Materials management is a critical factor in construction project performance, particularly in the industrial sector. Research has shown that construction materials and installed equipment may constitute more than 50% of the total cost for a typical industrial project. Therefore the proper management of this single largest component can improve the productivity and cost efficiency of a project and help ensure its timely completion. One of the major problems associated with construction materials management is tracking materials in the supply chain and tracking their locations at job sites. Identification is integral to this process. Research projects conducted during the last decade to automate the identification and tracking of materials have concluded that such automation can increase productivity and cost efficiency as well as improve schedule performance, reduce the number of lost items, improve route and site optimization, and improve data entry. However, these technologies have been rapidly evolving, and knowledge concerning their implementation is sparse. One new approach enables locating of components within a few meters at a cost at least a magnitude lower than preceding technologies. It works by combining GPS located reads of RFID tags read at a rate of several thousand Hertz in order to estimate the location of these inexpensive tags which are attached to key construction materials. This technology was rapidly prototyped and deployed on two large industrial construction projects in 2007 and 2008. This thesis analyzes and synthesizes the data and experiences from these unique and large scale field trials as well as the literature in order to develop a general implementation model for automated construction materials tracking for industrial projects. It is concluded from the model that this new automated construction materials tracking technology is likely to be successful if implemented full scale on well selected future projects. This conclusion is supported by subsequent industry decisions.

Materials management is a critical factor in construction project performance, particularly in the industrial sector. Research has shown that construction materials and installed equipment may constitute more than 50% of the total cost for a typical industrial project. Therefore the proper management of this single largest component can improve the productivity and cost efficiency of a project and help ensure its timely completion. One of the major problems associated with construction materials management is tracking materials in the supply chain and tracking their locations at job sites. Identification is integral to this process. Research projects conducted during the last decade to automate the identification and tracking of materials have concluded that such automation can increase productivity and cost efficiency as well as improve schedule performance, reduce the number of lost items, improve route and site optimization, and improve data entry. However, these technologies have been rapidly evolving, and knowledge concerning their implementation is sparse. One new approach enables locating of components within a few meters at a cost at least a magnitude lower than preceding technologies. It works by combining GPS located reads of RFID tags read at a rate of several thousand Hertz in order to estimate the location of these inexpensive tags which are attached to key construction materials. This technology was rapidly prototyped and deployed on two large industrial construction projects in 2007 and 2008. This thesis analyzes and synthesizes the data and experiences from these unique and large scale field trials as well as the literature in order to develop a general implementation model for automated construction materials tracking for industrial projects. It is concluded from the model that this new automated construction materials tracking technology is likely to be successful if implemented full scale on well selected future projects. This conclusion is supported by subsequent industry decisions.

[pt] Essa dissertação apresenta as tecnologias de radiofrequência e geoposicionamento (RFID/GPS) associadas. A questão fundamental para esse estudo seria a implementação de um sistema baseado em RFID que permita o rastreamento de ferramentas especiais e a localização destas em tempo real. Essas ferramentas são usadas no processo para produção “offshore” de óleo e gás. Como se trata de investimento em uma tecnologia inovadora é relevante considerar a análise financeira do negócio e, portanto se recomenda o cálculo do Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e consequentemente o retorno sobre o investimento (ROI). A análise econômica foi baseada em uma fase de operação onde há postergação do óleo e a inoperância com sonda, cujos custos são parâmetros que expressam valores em moeda mais significativos. Os resultados mostraram que o valor investido é recuperado em 4 anos e são potencializados quando há tendência de elevação no preço do óleo, alta produtividade do campo e redução dos custos decorrente da melhoria de equipamentos ou pelo aumento da demanda desses. Os resultados obtidos permitiram avaliar e comparar não apenas o retorno do investimento, como benefício de impacto, mas também perceber e avaliar os benefícios agregados à cadeia de valor que certamente vinculada a demanda pressionará a evolução de novas tecnologias em função de mudanças e procedimentos. / [en] This dissertation presents the radio frequency technologies and geopositioning (RFID and GPS) associated with it. The fundamental question for this study would be the implementation of a system based on RFID, which would allow the tracking and the location of these special tools in real time. These tools are used in the process for offshore production of oil and gas. As it comes to investment in innovative technology is relevant considering business and financial analysis, so it is recommended the calculation of the net present value (NPV) and therefore the return on investment (ROI). The economic analysis was based on a phase of operation where there is a delay of oil and ineptitude with the drilling rigs, which costs are parameters that express the most significant currency values. The results showed that the amount invested is recovered in 4 years and are enhanced when: there is a tendency to rise in price of oil, the field features high productivity and as there will be an increased demand and improvements in RFID equipment, the investment costs tend to decrease. The results obtained made it possible to evaluate and compare not only the return on investment, as the benefit of impact, but also realize and assess the benefits of value chain aggregates that certainly linked to the demand will put pressure on the evolution of new technologies in the light of changes and procedures.