The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) has just released a study concerning radio frequency identification tags (or "RFIDs"). Four years ago, MCERF listed RFIDs as one of the five key trends for the future of the mechanical contracting industry. The study, Measuring the Effectiveness of RFID on Mechanical Contracting Jobsites: A Practical Evaluation, which combined lab analysis with actual construction site research, was conducted by an academic research team from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln who worked closely with construction professionals from Waldinger Corporation. Research activities took place on the University of Nebraska Medical Center Project site and in Waldinger's metal fabrication shop in Omaha. Professor Tim Wentz, MCERF's three-time Educator of the Year recipient, was a member of the research team and served as the project's liaison to the Foundation. The project's three objectives were: identify and evaluate specific types of RFID technology for use in "real world" mechanical construction; demonstrate and test RFID technology for a small, but relevant, sample of scenarios involving inventory control, loss, and pilferage; and recommend strategies for implementation. The job activities tracked in this study were tool tracking, gas bottle inventory management, and ductwork put in place. The complete study is available here.

For more information about MCERF, contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@mcaa.org.