● Research Trends and Results

An Initiative for Traceability of Concrete
Using IC Tags
Housing Production Division, Housing Department
SUMIKURA Hideaki, Research Officer, Dr.Eng.
ARIKAWA Satoshi, Director, Dr.Eng.
(Keywords) Concrete, traceability, IC tags, application
1. Introduction
In 2008, a problem of inferior concrete members
arose in some buildings because ready-mixed concrete(RMC) products made from prohibited materials had
been shipped and used.
In response to this, a group consisting of NILIM, theBuilding Research Institute, Hiroshima University, andRMC industry cooperatives of five prefectures in theKanto region started joint research on developing a
prototype system of RMC traceability using IC tags,
having investigated the feasibility and problems of thetechnology concerned. As one aspect of this, wedeveloped basic applications using UHF- and HF-band
IC tags on a trial basis, with the aim of a correctly
relaying information between concrete manufacturers
and users.
2. Posited traceability system
In view of the current level of commercially available
IC tags, etc., we designed the proposed traceability
system as shown in Fig. 1. The principal characteristics
are that (1) the system adopts an ID method whereby
data are logged in a database (DB) and linked to IC tags,(2) the data logged are the RMC mixture plan, weights
and various test results, and (3) IC tags are introduced toRMC when unloading. We developed a basic
application for reading and writing IC tags in line withthis proposed system.
3. Outline of basic application
The hardware configuration of the basic application,
as shown in Photo 1, consists of (1) IC tags, (2) areader/writer, (3) a server (DB), (4) a wireless router,and (5) a PC.
Data records logged in the DB are displayed on thereader/writer or PC screen via the IC tags. Taking
non-wireless communication environments intoconsideration, we also made it possible to directly write
data such as the results of various tests in the user
domain of the IC tags. In a demonstration experimentusing a concrete factory as a field, we confirmed that thebasic application works without problem.
4. Future plans
To accelerate the creation of a concrete traceability
system using IC tags, we plan to continue studying thenecessary technology, etc., in future.

ICICタグ
tag

Concrete
コンクリートManufacture /製造・出荷
shipment

Database
データベース

Data
topic
情報項目

DBDataデータ●Printed
records of mixture plan & weights
transfer
移行●配合計画書・計量印字記録●Mixing time, person responsible for●練混時間、製造責任者、車番
manufacture,vehicle number●Date,
factory name, shipment note number●日付、工場名、出荷伝票番号

IC tag
ICタグ

ID書込
ID

TransporTrans- Manufacture&生コンクリートの製造・出荷
tation運搬
porta- shipment of RMC
運搬
tion
Intro投入
ductionSite delivery,
現場搬入・荷卸し
unloadingwritingIC tag
ICタグ

Reading
読出Writing
書込DB●Timeof start and finish of loading●荷卸し開始・終了時間●Time of factory return, time of residual watertreatment●工場帰着時間、残水処理時間

生コンクリートの納品・
Qualityinspection whendelivering& unloading RMC
荷卸し時の品質検査

Insta蚕_ 工
llationReading
読出IC tag
ICタグ

書込WritingDB○Confirmationof installation site
○打込み場所確認○Person responsible for installation* ○蚕工責任者_
Information added after a certain※ 一定程度硬化した後に情報追記
hardness
reachedDB○Quality
inspection (4-week strength)○品質検査（四週強度）*※Resultof inspection added 28 days
蚕工から２８日経過した後に、検査_after installation
結果を情報追記

DBOutlineof repair works (method, materials,○補修工事の概要（工法、材料等）
etc.)
上記情報を確認した上で、劣化状*※Having
confirmed the above information,
況と原因を究明し、補修工法・材料等
investigate
state and cause of deterioration,chooseを選択repair method, materials, etc.

生コンクリートの打設
Layingof RMC

Inspec検 査
tion

Reading
読出IC tag
ICタグ

書込
Writing

4-weekstrength test
４週強度試験

Repair
補修工事
works○Timeof site arrival○現場到着時間○Quality inspection (slump, air volume,○品質検査（スランプ、空気量、コンconcretetemperature, air temperature)○Personresponsible for acceptance
クリート温度、外気温）○受入責任者

Scope of application

アプリケーション開発範囲development
Reading
読出IC tag
ICタグ

Progressive
劣化等の進行
deterioration＊＊●Information
on manufacturer●製造者の情報○蚕工者の情報_○Information on user

Fig. 1. Proposed traceability system

ID

UHF-band
UHF帯IC tag

ID表示
display

ICタグ

ID
read /
ID読込
write・書込み

RMC manufacture
生コン製造

Handy
ハンディ型
reader/writer
リーダ/ライタ

データ（CSV）
Data (CSV)の掃出・手動
sweep-out /manualtransferによる移行

Information
情報呼び出し・callup/writing
書込み* Mixture plan,※配合計画・
weights
計量値

画面表示
Screendisplay（キー情報のみ）(keyinformationonly)
Server/DB
サーバ／DBPC

既存の生コンクリート
Existing
RMC manufacture&製造・出荷管理システム
shipment management
system

画面表示
Screen display

Fig. 2. Development image of the basic application

Photo 1. Hardware configuration of the basic application