1. IntroductionThe term "material" generally refers to numerous products and services that an organisation
buys from outside sources. Regarding construction projects, materials required are classified
into capital equipment, construction machinery and consumables. The material is an essential
part of the project budget as more than half of the project cost comes from itself only. As a
result, the significance of material management may be appreciated, given that materials
account for a sizeable portion of building project costs.
Consequently, material management plays a crucial role in construction management. A
scientific method called material management is concerned with preparation, coordination, and
internal material flow management processes through to the initial acquisition and distribution
from a service location. Today most construction organisations have a separate department for
handling material-related activities. But materials, in particular, and supply chain management,
in general, are still inadequately handled. Managing materials requires a lot of collaboration,
coordination, and practical information management about these resources. In turn, this
requires using systems that collect, analyse, and utilise detailed real-time data regarding the
locations and quantities of the resources.
1.1 Background
The material cost dominates the project's cost; thus, managing the supply chain is essential.
The term "supply chain" describes the processes of all construction supplies going from their
origins to the construction site. The supply chain includes various stages like procuring,
accounting, transportation, and codification of resources. Managing these stages is complex
and can affect the project cost, so it is necessary to integrate information technology. The
construction industry's productivity has been at an all-time low for a decade due to its
inability to adapt to digitisation. In conventional building practice, material management is
separated from a workflow.
Additionally, construction materials management depends mainly on information
collected, recorded, and transmitted manually. From the manufacturer's store to the
construction site, detailed information must be registered correctly and made accessible to
others at each stage of the material-handling process. Human errors and communication issues
are significant contributors to the process's problems. To avoid these problems, various new
technologies can be implemented in material management, such as BIM (Building Information
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Modelling), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and GIS (Geographic Information
Systems).
2. Material ManagementMaterials management integrates a company's materials supply and associated
departments to maximise coordination and minimise material costs. From "award of
contract" through "material at the point of usage," materials management covers a lot.
2.1 Objectives of Material Management To minimise material cost.
 Procure and provide material of desired quality.
 Efficiently store, purchase, transport and receive the material.
 Reduce cost through simplification, standardisation and value analysis.
 Train personnel in material management to increase operational efficiency.
3. Advanced Techniques in Material Management3.1 RFID-Radio Radio Frequency Identification TechnologyRadio Frequency Identification (RFID), based on the wireless detection of
electromagnetic signals, part of the Internet of Things (IoT) integrated with Global
Positioning System (GPS), is among the most robust and capable solutions for connectivity
and real-time information supply in construction projects.(Dardouri et al., 2022) It provides
seamless connectivity to cloud storage using radio waves. The main benefits of this system
are resource tracking and improved supply chain management. It is used to capture and
transfer data between tags.
3.1.1 Components for RFIDThe RFID system will manage and monitor on-site inventory in construction projects,
requiring a core to process RFID reader data in real time. The centre must also support
visualising the system's output, i.e., the number of materials in inventories and their
location, to facilitate communication among the project's stakeholders. The system is
divided between hardware that gathers data and software that processes it and
displays it visually.
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System Hardware- It contains the following components.
a. RFID tagIt consists of a transmitter with an antenna connecting to the receiver and a
microchip for storing data. The created system uses active RFID tags with a 100-meter
identification range and up to ten years of autonomy. Automatic counting and material
localisation inside the construction site is carried out by it.
b. Antenna.
Radio waves between the reader and tags are transmitted through the antenna in
an RFID system.
c. RFID reader.
RFID readers often referred to as transceivers, are utilised to activate tags,
organise communication with tags, and transport data from tags to controlling software.
d. Arduino UNO.
Arduino UNO has higher computer capability than other platforms, connections
suited for the system's operation, and a database for data storage. It provides a
competitive performance/price ratio, low power consumption, and a fast response time.
System Softwarea. Server application-Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
The Arduino platform is an open-source platform that includes a microcontroller, a
programmable physical circuit board, and an IDE that runs on a computer and is utilised
to write and download computer codes to the microcontroller.
b. GUI using LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench).
LabVIEW, a graphical platform for creating complicated software, reduces
development time. The LabVIEW function palette includes decision and control menus,
programming menus for systems identification, numerical operations, logic, comparing,
scheduling, sequence matrix, and file processing.
3.1.2 Working of RFIDa) The tag is attached to the material, which is detectable by the reader and emits the
energy to activate the tag via an antenna.
b) The tags use the Arduino platform to communicate their Identity and location to the
reader and then send the received data to be stored on the local database.
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c) Then LabVIEW displays the gathered data to facilitate material-related decisionmaking.
Antenna
RFID Tag
Reader
Board
Server
App
Hardware
GUI
Software
Decision
Making
Figure 1 Working of RFID
Start
Start
Establish "Locate X" order in
user interface
Request received by
Arduino
Check product via tag
reader connection
Define
Product
Check in
Database
Check in
Database
Establish connection
with tag
Show product is
not available
No
Show product
not available
Yes
Identification of tag's
location
Figure 2 Flow chart for identification of product
Show
Product
details
Add
product
Show position tag on
user interface
End
Yes
No
End
Figure 3 Flow chart for localisation product
3.1.3 Applications of RFID in the Construction IndustryAs a part of IoT (Internet of Technology), RFID is likely to give various advantages to the
construction industry, including enhancements to security, privacy, safety, productivity, cost
savings, process monitoring, and worker performance.(Dardouri et al., 2022)
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a) Materials tracking and localisation
The platform's main objective was to identify the materials and their locations on the
construction site. Using an RFID system integrated with GPS made it possible to take
advantage of the benefits of both technologies while avoiding their limitations, as suggested
by previous studies. Accordingly, and based on the standards defined by a stable, reliable,
and cost-effective tracking and localisation system for materials.
b) Collaboration and coordination
The RFID system enabled instantaneous data collection from tags, enabling real-time
information sharing regarding the status and location of materials. Consequently, this
information is helpful in enhancing decision-making, partner collaboration, and activity
coordination.
c) Safety, security, and respect for human
The developed platform functioned as an automated system intended to prevent fatigue
on the expansive construction site and instances throughout the localisation of materials,
thereby enhancing these measures. Following studies that confirmed the potential
application of RFID systems for security reasons, the developed platform was also helpful
for keeping track of the materials and preventing their theft on-site.
d) Productivity and performance
The study found that the developed system improved productivity and efficiency on
site by reducing cost due to urgent purchases and cost and damages of excess materials,
saving time due to real-time information sharing, accurate and quick material tracking,
maintaining workflow, avoiding slowdowns and non-value-adding activities, and
improving along the supply chain.
3.1.4 Limitations of RFIDa) This kind of system is still confined to field testing, and further research is still required to
determine whether it can be used on-site and how it affects the construction industry's
development of the supply chain.
b) The platform was not implemented for a considerable amount of time, preventing the
gathering of time-series data which can demonstrate the platform's impact on various
measures at various times.
c) The current study did not present a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed solution.
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3.2 Integration of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and GIS
(Geographic Information System) in construction supply chain
management for digital monitoringThe industry recognises the importance of materials management. A glance at the
construction sector reveals that a significant amount of waste results from inefficient
material supply chain management. In this regard, it is suggested that information
technology (IT) be used to improve logistics processes and avoid delays.(Uzairuddin &
Jaiswal, 2022)
BIM (Building Information Modelling)It shows the geometric function of a construction project and helps construction
professionals work together well. It enables simultaneous collaboration on a single 3D
model by all project participants.
Geographic Information System (GIS)It can be used to analyse spatial and non-spatial data from a project site and simulate
the surrounding environment for digital visualisation that links building activities to existing
infrastructure.
These instruments have enormous potential for construction process automation when
used in combination.
3.2.1 BIM and GIS in Construction Supply Chain ManagementThe suggested model employs both BIM and GIS to provide a wide range of geographic
data evaluations early in the procurement process. A parametric model can define unique
and different measurable elements that reflect particular material and component qualities
and merge specific BIM modules.(Uzairuddin & Jaiswal, 2022) Utilising BIM, which
provides a solid foundation for recognising visualisations of material state, results in
significant enhancements. Many BIM systems have scheduling features and straightforward
operations for attaching the project schedule to the three-dimensional models, enabling
visualisation of the building's development over time.(Uzairuddin & Jaiswal, 2022) When
physical limitations make it challenging to observe the material condition on a construction
project, practical information technology tools can facilitate the development of workflow
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reports. BIM generates a report that details the materials available and their final locations,
which aids in the virtual monitoring of the supply network.
GIS is used to map the entire supply chain process, including source locations,
transport, valuation, and nonvalue-adding operations, to examine logistical constraints
associated with the distribution of materials. The GIS module uses graphic data analysis of
transportation networks and provider locations to manage delivery costs. Connecting
storage and transportation supply chain systems is an advantage of this method. Even though
warehouse and transportation management processes are involved in the supply chain
process, they can work together to map product movement and reduce costs and lead
times.(Uzairuddin & Jaiswal, 2022)
3.2.2 InteroperabilityThe exchange of information and data occurs through sharing files in interoperable
formats that can be accessed by other visualisation and modelling software. In this model,
the most recent version of IFC is used as the database server for geometry, connection, and
attributes. Even though this technique enhances the BIM and GIS data visualisation
integration process, it compromises interoperability. It cannot store large spatially
distributed building models on a server and modify their properties using an IFC file.
3.2.3 MethodologyStep 1- Specify the Elements and Characteristics of Buildings.
In this stage, building components are identified and categorised by material. The
collected data is stored in an IFC file. The IFC specification allows an object to be built with
different settings, configurations, and context cues. It assigns the meta-data and as-built
framework to a module in the IFC file. To have the appropriate resources in the right
quantities at the correct times while saving money and compensating all parties involved in
logistics management, proper inventory management, and supply information systems
require a large amount of data input. All data entry and modifications are performed through
the BIM software program's interface.
Four distinct product delivery methods are based on the required materials. These are
examples of supply chain processes: Engineered-to-order (ETO), made-to-order (MTO),
assembled-to-order (ATO), and make-to-stock (MTS). Engineered-to-order items are
custom-made to satisfy a specific engineering organisation's design specifications or needs.
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MTO items are made after a customer's order has been placed. Assembled-to-order (ATO)
products are likewise manufactured in response to a customer's request, although they are
often conventional or created using standard components (e.g., doors, windows). The BIM
module employed manufacturer and model information for ATO goods.(Irizarry et al.,
2013) Lastly, MTS products are consumables ( such as bolts) with short lead periods.
Step 2- Model for Visualisation of Material Availability
This phase involves finding all the accessible resources listed in the BIM model and
figuring out how far away they are from the project site.(Uzairuddin & Jaiswal, 2022) Since
the building components in BIM indicate what needs to be sourced, it is possible to acquire
the necessary information from BIM. Despite the vast amount of geographical data
employed by the CSCM, GIS may be beneficial for controlling the logistical parts of the
project. The separate GIS layers providing information on the availability of resources for
the current project permit the monitoring of available resources that meet time constraints,
allowing managers to employ supplies selectively.
Step 3 - Cost Estimation
In this phase, GIS-based topological research, such as network theory and feature
studies, were used to give the optimal solution for managing supply chain logistics costs.
To fulfil the logistical goal of reducing costs while providing value to the process, we may
save money by lowering inventory prices, consolidating many demands into a single storage
unit, or splitting incoming and departing transportation charges. Due to their substantial
impact on invested capital, transportation charges are the most important factors to study
when choosing suppliers. Transport options, storage availability, and product features are
utilised to estimate the optimal delivery prices and facility for satisfying the order in terms
of GIS module integration. In addition, real-time transportation data given by the GIS
module may be compared to anticipated (or as-planned) data to assess delivery success.
Step 4 - Digital Representation of a Logistic Network
In logistics management, GIS might be utilised to provide exact and current information
on the status of goods and resources. GIS needs current and precise location information on
resources to map resource status and provide warnings, enabling managers to react quickly
if a resource comes at the incorrect moment. In the past, many identifying and storing
technology, including barcodes, RFID, and GPS, have been used with GIS in the monitoring
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phase. These devices can simultaneously monitor geographical locations and detect new
materials.
Step 5 - Monitoring the Status of Materials
This module attempts to solve the primary challenge of material monitoring in the
supply chain system by providing managers with accurate data on material status, regardless
of whether stocks are located on-site or elsewhere in the supply chain. The material
availability status of construction materials recognised in the BIM model with matching IDs
and recorded in the tracking system is monitored.
3.2.4
Limitations of System
Although the combination of GIS and BIM offers a helpful tool for monitoring and
assessing CSCM, its applicability is limited in some ways.
 Resource tracking and material data location in this system are accomplished
physically or using barcode scanning, requiring manual input.
 Due to the system's reliance on BIM data (as input data), several issues may develop
when an element is absent from the building model (e.g temporary amenities).
 If data cannot be extracted from the building information model into the GIS system,
manual data entry is needed.
 Data integration and software interoperability constraints.
3.3 Digital Twin for Supply Chain Coordination in Modular Construction
The building industry has been drawn to modular construction over the last few decades
because of its advantages of lower project schedules and prices. However, timetable
deviation concerns in the modular building logistics process might derail its benefits and
impede its wider use. To solve this problem, a digital twin for real-time logistics simulation
has been created, which can forecast probable logistical hazards and the precise arrival time
of modules.
The digital twin is a virtual copy of the physical module, which utilises internet of
things (IoT) sensors to update its virtual asset in near real-time based on building
information modelling (BIM). The virtual asset is then transported and used in a
geographical information system (GIS)-based navigation tool for logistics simulation.
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A digital twin is a real-time digital clone of a physical item that includes the asset's
present state, attributes, and dynamic behaviours.(Lee & Lee, 2021) A digital twin may
represent manufacturing equipment, module components, transportation, warehouses, and
delivery vehicles in the supply chain process. They are using assembly workers and cranes
to visually assess the present state and development of the project. In addition, a digital twin
replicates multiple "what-if" real-world situations to precisely identify possible supply chain
risks, such as timetable deviation.(Lee & Lee, 2021)
3.3.1 Digital Twin for Real-Time Monitoring and 'What-If' AnalysisA digital twin is a virtual form of an actual thing or system used to identify and forecast
future problems during its lifetime. A digital twin consists of three primary components: the
real thing, the virtual object, and their connection.(Lee & Lee, 2021) Together, these
components enable real-time object monitoring, data visualisation, data analysis, and 'whatif' simulation to avert future problems and identify possibilities.
Suppose the digital twin is deployed in logistics with BIM and GIS in a modular
building. In that case, it can monitor and simulate various logistics scenarios in real-time to
forecast any possible logistical problems and to estimate more precise delivery routes and
arrival times for genuine "just-in-time" delivery. Furthermore, the whole supply chain
process (i.e., manufacturing, shipping, and assembly) may be simulated and linked through
the digital twin to determine the most effective operating methods (e.g., optimal module
ordering).
3.3.2 Digital Twin Architecture for Simulation of Logistics in Modular Construction
This project seeks to build and validate a digital twin architecture that combines BIM
and GIS at the application level for real-time logistics tracking and simulation in modular
construction. The suggested digital twin avoids the problem of information loss since it does
not combine BIM and GIS at the data level but instead transfers selectively just the
information required for logistics monitoring and simulation at the application level. We
examine whether the proposed digital twin can forecast logistical risks in near real-time and
how these impacts expected Estimated Time Arrival (ETA)s and subsequently schedule
development in modular construction.
As indicated, the digital twin structure consists of three components. This architecture
demonstrates how the module collects real-time sensory input (such as GPS) and changes
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the virtual asset in the virtual environment. This synchronised virtual asset displays the
progress of the current project (e.g., location of module and assembly status). The asset may
then be used for what-if analysis to identify prospective logistical concerns and develop
alternative strategies. The central concept of this framework is to establish a BIM-based
virtual asset to monitor current progress and request the analytics required for logistics
simulation in applications other than the digital twin.
Physical Space
Virtual Space
Real-time data (e.g.,
GPS) collection from
IoT sensors attached to
modules
Update live 'digital
twin' model based on
BIM
Monitoring
current
progress
Logistic Simulation
Transportation
risk
detection
Optimal route selection
Alternative evaluation
Figure 4 Digital twin framework
3.3.3 Architecture of System
The system architecture of the proposed digital twin framework is shown. It also
illustrates how data analytics for logistics simulation may be accomplished without
integrating BIM and GIS data formats into a single form.
The digital twin has a web front-end and back-end. The Unity engine powers the back
end. Unity allows real-time 3D content creation. Unity supports logistics simulation digital
twin platform architecture. Web front-end and back-end make up the digital twin. Unity
powers the back-end. Unity allows real-time 3D content creation. Unity enables BIM plugins for real-time information exchange and visualisation. Unity runs millions of
simultaneous physical simulations to evaluate "what-if" situations.
The project manager enters BIM data for a modular project (e.g., module geometry,
colour, material qualities, delivery, and assembly schedule) and simulation parameters (e.g.,
production rate, assembly speed, and transportation speed) into the back-end system. IoT
sensors acquire GPS data from modules in logistics. Unity builds a virtual object in a virtual
area by combining BIM and IoT sensor data. Geometry, position, and material attributes
from the actual module are in the virtual asset.
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Maps, a non-digital twin application, receives the data in real-time via the application
gateway. Map's API lets developers build map-based apps on their platforms. Maps deliver
truck turning point coordinates based on recently updated GIS when a digital twin wants a
delivery route without freeways. Maps also allow modular truck routing to include search
limitations like maximum slope, minimum turning radius, height and width limits, and full
load.(Lee & Lee, 2021) There are two Back-end simulators. Unity supports performance
testing and sophisticated 3D simulation.(Lee & Lee, 2021) The logistics simulator uses realtime Maps to discover the best logistics scenario using different routes.
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ConclusionIn this, we addressed several sophisticated methods in material management, such as
the integration of BIM and GIS, as well as RFID, which enhances a variety of areas of
material management, including material tracking, logistic, safety, productivity, and
performance. These methods have certain restrictions, but those restrictions are likely to
be eliminated as research moves further.
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