The development of a RFID-based smart pipeline tracking and information management system

Huge number of pipes and cables are buried beneath streets in China. It is a challenge to tracing and monitoring these pipes effectively and accurately due to invisibility. Accurate information of these pipes could aid the utility owners in the planning and managing of their installations, especially for maintenance purpose. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that is seen as a Ubiquitous Sensor Network can provide an effective solution for the call. This paper focuses on using RFID to support the management of underground utilities by developing a complete sensor tracking and information management system. A major component of this system includes RFID reader, tags attached to pipes, Android mobile terminal and server. Research activities includes specifying functions of individual system module, conducting laboratory evaluations of the performance of RFID tags in underground conditions, system prototyping and function test. The investigated solution enables both proactive and corrective identification, inspection and maintenance of underground pipelines. It also offers users abilities to manage data harvested from digital tags attached to pipes, which is far more efficient than the rigid traditional achieving and paper-based logging system.