Intelleflex RFID brings anywhere, anytime data to hot mix asphalt paving

by Steven E. Smith

With the ever-escalating cost of input materials, transportation and labor, it is imperative to maximize efficiencies in all industries. In the paving business, one of the best opportunities is to improve the tracking and dispatching systems currently used in the coordination of hot mix asphalt. With advancements in technology recently introduced by the Intelleflex Corp., the Extended Capability Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) will enable accurate, real time coordination between the asphalt plant, delivery trucks and the paving contractor.

RFID systems are becoming more present in the paving business, one of the best opportunities is to improve the tracking and dispatching systems currently used in the coordination of hot mix asphalt.

Once the weather moderates and state appropriations become available, paving operations are shifted into high gear. The traditional method of undertaking paving projects require verbal or paper-based tracking systems be utilized to manage and orchestrate the flow of hot mix asphalt from the production plant to the job site. This system is not fail proof because often no one at the plant really knows when the truck actually left the plant site and, therefore, there is a real challenge in organizing the equipment operations. This perpetuates errors in the timing and amount of product needed. Since the timing and temperature of the asphalt at the time of paving is critical to the quality of the finished road, mistakes with this dispatch and delivery system greatly impact the project.

RFID systems are becoming more present in various industries. RFID can include standard passive or active functions. Standard passive RFID is the most basic and least expensive product available. This technology is used in retail applications to ensure that shoplifting is monitored. But these RFID products are only required to function in a 10- to 20-foot range between the tag and the reader. In the passive system, the communication between the reader and the tag is not hindered by distance and metal or glass obstructions. In the standard passive system the reader is the more specialized device which enables the low cost tag system to be ideal for the retail application.
Conversely, active systems involve a more advanced tag and a simplistic reader. The active RFID involves a battery powered tag, which enables it to transmit data to the reader over distances of 100 to 200 meters even while in the proximity of metal and glass. Active RFID systems are being used in such applications as human medicine to ensure that hospital patients receive the correctly prescribed medications. This technology is often used in military and security applications, but is cost prohibitive for everyday life.

Intelleflex’s Extended Capability RFID product is in a class of its own because it firmly straddles the passive and active categorizes. Intelleflex provides added features beyond a passive system at a fraction of the cost of an active system. Intelleflex Corp. offers an Intelligent RFID platform that features a high performance multiprotocol tag and reader, asset tracking solutions, vehicle and yard management options, supply chain automation, parts maintenance and access control preference. According to Sam Liu, Director of Marketing for Intelleflex, “With the Extended Capability RFID system from Intelleflex, the greater the range and reliability coupled with memory capacity and security beyond standard passive systems will provide the best RFID system available to today’s paving professionals.”

The use of RFID technology in the paving industry enables a significant improvement in real time management of asphalt deliveries. To use the RFID system, the asphalt plant, scales and paver each needs to be outfitted with a reader. Each truck that is to transport asphalt is furnished with a battery assisted Intelleflex RFID. Since the Intelleflex tag has an adjustable range setting, the software application can be customized so that the information regarding truck departure, arrival and position can be set with the ideal distance sensitivities of the paving contractor’s job site. According to Sam Liu, Director of Marketing at Intelleflex Corporation, active RFID systems are often too sensitive and for example, could a trucker in the vicinity that is actually stuck in traffic or stopped for a coffee break.

Intelleflex Corp. has entered into a strategic partnership with Minds, Inc. While Intelleflex provides the industry best tag product and reader platform, the software application is the specialty of Minds, Inc. This coupling of next generation tags and real time computer application eRoutes™ enables expedient access to the data. A paving contractor with this system can use a web server or even their cell phone to retrieve current information from the system. This feature is truly real time, but also anytime, anywhere in its availability.

Early adopters of this technology could position their firms to receive more contracts since they can reduce waste of product and time that would otherwise need to be accounted for during the bidding phase of the contract. Additionally, the system offers additional management data to be utilized. The Intelleflex RFID tags each have the capability to retain memory if this software is enabled. Since one of the major maxims in management is to first have the ability to measure something, these advanced features of the Intelleflex tags positions the contractor to utilize this aspect of management now or at least in the near future.

As resources become more expensive, technology will be essential to all industries in an effort to maximize efficiencies and maintain margins in business. Everyday, new advancements in technologies are making these innovations more durable and cost effective. RFID has numerous applications throughout modern life.