A study of possible use of Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) in Abu Dhabi Sewerage Directorate

Abstract

This report describes the possible use of RFID in a business case such as the Sewerage Directorate at Abu Dhabi Municipality & Town Planning Department. The prototype phase is developed using the ethnographic study which is called Contextual Design Methodology. RFID is not a new technology, but a technology that now widely increases its marked share by large companies recently looking at the potential of RFID implementations. It will still take several years to see if this newly found interest will lead into a RFID success story. RFID is set to replacec barcodes that are much used for pricing and/or indentifying objects. Our investigation started in the Sewerage Directorate looking from the top of the organization and down to the assets that are candidates for support of RFID. The methodology Contextual Design is a system development method which can be used when implementing new systems. It is customer based and it recommends a full acceptance of the system to the organization. Evaluation and recommendation for an improved system will be described. A prototype is made using a Pocket PC and a self made application to control reader communication with the tag. In addition, experimental work is done both in laboratory and in the field. An ideal process of making the protoype was not achieved, due to problems obtaining the necessary equipment in time. Communication with sellers in general was a problem, since contact with desired sellers failed. For the seller where we made contact, we didn't get what we ordered and the delivery was delayed.