INGENIEUR
PROJECT REPORT
Construction Industry Development Board
ENHANCING GREEN CARD
THROUGH RFID APPLICATION
By Mohd Syarizal Mohd Noor, Ir. Dr. Zuhairi Abd. Hamid
Construction Research Institute of Malaysia
The Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia carried
out a pilot project called Green Card Self-Regulation System
using Green Card with Radio Frequency Identification in three
selected construction sites. Feedback has been positive for
construction site management and workers.
F
or the past three years, Malaysian’s construction
industry has brought up to 195 projects under
the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) listed
in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)
with a total investment of RM220 billion. These
projects are expected to contribute RM144 billion
to the gross national income and create 435,000
new jobs. In 2014, the construction sector will
keep the pace as the main economic driver and
become the major contributor for the Malaysian
economy.
At the same time the construction industry is
facing some of the greatest challenges presented
by the threat of global warming and environmental
damage. Regulators and, the industry itself, are
driving better practices in construction to improve
the contribution that construction makes to the
sustainability of communities and the economy at
large. Because the industry employs such large
numbers of people and involves large quantities
of material, it has a large impact on the built
environment. Any measures taken to improve the
utilization of people, assets, and materials have a
significant effect on the profitability, efficiency and
reputation of construction businesses.
The complexity of management of construction
site workers and supply chains for materials
has been recognized as a common hindrance in
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VOL 58 APRIL 2013 2014
VOL 55 JUNE – JUNE
construction industry for efficient management and
improving success in meeting project timescales.
From a safety aspect, protecting employees from a
potentially harmful and hazardous site environment
is an important concern of businesses where
construction accidents and injuries are an ever
present danger. Demonstrating compliance to
regulation and legislation is central to corporate
governance but can consume resources and be very
costly. In order to bridge efficiency and profitability
in construction, information and communications
technology (ICT) have played a crucial role in filling
the substantial gaps in the industry. One particular
technology that suits the construction environment
is the application of Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID). This has the ability to address the
construction related issues by improving the ability
of construction management to log and monitor
activities on site, keeping the track of tools and
materials, improving the supply chain and helping
to promote improved health and safety.
Construction Industry Development Board
(CIDB) Malaysia, through its research arm
Construction Research Institute of Malaysia
(CREAM) and using a system developed by CIDB
- ‘E-Construct’, carried out a special research
programme called the Green Card Self-Regulation
System (GCSRS), where the use of a Green Card