10:30 AM

RFID Basics
New to RFID? Here's your opportunity to gain a basic introduction to the fundamentals of the technology. The differences between the various classes of tags will be explained, including active and passive systems, and the need for additional IT systems to build upon RFID in real-world applications will be highlighted. The session will also include a brief overview of the EPCglobal network, the future of ISO standards, ETSI reader regulations and the latest standardization efforts worldwide. Finally, the relationship between different standards in the area of RFID and EPC technologies, including the latest EPC Gen 2 standard, will be presented.

Speaker:

Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal

11:30 AM

Smart Chips, Smart Solutions
At the prompting of its members, FIATECH investigated commercial-ready and near-ready RFID technologies that can be easily adapted for field construction and operations, as well as maintenance applications. The project, known as Smart Chips, planned, resourced and completed eight in-field pilot tests of commercial-ready technologies in high-interest construction-industry applications, including the use of sensors to accelerate concrete maturity readings, locating and tracking fabricated pipe, tracking materials and assets, site tool management and structural strain monitoring. Last year, FIATECH completed a study on leveraging technology to improve construction productivity. Results and findings from this research will be presented and discussed.

Speaker:

Nicole Testa Boston, Deputy Director, FIATECH

12:15 PM

Case Study: The Use of RFID in Tracking Highway Coating Materials in the Supply Chain
Roadtech, a U.K.-based manufacturer, supplier and installer of specialized highway coating materials, has historically experienced problems in effectively controlling the movement and supply of these materials within its own internal supply chain. This has led to high levels of wastage, estimated between 5 and 10 percent. The company has required a new system that tracks materials from the point of manufacture to local storage depots, then tracks their distribution via individual vehicle-based work teams to the point of delivery and installation. Roadtech has recently been working with Construction Opportunities for Mobile IT (COMIT) to develop a system employing resin-encapsulated RFID tags, as well as handheld, portal and vehicle-mounted scanners, to solve this problem. This case study will present the results of the testing conducted to date, along with the proposed final solution.

Speaker:

Neill Pawsey, Programme Manager, Construction Opportunities in Mobile IT (COMIT)

1:00 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM

Tool- and Asset-Tracking Case Study
The various challenges involved in tracking different assets on a construction site demand different technology solutions. This session will review the options for tracking tools, individuals and construction machinery using a variety of technologies. Various case studies detailing the results of onsite and time-motion research reports will be presented. During this session, learn about the challenges faced in tagging assets, the benefits achieved and how to match the proper auto-ID technologies to assets to be tagged.

2:30 PM

RFID Applications in Construction, FM and Maintenance
This presentation will focus on how Near Field Communication (NFC), an RFID technology for short-range communication, evolved from a combination of earlier contactless RFID identification and interconnection technologies. NFC enables handheld electronic devices to access content and services in an intuitive way, by simply "touching" smart objects—such as sensors, RFID tags or other handheld devices—with communication based on inductive coupling. An RFID card or interrogator can be replaced with an NFC-enabled mobile phone, which can emulate both readers and tags. When NFC interrogators are implemented into mobile phones resistant to water and other conditions, they can be used in industrial applications. Mobile technologies enable entirely new service concepts and promote the rebuilding of current services, or make them more effective in the facility-management (FM) industry.

3:15 PM

Break

3:30 PM

Looking Ahead—Exploring RFID and Related Emerging Technologies for Construction
As the construction and facility-management industries begin to deploy RFID solutions, new issues beyond the selection of readers and tags begin to emerge. This session will explore some of these emerging issues, including infrastructure setup (communication options to consider in an open environment), alternative mobile devices as readers (digital pens and tablets, interactive hands-free or head-mounted mobile devices, and cell phone readers), and unique issues involving rugged and metal-friendly tags (including ATEX certification and data standards).

Speaker:

Francis Rabuck, Director, Intelligent Infrastructure Lab, Bentley Systems

4:15 PM

Preconference Seminar Ends