Wireless Ad-hoc Network for Trades Tracking

Published

October 12, 2021

Author(s)

D P. Starin, William C. Stone

Abstract

The NIST Construction Metrology and Automation Group (CMAG), at the suggestion of various members of the CII FIATECH consortium, investigated the possibility of developing an economical, rugged system for approximate localization of crafts and trades operating on construction sites. This report describes a method developed and tested at NIST that makes use of 802.11b protocols using a wireless ad-hoc client-server network. Location is ascertained through direct triangulation of signal strength from at least three transmitters. No efforts were undertaken during these preliminary tests to compensate for the presence of construction materials and non-line-of-sight RF phenomena. Rather, emphasis was placed on developing the most compact, field deployable system for the purpose of concept verification in a practically-implementable system. Explicit instructions are provided herein for duplicating the NIST experiments, which involved the establishment of a 40x40 meter square grid test zone in an open parking lot. The system was able to successfully track an individual moving about the grid and graphically display the quadrant location of the individual in real-time on a remote monitoring computer.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7033

Report Number

7033

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

801.11b protocol, CERF cubes, construction automation, crafts tracking, localization, position triangulation, trades tracking, wireless ad-hoc networks

Citation

Starin, D. and Stone, W. (2021), Wireless Ad-hoc Network for Trades Tracking, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed April 26, 2024)