2011 International Conference on Information and Electronics Engineering
IPCSIT vol.6 (2011) © (2011) IACSIT Press, Singapore
Architecture Design for Location Information Management System on
Construction Site
Jae-Sun Park 1, Jang-Ryul Kim 2, Jong-Hwa Kim 3, Woo-young Sun 4 and Mu-Wook Pyeon 5 +
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Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Konkuk University, Korea
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Department of Civil Engineering, Konkuk University, Korea
Abstract. Recently, there have been active efforts to improve safety and constructability through location
information management of construction resources. In particular, a separate architecture to collect and
transfer data is needed in order to simultaneously operate different types of location information devices
including GPS and RTLS. A system architecture which processes and applies the collected data is also
required. In this regard, this study suggests a location information data architecture appropriate to the current
circumstances.
Keywords: Location Information, Management System, Architecture Design, Construction Site, GIS
1. Introduction
1.1. Research Trend and Method
The recent IT development and convergence of technologies of different areas are leading to the
emergence of cutting-edge construction technology, among which information-oriented construction is
aiming at the effective management of construction work by managing and applying various information.
Especially it intends to collect dynamic location information of construction resources (material, equipment,
human resources) among various information handled on the actual construction site and efficiently manage
them to not only enhance safety but also make effective use of construction costs. To operate different types
of location information devices including GPS and RTLS in a certain area such as construction site, a
separate architecture is needed to efficiently collect and transmit data. Most solutions required to
simultaneously run a number of location information collection devices are developed and supplied by
device manufacturers. But since different types of equipment are attached by construction resources
including human resources, equipment and materials and different solutions specialized for the devices by
manufacturers are provided, it is required to additionally integrate such special solutions for data collection
and management. In order to efficiently eliminate this limitation, this study suggests the architecture for
GIS(Geographic Information System)-based location information management system on construction sites.
1.2. Definition of System
Location information management system on construction sites is defined as the system that construction
resources (equipment, human resources, materials) attached with GPS or RTLS (or RTLS+RFID) tag on
construction sites firstly integrates location information and secondly integrates the system needed to support
safe and efficient operation on construction sites and various subsystems needed for monitoring.
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Corresponding author. Tel.: + (82-2-450-3459); fax: +(82-2-447 3435).
E-mail address: (neptune@konkuk.ac.kr).
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Fig. 1 Concept of System
2. Trend of Technology Standard
According to the definition of location information management system on construction sites made by
this study, the system is divided into USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network), UI(User Interface) which obtains
location information, and Data Interchange and Management. The technology standard for the abovementioned functions are described below in detailed categorization, standard name and description. System
architecture will be designed according to the technology standard.
Table. 1 Technology Standard
High-level
Categorization
Mid-level
Categorization
Middle
ware
USN
(Ubiquitous Sensor
Network)
User
Interface
Data Interchange &
Management
Standard Name
Description
ITU-T SG16:
RecommendationF.usn mw
ITU-T SG13:
Y.2221(Requirements for
support of USN
USN Service & Middleware
Requirements
Requirements for USN application
service support under NGN
environment
RTLS
ISO/IEC JTC 1-SC31-WG5:
ISO/IEC 24730, 24730-1
User
Interface service
MND-ISO 13407
Standard on RTLS(Real Time
Locating Systems)
Human-centered design processes
for interactive systems,
International Organization for
Standardization reference
number ISO 13407:1999(E)
Korean Character Encoding for
Internet Messages
UTF-8,a transformation format of
Unicode and ISO 10646
Application
Service
International
Service
Data Management
service
IETF RFC 1557
IETF RFC 2044
ISO/IEC 9075
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Information Technology Database Language SQL(Structured Query Language)
3. Architecture Design
The architecture suggested in Figure 2 is composed of Client Server used by those involved in the
construction industry, Application Server that processes data transferred from different types of location
information collection devices, Data Server that stores the collected data, and different types of location
information collection devices. As for the Application Server, it is structured to provide a common interface
to different types of various location information collection devices, so it is possible to efficiently operate a
number of different types of location information devices through a consistent architecture which can collect,
transfer, process and store data. Therefore this study suggests system architecture design as follows ;
Fig. 2 Diagram of Architecture
- To secure flexibility, it applies MVC pattern that separates Model, View and Controller, and it is
developed with MFC of MS.
- Server-side module is divided by layers by applying layered architecture. From the Client interface to
common interface layer, IOCP(Input Output Completion Port)-based proactor pattern is applied to develop
event processing.
- During the development, server module is separated based on the characteristics of the data associated
with construction or positioning/image monitoring.
- The interface between client system and positioning/image collection system is developed to check if
the synchronized data is image and then selectively use communication protocol (socket, FTP, etc.)
4. Characteristics and Definition of Architecture
Table. 2 Characteristics and Definition of Architecture
Classification
Elements of
Architecture
Configuration
Function and Description
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UI Layer
Controller
Layer
Sever
Communication
Layer
Application
Façade
Location Data
Application Layer
Positioning
Common Interface
Layer
<<MFC>>
Material / Worker
/ Equipment
Monitoring Client
<<MFC>>
Material / Worker
/ Equipment
Monitoring Client
<<Dispatcher>>
Communication
Process
<<Façade>>
Application
Divide Process
<<Proactor>>
Location Data
Process
<<Dispatcher>>
Communication
Process
Development of UI through MFC
UI Control and transmission of necessary data by synchronizing
the communication layer of server
Check if the synchronized data is image and selectively use
communication protocol (socket/FTP)
Check if the synchronized data is related to business
(construction), positioning or image and distribute the data to
necessary server module
As a component to develop a large-scale server application
related to positioning/image, it transmits and stores
positioning/image data and handles inquiries.
Checks if the synchronized data is image and selectively use
communication protocol (socket/FTP)
As a component which handles business (construction) through
Business
various clients by a number of users, it is developed and released
Application Layer
by subsystem. It works through a component that controls
responses for the construction-related requests.
<<Active Record>> A component that can access to application database and has the
DAO
function of inputting, revising, deleting and inquiring data.
<<Proactor>>
Business
Data Process
Data Layer
Application DB
GIS DB
Database that stores data used and produced in Application
A component that can access to GIS database and has the
function of inputting, revising, deleting and inquiring data.
5. Conclusion
The existing architectures that process and manage data by location information device have advantages
in terms of commercialization and individual module management. However, the above-suggested
architecture is more efficient when a number of different devices are involved because it enables the
integration of different types of location information devices into a system, leading to efficient operation.
Also, it would be helpful in providing various u-construction services including safe and precise construction
via real-time interface with the fast changing dynamic construction elements such as workers, materials and
equipment.
6. Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant (07KLSGC04) from Cutting-edge Urban Development – Korean
Land Spatialization Research Project funded by Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime affairs of Korean
government.
This work is financially supported by Korea Minister of Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime
Affairs(MLTM) as 「U-City Master and Doctor Course Grant Program」.
7. References
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[1] Konkuk University, "R&D on Renewal of GeoSpatial DB based on the Dynamic Construction data", 4th Annual
Performance Plan, Korean Land Spatialization Group
[2] J. S Park, Y. D Eo, M.W Pyeon, T.W Jung and B.Y Choi, The Development of technology to acquire and utilize
dynamic spatial information in a construction site, 2010 Proceeding of International Conference on Convergence
Content, 8(2): 321-322.
[3] J.B Anderon, T. S. Rappaport, S. Yoshida, Propagation Measuerments and medels for Wireless Communications
Channels, IEEE Communications Magazine, November 1994.
[4] J.S Park, S.B Lim, M.W Pyeon, T.M Hong and B.K Lee, Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry
and Cartography 2009, 27(4): 505-513
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