Exploratory Study of Potential Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Construction Management Tasks
01 May 2016-Journal of Management in Engineering (American Society of Civil Engineers)-Vol. 32, Iss: 3, pp 05016001-05016001
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an exploratory case study to identify potential applications of visual assets obtained from UAVs for construction management tasks, including project progress monitoring, job site logistics, evaluating safety conditions, and quality inspections among other secondary management tasks.
Abstract: Despite studies exploring potential applications of unmanned aerial systems (UASs), the particular use and value of visual assets (photographs or video) collected with UASs for construction management tasks is not well understood. This paper presents an exploratory case study to identify potential applications of visual assets obtained from UASs for construction management tasks. The case study involved the development of a visual assets database from UAS-based images and videos collected during UAS flights at jobsites in the United States and Brazil as well as semi-structured interviews with construction project personnel. The results revealed potential applications of UASs mainly for project progress monitoring, job site logistics, evaluating safety conditions, and quality inspections among other secondary management tasks. In addition, an analysis of costs related to the use of UASs was performed. The main contribution of this case study is a better understanding of the use of UASs for construction management tasks and their regulatory and cost implications.
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TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present a review of the use of UAVs for collecting and analyzing data to assist with construction research, including defining key terms for data collection and analysis.
Abstract: In the past four decades, remote-sensing data and methodologies have been increasingly used in many fields to improve the efficiency, accuracy, or safety of data collection, and construction management is no exception. In recent years, unoccupied airborne systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, have emerged as an important platform for the collection of remote-sensing data. When coupled with increasingly affordable sensors and automated image processing techniques, UAS have made the application of remote-sensing approaches to myriad construction and civil engineering problems practical and attractive to the point that UAS-based airborne imaging is becoming routine for many construction management tasks. Based on our review of literature, a comprehensive discussion on the use of UAS methodologies for collecting and analyzing data to assist with construction research is much needed. This paper was developed to discuss current best practices in UAS aerial imagery collection and processing for construction research, including defining key terms. In addition, this paper discusses a variety of methods for the analysis of UAS collected aerial imagery for the following tasks: preconstruction planning, material tracking, project progress tracking, safety, as-built documentation, and building/structure inspection. This paper also includes a perspective on the future of UAS for a variety of construction management tasks. This work contributes to the Data Management and Data Science Body of Knowledge by informing construction researchers of the state of the art of UAS data collection and analysis methodologies. This study also provides practitioners with a comprehensive guide to the use of UAS for onsite construction management tasks, which is an essential component of e-Construction.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors provide a quantitative analysis of the time and cost benefits of TLS-based geometric quality assurance/quality control of buildings in comparison with the conventional QA/QC approach.
Abstract: Upon the completion of construction projects, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) must be conducted to guarantee the project quality complies with certain standards. The conventional QA/QC approach relies on manual measurements using conventional tools, which is inefficient and costly. Recently, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been adopted for construction QA/QC due to its high speed and accuracy. However, research is still lacking to quantitatively analyze the potential time and cost benefits of TLS-based geometric QA/QC, and it is still not clear how and when a construction company should deploy TLS-based QA/QC. Hence, this study aims to provide a quantitative analysis of the time and cost benefits of TLS-based geometric QA/QC of buildings in comparison with the conventional QA/QC approach. First, a QA/QC checklist is determined based on relevant codes, and the processes and tasks of both conventional and TLS-based QA/QC approaches are identified. Second, a case study is conducted to collect the QA/QC time and cost for both approaches, and analyze the time and cost on both project and company levels. Third, the analysis results are further discussed considering potential technology advancements, fluctuations of cost items, changes of checklist items, and training needs. The results demonstrate that the TLS-based QA/QC approach is more efficient than the conventional QA/QC approach due to reduced data collection time. With regard to the cost, the TLS-based QA/QC approach with rented TLS is the most economical choice for a single project, and the TLS-based QA/QC approach with purchased TLS is the most economical choice for a company in the long term.
7 citations
18 Jul 2018
TL;DR: A literature review was carried out for papers dated from 2008 to 2018 using Scopus database and indicated that the development of progress monitoring automated systems, the use of 3D as-built point cloud models and Building Information Modeling are the most frequently discussed subjects within the papers surveyed.
Abstract: Due to the complexity and dynamism that characterize construction activities, the execution of work packages as planned requires a systematic monitoring and control of their operations and progress. However, the most common practices for construction progress monitoring are still based on individual observations and often still rely on textbased documentation. In order to improve the collaboration and transparency of this process, studies highlight applications of visual data, such as photographs, videos, 3D and 4D models. Due to the large number of publications that address the use of visual data for construction progress monitoring, and the growing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the objective of this work is to present a systematic literature review concerning the use of UAVs as a tool for aiding construction progress monitoring. For that purpose, a literature review was carried out for papers dated from 2008 to 2018 using Scopus database. The findings indicated that the development of progress monitoring automated systems, the use of 3D as-built point cloud models and Building Information Modeling are the most frequently discussed subjects within the papers surveyed. Also, a gap was identified regarding the lack of studies that effectively integrate the visual monitoring with the construction management systems.
7 citations
Cites background from "Exploratory Study of Potential Appl..."
...Irizarry and Costa (2016) also identify progress monitoring as one of the potential managerial applications for UAVs’ visual assets of the site (photos and videos)....
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...Irizarry and Costa (2016) comment that these costs include the necessary authorizations for UAV operation (depending on the country's regulations), the equipment itself, operators’ training or outsourced service contracting to operate the UAV, as well as insurance....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a four-layer implementation of construction 4.0 in the industry and present a case study to showcase the proposed implementation plan, which is focused on nine different technologies.
Abstract: This research explores the current state of Construction 4.0 and discusses a four-layer implementation of Construction 4.0 in the industry. The research methodology consists of an extensive literature review to gain insights about Construction 4.0 and frame the four-layer implementation plan. A case study is also presented to showcase the proposed implementation plan. Nine Construction 4.0 technologies were discussed, their integration throughout the project lifecycle was presented in a roadmap, their integration and connectivity with one another were outlined in an interaction roadmap, and the requirements necessary for achieving the 4.0 transformation were articulated. However, the proposed implementation plan is focused on nine Construction 4.0 technologies. The research presents a comprehensive plan for integrating Construction 4.0 technologies into the industry and serves as a guideline to help construction companies better understand the implications of Construction 4.0.
7 citations
29 Mar 2018
TL;DR: This paper proposes a framework and a novel technique which utilizes four-dimensional (4D) building information models (BIM) and swarm intelligence to automatically generate the UAV inspection mission plans, and computationally supports both static and dynamic site layouts.
Abstract: Inspection planning is a primary element of computer visionand unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled construction monitoring. Prior to the on-site deployment of camera-mounted UAVs, the inspection objectives need to be identified, and optimal inspection plans must be developed; Such plans should ensure complete data acquisition and minimize the use of UAV’s limited flight time. The image capture configuration must be taken into account since it directly affects the downstream applications of the captured data such as progress detection and as-built modeling. This paper proposes a framework and a novel technique which utilizes four-dimensional (4D) building information models (BIM) and swarm intelligence to automatically generate the UAV inspection mission plans. It computationally supports both static and dynamic site layouts. The inspection objectives, their geometry, and their semantics are automatically extracted from BIM, and the corresponding elements are identified. An optimal inspection plan is developed using artificial intelligence, ensuring complete coverage of inspection targets while minimizing flight duration. The method has been tested in UAV-enabled data acquisition scenarios. It is based on the industry foundation classes (IFC), facilitating OpenBIM and reducing the costs associated with the lack of interoperability, a core challenge in information modeling. Due to the target extraction at element and sub-element levels, it supports computer vision-based construction progress monitoring and automated as-built and as-is BIM development. INTRODUCTION The rapid advances in the design of light-weight camera-mounted unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAV) have created unprecedented opportunities for computer vision techniques; the visual assets collected by UAVs facilitate situational awareness at construction sites and provide a clearer view of actual conditions. Project progress tracking and quality inspections have proven to be among the most promising applications of UAV-captured visual data (Irizarry and Costa 2016). This has initiated recent efforts on computer vision-based application of UAV-captured data for the purpose of surveying (Siebert and Teizer 2014), infrastructure condition assessment (Yan et al. 2016), and construction progress tracking (Hamledari et al. 2017a; Han et al. 2015). Visual data analytics solutions, empowered by UAVcaptured visual data, continue to improve the quantitative assessment of as-built and as-is conditions. To increase the accuracy of such vision-based techniques, it is crucial to investigate the design of UAV image acquisition strategies that ensure the high quality of captured data (Morgenthal and Hallermann 2014). The data captured during manually planned inspections suffers from detail, coverage, and accuracy (Zhang et al. 2016); the construction dynamics and changes in the building layouts also increase the need for model-driven and automatic planning of UAV inspection missions. Successful UAV-enabled visual data acquisition requires the automated design of inspection plans that ensure 1) the customized identification of inspection objectives; 2) the design of optimal inspection plans that minimize the flight time; 3) the consideration of the effect of the data acquisition strategy on future uses of the collected data; and 4) the robust adjustment of the mission plan according to the dynamic changes in the building layout. There is a need for model-driven and goal-oriented approaches toward UAV-enabled data capture. This offers improvements over the haphazard data collection strategies by considering the downstream uses of UAV-captured data. This paper introduces a novel 4D model-driven technique for the automated design of UAV inspection mission plans in support of computer vision-based construction progress tracking and image capture. First, it discusses the relevant works on UAV inspection planning, the limitations, and the motivation for this research. This is followed by an explanation of the proposed techniques and its applications.
7 citations
Cites background from "Exploratory Study of Potential Appl..."
...Project progress tracking and quality inspections have proven to be among the most promising applications of UAV-captured visual data (Irizarry and Costa 2016)....
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References
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TL;DR: A novel control law based on computer vision for quasi-stationary flights above a planar target is presented, which uses the homography matrix computed from the information obtained from the vision system.
427 citations
"Exploratory Study of Potential Appl..." refers background in this paper
...2004), avalanche control (McCormack and Trepanier 2008), aerial assessment of road surface condition (Zhang and Elaksher 2012), bridge inspection (Metni and Hamel 2007; Morgenthal and Hallermann 2014), and safety inspection on jobsites (Irizarry et al....
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Book•
01 Sep 2004
TL;DR: The roots of all Aviation, Cold War, Hot Missions, and Unmanned UAVs Today: A Snapshot future history are explored.
Abstract: Introduction Birth of a Concept The Concept Takes Flight But For One Dissenting Vote Technical Challenge No. 2: Remote Control United Kingdom The Roots of All Aviation Reginald Denny Delbert Fahrney Cold War, Hot Missions Vietnam: The Coming of Age Israel Endeavoring to Endure Unfueled and Unmanned UAVs Today: A SnapshotFuture History Appendix A: Significant Dates in Unmanned Aviation Appendix B: Notable Personalities in Unmanned Aviation Appendix C: Notable Unmanned Aircraft Bibliography
225 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the application of UAVs for visual inspection and damage detection on civil structures is discussed and the properties of such flight systems, the factors influencing their movements and the resulting photo quality is discussed.
Abstract: This paper discusses the application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for visual inspection and damage detection on civil structures. The quality of photos and videos taken by using such airborne vehicles is strongly influenced by numerous parameters such as lighting conditions, distance to the object and vehicle motion induced by environmental effects. Whilst such devices feature highly sophisticated sensors and control algorithms, specifically the effects of fluctuating wind speeds and directions affect the vehicle motion. The nature of vehicle movements during photo and video acquisition in turn affect the quality of the data and hence the degree to which damages can be identified. This paper discusses the properties of such flight systems, the factors influencing their movements and the resulting photo quality. Based on the processed data logged by the high precision sensors on the UAV the influences are studied and a method is shown by which the damage assessment quality may be quantified.
219 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this study, a small-scale aerial drone was used as a tool for exploring potential benefits to safety managers within the construction jobsite and recommendations for the required features of an Ideal Safety Inspection Drone were led.
Abstract: SUMMARY: The construction industry lags behind many others in the rate of adoption of cutting edge technologies In the area of safety management this is more so Many advances in information technology could provide great benefits to this important aspect of construction operations Innovative use of these tools could result in safer jobsites This paper discusses initial application of drone technology in the construction industry In this study, a small-scale aerial drone was used as a tool for exploring potential benefits to safety managers within the construction jobsite This drone is an aerial quadricopter that can be piloted remotely using a smart phone, tablet device or a computer Since the drone is equipped with video cameras, it can provide safety managers with fast access to images as well as real time videos from a range of locations around the jobsite An expert analysis (heuristic evaluation) as well as a user participation analysis were performed on said quadricopter to determine the features of an ideal safety inspection drone The heuristic evaluation uncovered some of the user interface problems of the drone interface considering the context of the safety inspection The user participation evaluation was performed following a simulated task of counting the number of hardhats viewed through the display of a mobile device in the controlled environment of the lab Considering the task and the controlled variables, this experimental approach revealed that using the drone together with a large-size interface (eg iPad) would be as accurate as having the safety manager with plain view of the jobsite The results of these two evaluations together with previous experience of the authors in the area of safety inspection and drone technology led to recommendations for the required features of an Ideal Safety Inspection Drone Autonomous navigation, vocal interaction, high-resolution cameras, and collaborative user-interface environment are some examples of those features This innovative application of the aerial drone has the potential to improve construction practices and in this case facilitate jobsite safety inspections
205 citations
"Exploratory Study of Potential Appl..." refers background in this paper
...2004), avalanche control (McCormack and Trepanier 2008), aerial assessment of road surface condition (Zhang and Elaksher 2012), bridge inspection (Metni and Hamel 2007; Morgenthal and Hallermann 2014), and safety inspection on jobsites (Irizarry et al. 2012)....
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06 Mar 2004
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the vision-based control of a small UAV following a road, using only the vision measurements and onboard inertial sensors, using a control strategy stabilizing the aircraft and following the road.
Abstract: This paper describes the vision-based control of a small autonomous aircraft following a road. The computer vision system detects natural features of the scene and tracks the roadway in order to determine relative yaw and lateral displacement between the aircraft and the road. Using only the vision measurements and onboard inertial sensors, a control strategy stabilizes the aircraft and follows the road. The road detection and aircraft control strategies have been verified by hardware in the loop (HIL) simulations over long stretches (several kilometers) of straight roads and in conditions of up to 5 m/s of prevailing wind. Hardware experiments have also been conducted using a modified radio-controlled aircraft. Successful road following was demonstrated over an airfield runway under variable lighting and wind conditions. The development of vision-based control strategies for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as the ones presented here, enables complex autonomous missions in environments where typical navigation sensor like GPS are unavailable.
175 citations