Using RFID’s for job-site productivity evaluation of labor and crews

Abstract

Radio frequency identification (RFID) provide unique identification of objects through non-contact scanning. RFID technology has developed to the point where the price point has made the technology pervasive for inventory control and management of commercial products. Inventory control and storage management is paramount within construction and RFID's provide a useful alternative to bar-codes and other inventory management approaches. RFID's have the additional benefit of providing short-range communication capabilities which could enhance security and theft prevention through 'geofencing' style control. Material and equipment management are natural applications for the technology. The question naturally arises as to the impact of RFID on labor management and how such technology could be used to improve job-site productivity. This has been explored through research performed on-site in the Middle East to track location of workers and to post-process information for productivity assessment. The results of the study will be presented, the advantages and disadvantages discussed, and future research directions proposed.