Technical Papers
Jun 23, 2014

Enhanced Boundary Condition–Based Approach for Construction Location Sensing Using RFID and RTK GPS

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 140, Issue 10

Abstract

The radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has proven its potential in locating and tracking construction resources, a critical task in construction project control. However, the main challenge is how to achieve desired levels of locating accuracy. This paper presents an enhanced boundary condition method that incorporates the tag-reader angle and the reader geometric configuration factors to control the accuracy of a locating system that integrates RFID and real time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS). Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to assess their effects and create quality control filters. This study demonstrated the relationship between the detecting range and the tag-reader angle and used it to separate valid/invalid boundary points. Spatial dilution of precision (SDOP) was formulated to measure the geometric configuration of readers forming the boundary constraint. Correlating SDOP to the locating error through a polynomial regression model, a mechanism was created to use SDOP to predict and control the locating accuracy. Open field experiments validated that appropriate SDOP, and tag-reader angle filters could be created to achieve varying levels of accuracy.

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Acknowledgments

This presented research was partially funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) via Grant CMMI-1265895. The writers gratefully acknowledge NSF’s support. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 140Issue 10October 2014

History

Received: Dec 3, 2013
Accepted: Apr 25, 2014
Published online: Jun 23, 2014
Published in print: Oct 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Nov 23, 2014

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Assistant Professor, Dept. of Construction, School of Engineering, Southern Illinois Univ. at Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62025. E-mail: [email protected]
Master Student, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue Univ., 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907. E-mail: [email protected]
Chenxi Yuan [email protected]
Master Student, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue Univ., 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907. E-mail: [email protected]
Hubo Cai, M.ASCE [email protected]
Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Division of Construction Engineering and Management, Purdue Univ., 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Vineet R. Kamat, M.ASCE [email protected]
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Michigan, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. E-mail: [email protected]

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