Application of integrated GPS and GIS technology for reducing construction waste and improving construction efficiency Heng Li a, * , Zhen Chen b , Liang Yong a , Stephen C.W. Kong c a Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China b Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand c Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughboirough, UK Received 1 February 2004; received in revised form 1 July 2004; accepted 1 August 2004 Abstract This paper presents a study on applying an integrated Global Position System (GPS) and Geographacial Information System (GIS) technology to the reduction of construction waste. During the study, a prototype study is developed from automatic data capture system such as the barcoding system for construction material and equipment (M&E) management onsite, whilst the integrated GPS and GIS technology is combined to the M&E system based on the Wide Area Network (WAN). Then, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the deployment of the system. Experimental results indicate that the proposed system can minimize the amount of onsite material wastage. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Construction waste; Material and equipment management; Geographacial Information System (GIS); Global Position System (GPS); Enterprise resource planning (ERP) 1. Introduction It is generally concerned that urban development directly leads to the increase of construction and demolition waste. Since 1970s, governments, practi- tioners, and academics have been advancing gradually in pursuance of efficient and cost-effective environ- mental management to reduce construction waste in a worldwide scope [2]; however, the total amount of construction waste is still out of control due to massive urban development projects and the lack of effective tools in managing construction wastes. For example, in Hong Kong several thousand tons of C&D waste are disposed of at landfills everyday on average [4–7]. As a pressing issue in the construction industry, minimizing construction waste has been dealt with through process reengineering, technique innovation, and deployment of information technol- ogy. For example, Fishbein [8] and Coventry et al. [9] established a set of construction waste prevention 0926-5805/$ - see front matter D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2004.08.007 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +852 2766 5879. E-mail address: bshengli@polyu.edu.hk (H. Li). Automation in Construction 14 (2005) 323 – 331 www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon