Jang, W S (2007) Embedded system for construction material tracking using combination of radio frequency and ultrasound signal. PhD thesis, University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
Abstract
This study created a framework for integrating the latest innovations in wireless sensor network that automate tracking and monitoring construction assets, e.g.equipment, materials, and labor in construction sites. This research constitutes one of the few studies to incorporate emerging information and sensor network technologies with the construction industry, which has been slow to migrate away from legacy processes. The presented research works introduce a new prototype framework of an automated tracking system that will address the needed shift from the time-and labor-intensive legacy systems to sensor- and network-based collaboration and communication systems for construction processes. Software and hardware architecture for the new tracking system was developed using the combination of ultrasound and radio signals. By embedding the external ultrasound device with a MICAZ platform, enhancements to networking flexibility and wireless communication was observed over the previous technologies used in the construction material tracking systems. Feasibility study and testbed experiment on the position estimation were implemented to verify the localization algorithm presented in this dissertation. Cost benefit analysis based on quantitative approach implied that the presented framework can save the implementation cost of material tracking by up to 64 percent in a typical construction project. In addition to cost savings, the use of sensor-based tracking system can provide the intangible, comprehensive benefits in communication, labor utilization, document management, and resource management. It is hoped that the present work will describe a system that can effectively be used in a range of applications for tracking and monitoring purposes and will present a clear path that engineers can take to use existing wireless sensor technology in their particular applications. The cost of such hardware will decrease rapidly, thereby permitting large numbers of application scenarios to be possible in many construction sites with improved energy consumption, hardware performance, durability, and safety.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Skibniewski, M J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | durability; energy consumption; flexibility; construction project; construction site; collaboration; communication; feasibility study; innovation; monitoring; cost benefit analysis; experiment |
| Index terms: | construction material, energy consumption, monitoring, hardware, dissertation, cost saving, implementation, construction industry, localization, resource management, platform, durability, engineer, estimation, collaboration, construction project, construction process, wireless communication, wireless sensor network, feasibility study, radio frequency, cost benefit analysis, labour utilization, construction site, networking, prototype, experiment |
| Subjects: | economics, management, digital design, production management, computer vision, building construction, industry analysis, profession, data collection methods, research dissemination and communication, control systems, computer hardware, modelling and simulation, work location, building materials, design stages, digital technology, urban planning, communication, material degradation and durability, financial and cost management, energy systems, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics |
| Topics: | Governance, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Construction Materials, Cost Management, Organizational Design, Site Management, Human Resources, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Procurement, Sustainability, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here