Construction Group Seeks to Build Support for RFID

"We believe the progress [of RFID in construction] will be cautious," Faria states. "However, it will move forward and gain momentum over time." The group will start by publicizing itself and its plans to the industry. "In the short term," he says, "we want to become known to the community, present our value proposition to the industry, and promote membership while we start building our Web site." The Web site will include a virtual library, as well as areas for discussion, information requests, and general information. "We would look at each particular case and recommend the concept that best fit the problem," he says. "It will be up to the system integrators and the customers to agree on specific brands, hardware and software."

Later this year, the group plans to launch workshops, seminars and discussions regarding testing standards, and would like to partner not only with the industry, but also with universities, trade associations, governments and standards bodies. "Our initial plans," Faria explains, "are to collect thoughts from our members and listen to key problems that need to be addressed immediately."

In the meantime, FIATECH will continue to focus on speeding the development and deployment of technologies in the construction industry. The organization recently completed a study of RFID for tracking tools as a benchmark comparing radio frequency identification and bar-code technologies. In the past four years, Rabuck says, the group has also completed pipe-tracking and concrete maturity studies using RFID and sensors (see Case Builds for RFID in Construction).

Today, FIATECH supports the use of the ISO 15926 standard, which focuses on data integration and sharing for industrial automation systems in oil and gas plants and other production facilities, as well as the possible adoption of its framework for RFID tag standards and transactions in the construction industry. With the standard in mind, FIATECH has helped to develop iRing, a set of open-source Web-based software solutions for the construction industry, complying with ISO 15926.

FIATECH also conducted a study with RFID vendor Identec Solutions and software company InSync to combine the use of GPS and active RFID tags for construction yard management. The study involved the technologies' use for tracking prefabricated components.