Integration of ARG-US RFID and DOE TRANSCOM

ARG-US, a radio-frequency-identification (RFID) system for secured tracking and monitoring of nuclear and radioactive material containers in storage and transport, has been developed by Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) for the Packaging Certification Program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Packaging and Transportation. The system consists of battery-powered RFID tags, readers, an application software suite, a secured database server, and Web pages. The tags are equipped with sensors for seal integrity, temperature, humidity, shock, radiation, and battery status to monitor the state of health of the packages to which the tags are attached. The DOE Tracking and Communications (TRANSCOM) system is a well-established vehicle tracking system that provides its authorized users with a Web portal to track shipments and communicate messages. Integration of ARG-US RFID for container monitoring with DOE TRANSCOM for vehicle tracking greatly enhances the efficacy of the ARG-US RFID system, and vice versa, especially during shipment of sensitive radioactive and hazardous materials. Development and testing for equipment compatibility, systems performance and reliability, and final application testing of the integrated system spanned a period of approximately 3 years. Multiple stationary and on-the-road tests were performed, and the results confirmed the functionality and successful integration of the ARGUS RFID container monitoring system and the TRANSCOM vehicle tracking system in October 2010. The integrated system is now ready for service.