1. RFID Applications for Owners and Contractors
Carl Lake
Bechtel
Ed Jaselskis
Iowa State University
Radio Frequency Tagging Research Team
2000 CII Annual Conference
Nashville, Tennessee

2. Team Charter
Bring Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology information to CII members.
Investigate potential applications.
Provide manufacturers with construction industry needs.
Relate RFID to FIAPP.
1. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification Technology which refers to a branch of automatic identification technologies in which radio frequencies are used to capture and transmit data from a tag or transponder.
2. Another purpose of this team was to investigate RFID’s potential to enhance construction and owner operations by reducing project costs and cycle time.

3. Key Team Activities Research technology. Conduct industry workshop.
Perform and/or monitor trial applications and report results.
1. Technology was researched through extensive literature reviews and discussions with RFID suppliers.
2. The workshop included owners, contractors, and suppliers to explain the technology and brainstorm potential uses in the construction industry from both the owner and contractor perspectives.
3. The trial or pilot tests included:
- Contractor application related to material tracking of pipe supports
- Owner applications related to tracking smart instruments,
vehicle and personnel management, maintenance of pressure
relief valves, operator rounds, and real-time material tracking.

4. Radio Frequency Tagging Research Team
Carl Lake Bechtel, Chair
Rakesh Agrawal Piping Technology & Products
Chris DeLeon Rohm and Haas Company
Don Frieden SAT Corporation
Karen Furlani NIST
Edward Jaselskis Iowa State University
Ron Mathews Bechtel
William C. Stone NIST
Clark W. Stuart Black & Veatch
Note that both Don Frieden and Rakesh Agrawal represent non CII companies. Both played pivotal roles in this project related to the pipe support application.

5. Learning Objectives What is RFID?
Where can it be used in a construction and facility operation environment?
How can this technology benefit your company?
1. Learn more about the radio frequency technology
2. Understand how it can be used by contractors during the construction process.
3. Understand how it can be used by owners for maintaining facilities.
4. See how you can improve efficiency by using this technology.

6. What Is RFID?
RFID technology involves the use of tags or transponders that can collect data and manage it in a portable, changeable database.
“High tech” bar code label
1. RFID can be viewed as a sister technology to bar code labels.
2. RFID uses radio waves instead of light waves as is used for bar coding.
3. RFID does not require line-of-sight.

7. What Are Its Components?
Tags or transponders
Reader
1. RFID is an item identification and data storage system composed of RFID tags (transponders) and readers.
2. The tags contain a small integrated circuit chip and antenna, encapsulated in a protective shell.
3. The readers contain, at minimum, a scanner and an antenna.

8. Sample RFID Tags
1. Tags can be made very durable, chemical resistant, and nonflammable.
2. Wide temperature range.
3. Environmentally sealed.
4. Passive tags: transponder stimulated and powered by magnetic field emanating from the reader.
5. Active tags: transponder stimulated by reader, but powered by an internal battery.

9. Readers Telxon Reader HID Portal Reader
1. There are also dual technology readers that can read bar codes and RFID
tags using a two position trigger.
2. All these units are portable, lightweight, and rugged.
3. Comes with standard RS232 output capability.
Telxon Reader
HID Portal Reader

10. How RFID Works A C B Reader sends energy to tag for power.
Tag sends ID data back to the reader.
Reader decodes and transmits to the computer. C
Reader
Tag B A

11. Benefits Environmentally sound Not line-of-sight High security
Accurate
Fast
Long life
1. RFID tags operate in dirty, oily, wet, or harsh environments.
2. Difficult to copy code.
3. Fast and highly accurate.
4. Functions in non line-of-sight operations without requiring contact or an
unobstructed view.
5. Answer: What can it do for me?

12. Sample Applications Livestock/animal control Vehicle access
Personnel identification
Tolls and fees
Asset tracking
Airport baggage identification
Groceries
Stamps
1. Livestock/animal control (animal identification)
2. Vehicle Access (parking, gate control). SmartPass readers used at the gates to monitor equipment as it enters and exists a facility--replaced the clipboard. Rohm & Haas is implementing gate control using RFID.
3. Personnel identification (badges): Workers as the Rohm & Haas DeerPark, Tx plant use RFID badges to check in and out of the plant.
4. Asset tracking (vehicles, tools, cylinders, equipment). Maintenance of building and mechanical components. Brown and Root used RFID tags in tools but the experiment failed because workers foiled system covering tools with metal. The U.S. Army is using RFID to track sea containers. Caterpillar is using a combination of GPS tracking with RFID to help with location and maintenance issues.
5. Tolls and Fees (Ez-Pass)
6. Airport baggage handling at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
7. Groceries (in development)
8. Stamps (in development)

13. RFID Tag Characteristics
Active vs. passive
Read-only vs. read-write
RFID can be characterized as Passive or Active.
1. Passive System
Transponder stimulated and powered by magnetic field emanating from the reader; short read range (1-12 inches), unlimited life
2. Active System
Transponder stimulated by reader, but powered by an internal battery; longer read range (up to ~100 feet); 3-10 year life due to batteries wearing out.
3. Read-Only Tags
On read-only tags, information content can not be altered; small storage capability (1 to 16 characters), rapid data transfer speed (~8,000 bits/second)
4. Read-Write Tags
On read-write tags, information content is changeable, large data storage capabilities (8 to ~4,100 characters: ~500 words), moderate data transfer speed (~3,000 bits/second)

14. Costs More expensive than bar codes Potentially more cost effective
RFID: 25¢ to $250 per tag
Bar code: Pennies
Potentially more cost effective
1. More expensive tags have greater read range due to larger antennas. Need to buy in bulk quantities (1 million or more) to obtain the lowest cost tags.
2. Active tags may run off of various power sources and be cheaper than the passive tags.

15. Limitations Closed systems Metal hampers tag operation
Potential RF interference
Temperature restrictions
Batteries wear out (active tags)
1. Lack of standardization. Closed systems: one manufacturer’s reader cannot read a tag made by another manufacturer.
2. Metal hampers RF tag operation by blocking and canceling the signal.
3. Potential interference from other RF systems.
4. High temperatures will affect the tag. Tag will not make it through the galvanizing process.
5. Batteries wear out on active systems (will need a battery management program implemented).

16. Industry—RFID Supplier Workshop
Information Exchange
Identify Potential Applications
1. Fall, people attended including construction, owner, and RFID supplier companies.
2. Provided an information exchange to learn more about the technology’s capabilities and limitations.
3. Generated potential application ideas (e.g., material management; personnel management; time keeping; maintenance and operations including inspection, repair history, operating data, compliance records and equipment information such as purchase date, last calibration date, etc.).

17. Key Points from Workshop
Technology has its strengths and limitations.
Few construction RFID suppliers.
RFID should be used with larger company information system.
Bar code and RFID are complementary technologies.
1. Technology has its strengths and limitations for Construction
Strengths: data storage, non line-of-sight reading, operates in harsh environments, high reliability (low error rate), rapid data transfer rate
Limitations: lack of standardization, passive tags require close read range, metal interferes with signal, higher costs compared to bar codes
2. Few suppliers specialize in applying RFID to construction applications. SAT is one of the few OEMs that is interested in implementing RFID throughout the entire project life cycle.
3. RFID should be used with larger company information system--FIAPP
4. Both bar code labels and RFID tags should be considered complimentary technologies

18. Implementation Session
Learn more about RFID through a hands-on demonstration.
Obtain most current results on pilot tests from a contractor and owner perspective.
Explore how RFID can be used throughout the project life cycle.

19. Pilot Tests Contractor Perspective Owner Perspective
Material receipt of pipe hangers/supports
Owner Perspective
Installation of “smart instruments”
Maintenance of pressure relief valves
Operator rounds
Steel component tracking
1. Our team performed and monitored several pilot tests using RFID from both the contractor and owner’s perspectives.

20. RFID Benefits from Pilot Tests
Time savings
Lower rework cost
Reduced inventory shrinkage
Positive material identification
Reduced startup time
1. Time saving for receipt of pipe supports/hangers were primarily due to faster download times to Bechtel’s Procurement Tracking System (62% at Red Hills and 83% at Exxon Baytown). Time savings were also experience in the fact that only one person was required to receive these materials (47% timesavings).
2. Estimated that 1 day would cost $1 million dollars due to installation of incorrect PI installed.

21. RFID and FIAPP
Identified ways to integrate RFID technology throughout the project lifecycle to improve:
Productivity
Cost
Schedule
Quality
Safety
Several areas are identified where RFID can fit into the FIAPP process:
- Construction: personnel accountability, safety, rigging, preventative
maintenance, fleet management, measuring and test equipment, quality,
and material control.
- Owner: asset management

22. Implementation Session Panel
Ed Jaselskis Iowa State University Moderator
Rakesh Agrawal Piping Technology & Products
Don Frieden SAT Corporation
Karen Furlani NIST
Ron Mathews Bechtel
William C. Stone NIST
Clark W. Stuart Black & Veatch
Note that both Don Frieden and Rakesh Agrawal represent non CII companies. Both played pivotal roles in this project related to the pipe support application.

23. Product Display Read and write to an RFID tag.
Learn more about how RFID can help your organization become even more efficient.
Hands-on display