• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.187-194
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• 2011

Optimizing truck dispatching-intervals is imperative in ready mixed concrete (RMC) delivery process. Intervals shorter than optimal may induce queuing of idle trucks at a construction site, resulting in a long delivery cycle time. On the other hand, intervals longer than optimal can trigger work discontinuity due to a lack of available trucks where required. Therefore, the RMC delivery process should be systematically scheduled in order to minimize the occurrence of waiting trucks as well as guarantee work continuity. However, it is challenging to find optimal intervals, particularly in urban areas, due to variations in both traffic conditions and concrete placement rates at the site. Truck dispatching intervals are usually determined based on the concrete plant managers' intuitive judgments, without sufficient and reliable information regarding traffic and site conditions. Accordingly, the RMC delivery process often experiences inefficiency and/or work discontinuity. Automatic data collection (ADC) techniques (e.g., RFID or GPS) can be effective tools to assist plant managers in finding optimal dispatching intervals, thereby enhancing delivery performance. However, quantitative evidence of the extent of performance improvement has rarely been reported to data, and this is a central reason for a general reluctance within the industry to embrace these techniques, despite their potential benefits. To address this issue, this research reports on the development of a discrete event simulation model and its application to a large-scale building project in Abu Dhabi. The simulation results indicate that ADC techniques can reduce the truck idle time at site by 57% and also enhance the pouring continuity in the RMC delivery process.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.468-481
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• 2011

This research presents a strategy and information system to manage the logistics of delivery ready mixed concrete (RMC) under the integrated environment of PMIS+RFID. PMIS is system tool and technique used in construction sectors to delivery information. Information that can be extracted electronically in real time is more valuable than data gathered and maintained manually. RFID technology can help to improve data accuracy through supply chains and by identifying products and objects at specific points through automatic identification. The objectives of these two implementations can be able to improve the efficiency of logistics management for RMC truck process, and to verify the technical and practical feasibility of PMIS+RFID application in construction industry. This may be realistic given the dynamics of daily activities on construction sites. This research is focused on examples on real world case study, applications and research theme related and connected to PMIS+RFID technology. It demonstrated that PMIS+RFID technology has been automatically implemented and has shown process information about the RMC truck and the overall status information about it, both quickly and accurately. As a result, the construction site where needs 300 $m^3$ pouring (50 RMC trucks) per day can be reduced total 250 minutes. Moreover, this time saving is related to the labour cost saving. From the case studies, RFID+PMIS system was proven in terms of effectiveness rather than current method.