Experimental Study on Location Tracking of Construction Resources Using UWB for Better Productivity and Safety

There is a growing demand for accurate and up-to-date information in the construction industry. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Real-Time Location Systems (RTLSs) enable tracking and visualization of resources on site and give more awareness to the construction staff in near real time. This research investigates how UWB technology can improve productivity and safety in construction projects. The requirements of the RTLSs are identified in terms of safety and productivity management. The usability of RTLSs in the construction industry is tested by the collection of data from a construction site and organizing them into useful information needed for management. It was found that UWB is an effective tool to monitor construction resources because it provides accurate information in near real time. However, good understanding of the requirements and filtering the data are necessary in order to get the best benefit of the technology for productivity and safety purposes.