Choosing the right RFID technology can be complicated. There are a wealth of auto-id options for a myriad of tagging problems which in themselves are varied and unique. In a complex and crowded RFID landscape, how can you be sure you will find the right solution for your use case? In this article we will explore what RFID is, why more and more Construction companies are using it and how to source the right technology solutions to meet your business needs. 

Background

Although many of us are probably completely unaware, RFID technology is already around us in our everyday lives. From the way we pay for things to tracking our pets, we rely on RFID technology more than you think.

When we use public transport, hotels or libraries, RFID is used for access control. Think key cards in hotels. RFID is also a key component of many contactless payment systems and even our Oyster cards for the Tube that use NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. More about that later…

Farmers use RFID to track livestock movements, and we are able to locate lost pets through RFID microchips no larger than a grain of rice implanted under the skin. Some parents are even using RFID-enabled devices to monitor their children’s location in real-time.

RFID and the Construction industry

But what about the use of RFID in Construction? The industry is under constant pressure to improve efficiency, reduce costs and improve safety. Delays, mismanagement of assets and inefficiencies in stock and materials handling due to paper-based processes are all too common. 

RFID technology is as a critical tool in streamlining Construction operations. From the ability to track the location, condition, and hire history of your assets, to ensuring staff are qualified to use equipment that has been certified as safe; from managing stock and consumables to ensure the right materials are available at the right time, to making better management decisions through access to real-time information, RFID technology has a transformative role to play in optimising Construction operations, through ultimately saving time, controlling costs, maximising safety and improving quality.

What Is RFID and how does it work?

So what exactly is RFID? The acronym stands for Radio Frequency Identification. In essence, it is a way of using electromagnetic waves to identify and track objects using a tag.

The technology can trace its roots back to World War II when the British developed a system they called Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) to distinguish between friendly and enemy aircraft. In its simplest form, the system used a radar and transponder to identify aircraft. RFID still uses the same basic principle as the IFF system today, albeit more advanced and diverse.

Today’s RFID systems are made up of four components: a tag, an antenna, a reader and a database. The tag contains a microchip to store and process information and an antenna that receives and transmits a signal to a reader which can then transfer information to a database. So far so good? Hereon in the options available get a little more complicated!

Not all tags are the same – Understanding RFID

Tagging technology is complex and diverse. There are a huge variety of RFID tags on the market today, differentiated by frequency range (low, high and ultra-high). Each RFID type can be either active (powered), passive (un-powered) or semi-passive (battery-assisted). Not to mention NFC tags.

Passive UHF tags are among the lowest cost per unit while maintaining an average read range of 2-5 meters. The tags tend to last the lifespan of the application unless damaged by wear and tear, and because they do not have batteries, their lifespan is not dependent on a power source. So far so good. However, due to the frequency they operate at, they are very sensitive to both liquids and metal which can cause problems in harsher environments which are commonplace on Construction sites. 

Active UHF RFID tags can have a very long read range due to the internal battery, with beacons that can be detected by readers over 100 meters away. Tracking Construction equipment using Active UHF RFID tags is ideal because depots take up very large areas and assets don’t need to be in sight to be located or scanned, and can be detected as it passes through a gate on a vehicle.

They are not susceptible to metal and water and can also withstand harsh environments like being buried in snow or dirt. However Active RFID tags are relatively expensive because they contain an internal battery and also have a limited lifespan of about 3-5 years.

What about NFC tags?

Near Field Communication or NFC is best described as a subset of HF RFID technology, However, it does not benefit from the same high read range with a comparatively tiny read range of just 4-10cm. However, if you are looking to scan one asset at a time, the beauty of NFC tags is that they can be read using the NFC reader within a standard smartphone, so the hardware costs are low. Using an asset management app on the phone, you can gain immediate access to the asset information. On the downside, the short read range makes NFC tags impractical for large equipment such as tower cranes and they can be affected by weather and environmental exposure.

What form do RFID tags take? 

In terms of physical traits, RFID microchips can be mounted on or in many kinds of media from a simple ID card to a tiny glass encased implant that can be inserted under the skin of animals.

In Construction, RFID tags may take the form of a flexible adhesive sticker or label, they can be glued on using tag adhesive, they can reside in a water resistant plastic fob or even housed in a welded on metal casing suitable for the harshest of environments.

So, how do you know what type of tag to use? And in some cases, whether to use them at all?

Ultimately, there are very different use cases and implementation considerations between the types of RFID tags. 

When choosing tags, it doesn’t necessarily correlate to the value of the asset, it’s about what kind of assets you need to tag, how they can practically be tagged and what information you want to record about them. Lifting gear, for example, is a notoriously difficult asset to tag. Where can the tag be attached where it won’t affect operation, but will survive the weather conditions? 

Factors such as durability requirements, read range needs, cost considerations, frequency of handling and the environmental conditions all need consideration.

RFID technology explained

In terms of the technology itself, RFID tags can be broadly classified into three categories:

Passive RFID tags – these tags do not have an internal power source and are activated by the electromagnetic energy transmitted from the RFID reader, making them cost-effective and so suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Active RFID tags – these are equipped with an internal battery which means they can transmit signals over greater distances (up to 100 meters or more) and store more information, but also more expensive and passive tags, making them ideal for high-value assets, vehicles, or for complex industrial settings.

Semi-Passive RFID tags combine features of both passive and active RFID, using a battery for powering the microchip while communicating using the reader’s energy. They have a medium read range and are generally used for specialised applications like temperature monitoring.

In simple terms, the differences between these tag types are energy source, price and memory capacity. However, this broad categorisation can be something of a misnomer. It is better to look at RFID in terms of the particular application required as RFID tags use different frequency bands: Low, High and ultra-high frequency. Each behaves differently according to its frequency, meaning that they are suited to different applications.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems transmit information using three main frequency bands:

Low frequency (LF): 125–135 kHz

High frequency (HF): 13.56 MHz

Ultra high frequency (UHF): 868–930 MHz

Each frequency band has different characteristics, including read range, data transfer rate, and antenna type:

Low frequency – Has a short read range and is good near metals and liquids. It can be used for access control and animal tracking.

High frequency – High frequency has faster data transfer rates and longer read ranges than LF, but are more sensitive to radio wave interference from liquids and metals.  It’s used for contactless payments, ticketing, and library systems. 

Ultra High frequency – Ultra High frequency or UHF has a long read range and high data transfer rate. It is ideal for use in the Construction industry for inventory tracking, supply chain logistics, and large-scale asset tracking.

RFID in conjunction with barcodes and QR codes

Of course, barcodes and QR codes have their place. In fact, many organisations use a combination of barcodes, QR codes, RFID and NFC tags. For example, when keeping tracking of smaller or lower value items of PPE such as safety glasses, employees will scan a barcode at bin level to record the items being taken, rather than the individual asset.

However, RFID technology is far more sophisticated and brings huge benefits to the Construction industry. Because RFID tags use radio wave technology, unlike barcodes they don’t require direct line-of-sight in order to be read, meaning entire pallets or shelves of materials can be read as quickly as 700 products per second. This gives RFID tags a clear advantage when it comes to driving visibility and efficiency at the supply chain level.

RFID tags are also programmed to contain much more detailed information about the asset they are attached to. They allow the information to be read and rewritten so that an asset’s location and service history, for example, are always accurate and up-to-date. This factor alone is a major advantage for Construction companies, as this automated audit trail helps them meet their regulatory compliance obligations.

Forward thinking companies will also have compliance with GS1 standards on their radar.  The GS1 standards for barcodes and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) are globally recognized frameworks designed to streamline identification, tracking, and data sharing across industries. 

These standards ensure that businesses, suppliers, and the end-users can easily exchange data and identify products, services, and assets.

The future of RFID in Construction

The Construction industry isn’t tagging and tracking enough. As a sector, Construction is well behind Healthcare, Manufacturing and Logistics – and Retail who are driving the adoption growth. Here are three areas where RFID technology will shape future developments in the industry.

Tagging and tracking from the point of manufacture

Off-site manufacturing and assembly, or prefabrication, is the construction method of choice today. Tagging really could and should start at the point of manufacture. There would be a complete record of component tracking through the production stages, Quality Control documentation and checkpoints as well as real-time location tracking as the finished asset travels to and is received on-site.

Recording information such manufacture date, make, model, warranty documentation, serial number and part numbers would make on-boarding and ongoing maintenance far easier. 

Recording maintenance and servicing information from day one, starting with the Quality Assurance sign off as it leaves the production line, through to the full service and inspection history would improve quality, improve safety and compliance, increase asset up-time and extend its lifecycle.

Enhanced Data Analytics – going beyond automated reporting and compliance documentation

In the future, organisations will be able extract even more value from the data from an RFID solution. By merging it with data from multiple other sources such as: HR, time & attendance, purchasing and financial systems, and using tools such as Power BI, companies can start to achieve a deeper understanding of how their business performs to make better, faster management decisions.

The Golden Thread of Information in Construction

RFID technology can significantly support the Golden Thread of Information in Construction by maintaining accurate, accessible, and traceable records through the unique identification of safety-critical components and materials and provide a chain of custody records for materials and components. 

RFID technology will be a critical tool in streamlining Construction operations. The Construction industry would see improvements in efficiency, safety, and sustainability and accountability through the wider use of RFID technology and asset management systems.

Beyond RFID tags: Looking at the entire RFID system

While tags are integral to the success of your RFID application, they don’t tell the whole story. Before choosing an RFID system you’ll need to consider:

Reader type: Whether the readers need to be mobile (e.g., handheld RFID readers) or fixed RFID readers (perhaps embedded in gates) and whether you can use existing hardware such as smart phones and ID cards.

Read range and placement: The range required for your application and the placement of the readers. Consider how far the reader needs to be from the tags and any environmental conditions that might affect performance.

Movement and speed: The speed at which tags will move through the read zone and how many tags need to be read simultaneously.

Tag frequency: The frequency required in the tags (tags broadcast on different frequencies, and this affects the distances from which they can be read, among other things).

Tag type: The type of tag required, i.e. passive vs. active vs. Hybrid. Dependent on the type, location, environment and the information you want to track.

Tag agnostic system: Choose an RFID system that is tag agnostic and works across barcode, QR code, RFID and NFC tag technology so it is scalable as business needs change. 

The software: Choose an app based solution for use on a smart phone, tablet or rugged mobile device where the data is managed via a secure cloud database.

Integration needs: Can the RFID system integrate with existing networks/systems, such as Coins or your ERP system? Providing a complete tech stack provides full visibility to a contractor. Even if this isn’t a  priority now, scalability is key as the business grows.

Audit trail: The way the system records data and the ease of accessing an asset’s audit trail is key to meeting your compliance obligations.

Global standard compliance: Is your system compliant with the GS1 global standards for barcodes and RFID to enable standardised and scalable deployment? 

In summary

Choosing the right RFID technology can be complicated. There are a wealth of auto-id options for a myriad of tagging problems which in themselves are varied and unique, but here at AssetTagz we will find a suitable solution for every use case in the Construction industry and beyond. In a complex and crowded RFID landscape, AssetTagz has the the knowledge and expertise to guide you through, relieving the   pain of trying to make sense of the technology,  –or the need to source any of it..

AssetTagz has more than 15 years’ experience in designing scalable asset management solutions. Our system works with any hardware (new or existing) and is tag agnostic so we deliver a turnkey solution that consists of:

• Appropriate tags for all asset types
• A system that works standalone, or that integrates with incumbent networks and ERP systems
• A clever app for a smartphone, tablet or rugged device managed through a secure and robust cloud database.

We are here to advise and guide you on the best RFID set up for your organisation’s individual needs. Please contact us at info@assettagz.com

About AssetTagz

AssetTagz are experts in asset tracking and management using RFID, barcodes, QR codes and more. Our software is technology agnostic, it works with every type of RFID tag and operates using iOS and Windows. 

We work actively with GS1, collaborating with them to improve supply chain efficiency, traceability, and information sharing across the entire construction industry supply chain.

The Smart Asset Management Solution serving Construction, Mining, Oil & Gas, National & Local Government, Financial Services, Security and Emergency Services. AssetTagz has been designed with four key business drivers in mind: saving time, controlling costs, maximising safety and improving quality. 

Winner of the Editor’s Choice award in the 2023 Construction Computing Awards, AssetTagz is a multi-award winning, proven asset management solution that uses a clever app installed on a smart phone, tablet or rugged mobile device. Assets are identified using RFID tags, NFC touch tags or barcodes, all managed through a secure cloud database. 

AssetTagz manages over twenty million assets worldwide, from tower cranes to hand tools on major Construction projects to mining equipment and oil & gas exploration equipment in the UK, South Africa and the USA. 

From procurement through to disposal, AssetTagz manages the entire lifecycle of an asset. 

AssetTagz software allows the user to: 

• Identify asset status and history 
• Create and maintain an Asset Register 
• Enforce Health & Safety compliance 
• Automate Inspections, Maintenance schedules and Site Safety checklists 
• Manage and monitor employee credentials and training 
• Manage stock and consumables 
• Analyse data across multiple departments 

With rapid implementation and best in class training, AssetTagz can add immediate value to your business operations.

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info@assettagz.com

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