Wireless Sensor Networks for Resources Tracking at Building Construction Sites

We evaluate the technical feasibility of applying emerging wireless network technologies for resources tracking at building construction sites. We first identify practical constraints in solving resource-tracking problems in an enclosed or partially covered environment. We then compare pros and cons of available localization principles and examine the latest wireless communication technologies, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and ZigBee. We find that the ZigBee-based wireless sensor network and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) localization method are most promising to tackle on-site tracking of construction resources. Finally, we anticipate some application challenges associated with deploying wireless sensor networks for resources tracking in the practical context.