Automated Part Tracking on the Construction Job Site

Efforts are underway at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a web- based system for rapid tracking, identifying, and locating manufactured components on the construction jobsite. The approach involves the use of RFID and barcode identification systems, 3D long range coordinate measurement technologies, portable/wearable computers, wireless communications, high speed networking, temporal project databases, web-based data analysis, and 3D user interfaces to provide as-is and as-built component data at the actual construction site. These same techniques may prove useful for planning and execution of construction operations on other planets. Present research is focused on developing compact, rugged, wireless part status managers, interoperability protocols for data transmission, and 3D site visualizers which reflect the current state of tracked components on the construction site. Ultimately, these field measurements will be used to generate automated material acceptance and payment transactions, damaged component rejection notices, and production rate change requests to fabricators. This paper discusses the methods employed to achieve this capability in a prototype system.