methods.
- Investigate cost effective means to produce as-builts for structures like tunnels and bridges.
- Investigate the feasibility of developing passive RFID sensors for condition monitoring of built structures.
Expected Outcomes
- RFID-based Life Cycle Tracking System to reduce wasted time.
- Reports and publications for practitioners.
Partners
Armtec, Woodstock and Brampton Divisions
Start/Expected Completion Dates
This project began in 2008 and will be completed in 2012.
Publications
Tracking precast tunnel liner segments
Pardasani, A.; Hao, Q.
Transportation Research Board (TRB) 2011 Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C., USA 2011-01-23)
[Full citation]
Location tracking of prefabricated construction assemblies
Pardasani, A. Vantorre, L. Dickinson, J.K. Thomas, J.R.
CIB IDS 2009-Improving construction and use through integrated design solutions (Espoo, Finland, 2009-06-10), pp. 1-12.
[Full citation]
Additional Photos
Different types of tags are used to identify components. The picture, top left shows a column labeled with a circular disk tag with the identification number 22C1. The steel beams on the picture, top right are marked as 33C1 for "DIV 1" erection sequence for the project identified as 10406. The picture, bottom left shows a wooden tag that was more commonly used earlier and the picture, bottom right picture shows a vinyl label.
Finding components in the staging area of a construction site after a snow fall can be very time consuming.
Overlaying layers of aerial picture with site survey on maps can help clarify the outline of the structure under construction. The ground features from aerial maps combined with the outline of the building can greatly assist field crew in locating the materials on site.
