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Civil-Comp Proceedings
ISSN 1759-3433
CCP: 91
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWELFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIL, STRUCTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping, L.F. Costa Neves and R.C. Barros
Paper 90

Radio Frequency Identification and Building Information Modeling: Integrating the Lean Construction Process

J.M. Taylor1, S.A. Coady1 and J. Chesser2

1McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn University, Alabama, United States of America
2Atlas RFID Solutions, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America

Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper
J.M. Taylor, S.A. Coady, J. Chesser, "Radio Frequency Identification and Building Information Modeling: Integrating the Lean Construction Process", in B.H.V. Topping, L.F. Costa Neves, R.C. Barros, (Editors), "Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing", Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, UK, Paper 90, 2009. doi:10.4203/ccp.91.90
Keywords: radio frequency identification, building information modeling, lean construction, technology, construction technology.

Summary
The demand for increasing efficiency in project delivery has stimulated the exploration of new technologies which may be implemented to improve productivity of construction work. One particular technology that has recently drawn the attention of the industry is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and its possible applications within the construction arena. Many other industries have utilized this technology for multiple purposes, perhaps most often for the tracking of products, and inventory management systems. Currently, the prospective opportunities for RFID within construction are quite vast. There have been a handful of studies and experiments that have looked at different uses of the technology, resulting in new data that has caught the attention of industry professionals. From asset and progress management, to the locating of underground and in-wall utilities or objects, to the integration of RFID with building information modeling (BIM), the potential benefits of RFID to the construction industry will be a topic that receives more and more attention in the future. RFID technology, as applied to the construction industry is still in its infancy. While building on past successes, as revealed in the limited number of research studies, exploration of new uses continues.

There are, obviously, many uses for RFID technology in the construction arena. Each of these uses is aimed at utilizing resources in a more efficient manner and streamlining the project management process. Some of the uses are (1) personnel tracking and safety, (2) material handling and yard management, (3) tool tracking, (4) theft deterrence, and (5) integration with BIM.

The possibilities of RFID in construction have caught the attention of groups such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Construction Industry Institute (CII), FIATech (Fully Integrated and Automated Technology), and ERABuild (a European organization whose stated goal is to provide "strategic cooperation between national programmes promoting sustainable construction and operation of buildings").

RFID technology can also be utilized as in integral part of a contractor's BIM. Modeled elements can be associated with RFID resource tags and can be followed through design and construction. The resources in turn can be captured electronically and placed in the model as they are placed in the project. For construction projects dealing with buildings of an irregular shape, RFID technology and BIM can be utilized to spatially located elements more easily and accurately than using traditional methods.

RFID, in conjunction with BIM, shows great promise in the promotion of lean construction techniques in the construction industry. As the technology becomes more readily accessible and the cost of implementation decreases, this will be used on more and more construction projects. Once contractors start adventuring into the potential that RFID has, the greater the construction industry will benefit.

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