The abbreviation ‘RFID’ stands for radio frequency identification. This technology allows for non-contact identification of objects. In order to optimize business processes to lower process costs and to increase product security, many enterprises rely on RFID as a future technology.

First RFID-applications were already used in the Second World War in friend-enemy-recognition-systems. At the end of the 1960s the RFID-technology found
its way into industrial production processes for part recognition. In the 1970s first RFID-based anti theft and animal identification systems were developed.

An RFID-system consists of a ‘radio label’, the so-called smart-label, transponder or tag, and of a special reader, which captures the stored information. The so-called transmission-receipt-unit (RFID-reader) produces an electromagnetic field which will be received by the antenna of the RFID-transponder. Thereupon the transponder sends its information to the reader. Depending on frequency range, field power and place-depending environmental influences, the data can be read from a distance of a few centimeters up to a kilometer. The reader passes this information to data processing systems. There the information is decoded and linked, if necessary, with further information, used for the process support or documentation.

Four substantial aspects can describe the advantage of the RFID-technology over other auto-ID-techniques:

1. In opposite to the marking carriers of other auto-ID-systems, RFID-tags can be read without a line of sight between reader and tag. Therefore it is possible to encase RFID-tags in housings, so that damages of the system can be avoid. In addition, an RFID-system for this reason is insusceptible to contamination of the marking carriers. Hence RFID-systems are suitable for the use in the building scope.
2. A further advantage of an RFID-system is that the simultaneous recognition of several transponders (bulk capturing) is possible to a stronger extent than in other auto-ID-systems. So a multiplicity of objects could be identified almost at the same time.
3. Furthermore, data on RFID-transponders can be stored, changed or supplemented during the processes. So autonomous systems can be developed which are able to react and decide independently, i.e. independently of computer-networks.
4. Finally, the RFID-technology offers the possibility of considering additional data, i.e. sensor data if there are sensors attached to the RFID-chip in the transponder.

As a result of the use of RFID-technology, chances for all scope of building arise. RFID can optimize processes, make traceability possible, guarantee the authenticity of products which improves product security, optimizes inventory management, makes person identification possible etc.

Therefore the use of RFID-technology in the building industry is of high interest for the Federal Government and for the German building industry. Against this background the expert circle founded by the Federal Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) endorsed the sponsoring of RFID-projects and suggested the clustering of the projects in the so-called ARGE RFIDimBau.

For more information about the structure and the topics of the ARGE RFIDimBau please have a look at the following sites.