Radio Frequency Technology Incorporated Approaches to Equipment Collisions on Jobsites

This paper discusses a framework for preventing equipment collisions. The framework is built upon the understanding of the patterns of equipment moves and strategies for real-time assessment of potential collisions that are results of a study conducted as part of this research initiative. It consists of three components—real-time data collection platform, a visualization module, and a decision module. It involves ultra-wideband technology for precision tracking of equipment position in real-time. A prototype system is developed to test the technical feasibility of the framework and the incorporated technology. T-type tower crane is used as an exemplary case in the development of the prototype system. To test the feasibility of the framework, this study conducted experiments using two tower crane models in a lab environment similar to that of a cluttered jobsite. The system continuously measures distances between equipment and issues a warning in case of potential collisions. By doing so, it makes crane operators recognize dangerous situation in time. The results of this study show that integrating precision tracking technology and real-time data analysis method can produce capable tools for enhancing equipment safety on the jobsites.