Topic B.5: Tracking & tracing systems in value-generating networks for the industrial material utilization of renewable resources

On the one hand, tracking and tracing (T&T) has a high value potential (reduction of intrinsic material-related uncertainties and legal requirements) for networks for the industrial processing of renewable resources but, on the other hand, the deployment of T&T systems pose specific challenges. Worth mentioning are the specifics of material utilization (cascade utilization, separation and mixing of raw material - see topic A.6) and the specifics of organization (see topic C.6). This topic will investigate the specific requirements that will have to be met regarding the T&T systems in the value-generating networks of the industrial material utilization of renewable resources and how T&T system architectures can be designed with regard to data collection and data exchange to comply with specific requirements.

Examples of preparatory works on this topic can be found in applications of radio frequency identification (RFID)-based traceability systems for agricultural products, as well as case studies on RFID applications in the timber chain (Korten, Kaul, 2008; Sirkka, 2008; Ampatzidis, Vougioukas, 2009). Various of our preparatory works on the RFID topic are devoted to data management issues (Diekmann et al., 2007; Melski et al., 2007), RFID applications of container tracking (Thoroe et al., 2009b; Schmidt et al., 2010a), the role of RFID in reverse logistics processes (Thoroe et al., 2009a; Thoroe et al., 2009b), as well as to the tagging of grain supplies (Steinmeier et al., 2009).

This work comprises an initial requirement analysis with the aid of literature-studies, case studies, and qualitative surveys, followed by the conception (reference modeling and prototyping) and the evaluation of the system based on this. Results from this topic are system models of T&T systems, as well as impact analyses in the form of formal analytical research and simulations. The results from these works are especially relevant for topics B.6 and B.8. Results from topic B.1 can be utilized for formal analytical models for impact analysis of T&T systems. Topics C.1 and C.5 constitute the basis for the decision regarding the data that should be exchanged and in which format it should be exchanged.