Ali Motamedi

Localization of RFID-equipped assets during the operation phase of facilities

Indoor localization has gained importance as it has the potential to improve various processes related to the lifecycle management of facilities and to deliver personalized and location-based services (LBSs). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based systems, on the other hand, have been widely used in different applications in construction and maintenance. This paper investigates the usage of RFID technology for indoor localization of RFID equipped assets during the operation phase of facilities. The location-related data on RFID tags attached to assets are extracted from a Building Information Model (BIM) and can provide context-aware information inside the building which can improve Facilities Management (FM) processes. First, using the current location of the assets saved on the tags attached to fixed assets, an FM personnel is able to read tags from a distance and locate them on a floor plan. Fixed tags with known positions act as reference tags for RFID reader localization techniques. In this scenario, the user can also estimate his/her location by scanning the surrounding reference tags. Furthermore, the paper investigates an approach to locate moveable assets using received signals from available reference tags in the building based on pattern matching and clustering algorithms. As a result, a user equipped with an RFID reader is able to estimate his/her location, as well as the location of target assets, without having access to any Real-Time Location System (RTLS) infrastructure. Several case studies are used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed methods.

Role-based access to facilities lifecycle information on RFID tags

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based systems have been used in different applications in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO) industry. Applications are mainly designed for specific lifecycle stage of the facility and serve the needs of only one of the stakeholders. This would increase the cost and the labor for adding and removing tags and eliminate the chance of using shared resources. In this paper, the usage of tags permanently attached to components is proposed where the memory of the tags is used during the lifecycle by different stakeholders for data storage and handover. A Building Information Model (BIM) database is used for tackling the interoperability issues allowing different users to access and share the data. To securely and efficiently store data on RFID tags in ifcXML format, multi-level encryption together with role-based access control is applied on the data stored on RFID tags. Each user is assigned a certain role and can only access the part of data for which he has authorization according to a predefined role and the Access Control Policy. To explore the technical feasibility of the proposed approach, a case study considering both facilities management and emergency management has been implemented and tested at Concordia University.

RFID-Assisted Lifecycle Management of Building Components Using BIM Data

The AECOO industry is highly fragmented; therefore, efficient information sharing and exchange between various players are evidently needed. Furthermore, the information about facility components should be managed throughout the lifecycle and be easily accessible for all players in the AECOO industry. BIM is emerging as a method of creating, sharing, exchanging and managing the information throughout the lifecycle between all the stakeholders. RFID, on the other hand, has emerged as an automatic data collection and information storage technology, and has been used in different applications in AECOO. This research proposes permanently attaching RFID tags to facility components where the memory of the tags is populated with accumulated lifecycle information of the components taken from a standard BIM database. This information is used to enhance different processes throughout the lifecycle. A conceptual RFID-based system structure and data storage/retrieval design are elaborated. To explore the technical feasibility of the proposed approach, two case studies have been implemented and tested.

Extending IFC to incorporate information of RFID tags attached to building elements

We discussed the needs for adding definitions of RFID components to a BIM.We investigated scenarios to identify the related attributes of RFID system components.We investigated the relationships of RFID components with the assets/spaces.We proposed an IFC extension to incorporate the new definitions of RFID components.We validated and demonstrated the applicability of the proposed method through a real-world case study. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is emerging as a method of creating, sharing, exchanging and managing the building information throughout the lifecycle between all stakeholders. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), on the other hand, has emerged as an automatic data collection and information storage technology, and has been used in different applications in the AEC/FM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management) industry. RFID tags are attached to building assets throughout their lifecycle and used to store lifecycle and context aware information taken from a BIM. Consequently, there is a need for a standard and formal definition of RFID technology components in BIM. The goal of this paper is to add the definitions for RFID components to the BIM standard and to map the data to be stored in RFID memory to the associated entries in a BIM database. The paper defines new entities, data types, and properties to be added to the BIM. Furthermore, the paper identifies the relationships between RFID tags and building elements. These predefined relationships facilitate the linkage between BIM data and RFID data. Eventually, the data that are required to be saved on RFID tags can be automatically selected using the defined relationships in a BIM. A real-world case study has been implemented to validate the proposed method using available BIM software.

Signage visibility analysis and optimization system using BIM-enabled virtual reality (VR) environments

The proper placement of signage greatly influences pathfinding and information provision in public spaces. Clear visibility, easy comprehension, and efficient placement are all important for successful signage. We propose a signage visibility analysis and optimization system, utilizing an updated Building Information Model (BIM) and a game engine software application to simulate the movement of pedestrians. BIM can provide an up-to-date digital representation of a building and its assets, while computer simulation environments have the potential to simulate the movement of pedestrians. Combining these two technologies provides an opportunity to create a tool that analyzes the efficiency of installed signage and visualizes them in VR environments. The proposed tool contains algorithms, functions and predefined scenarios to calculate the coverage and the visibility of a buildings signage system. This system assists building managers to analyze (visually or by using statistics) the visibility of signboards, to assess their proper placement, and to optimize their placement. The applicability of the method has been validated in case studies performed in subway stations in Japan.

Location Information Management of RFID-Equipped Building Components

Availability of accurate location information of components decreases the search time and increases the chance of using shared resources. In our previously proposed framework, RFID tags are attached to components at an early stage of the lifecycle and their memory is used for various purposes throughout the lifecycle. In this paper, we propose to store various types of location-related information (e.g., current location, temporary location) on RFID tags. Details about how these data can help users (e.g., inspectors) find components in the operation phase are further elaborated. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the location data on tags can provide the users with their current location and predefined paths in the building. For example, a user equipped with an RFID reader is able to see his/her approximate location on a floor plan based on the information read from surrounding tags without having access to any Real-Time Location System. A case study is designed and implemented in a high-rise university building.

Integration of a Structure from Motion into Virtual and Augmented Reality for Architectural and Urban Simulation

Computational visual simulations are extremely useful and powerful tools for decision-making. The use of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) has become a common phenomenon due to real-time and interactive visual simulation tools in architectural and urban design studies and presentations. In this study, a demonstration is performed to integrate structure from motion (SfM) into VR and AR. A 3D modeling method is explored by SfM under real-time rendering as a solution for the modeling cost in large-scale VR. The study examines the application of camera parameters of SfM to realize an appropriate registration and tracking accuracy in marker-less AR to visualize full-scale design projects on a planned construction site. The proposed approach is applied to plural real architectural and urban design projects, and results indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Indoor Localization of RFID-Equipped Movable Assets Using Mobile Reader Based on Reference Tags Clustering

Indoor localization has gained importance as it has the potential to improve various processes related to the lifecycle management of facilities and to deliver personalized and location-based services. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based systems, on the other hand, have been widely used in different applications in construction and maintenance. This paper investigates the usage of RFID technology for indoor localization of RFID equipped movable assets during the operation phase of facilities. The location-related data on RFID tags attached to fixed assets are extracted from a Building Information Model (BIM) and can provide context-aware information inside the building which can improve Facilities Management (FM) processes. The paper proposes a new approach to use received signals from available reference tags in the building attached to fixed assets to locate movable assets. The approach uses signal pattern matching and clustering algorithms for localization. As a result, a user equipped with an RFID reader is able to estimate the location of target assets, without having access to any RealTime Location System (RTLS) infrastructure. A case study is performed to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed methods.