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Description
Even though construction has progressed, efficiency in the construction sector still remains stagnant. Currently, production managers must rely on information coming from routine periodic construction site inspections (conducted by technical expert(s) being physically present on the construction site), which are costly and time consuming. Information from the construction site is crucial to 1) monitor the project progress, 2) validate the quality of the construction process and 3) for efficient material management. Depending on the project size and complexity, progress inspections are conducted by one or more specialists across several trades.
The project aims to bring more innovation in the construction sector, and tackle the lack of precise and actionable information related to the actual status of the construction works, which will lead to the improvement of the monitoring of both the overall construction process as well as the material use and supply on the construction site. Remote and real-time access to data flows coming directly from the project site has a potential to significantly impact the coordination of the project activities and increase the efficiency and productivity of the construction, while reducing waste and cost.
More specifically, AEROBUILDER will focus on the development of a semi-autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV - drone) equipped with depth and stereo cameras and LIDARs, that will permit the UAV to perform periodic monitoring and mapping of a construction site and process, to carry out quality control checks as well as automate material management on site, essentially acting as a bridge between the physical world of the construction site and the digital world of BIM and digital twin platforms.
The project will lead to increased competitiveness of enterprises registered in Greece. Through the project, 5 new jobs will be created.
Summary of project results
Even though construction has progressed, efficiency in the construction sector still remains stagnant. Currently, production managers must rely on information coming from routine periodic construction site inspections (conducted by technical expert(s) being physically present on the construction site), which are costly and time consuming. Information from the construction site is crucial to 1) monitor the project progress, 2) validate the quality of the construction process and 3) for efficient material management. Depending on the project size and complexity, progress inspections are conducted by one or more specialists across several trades.
The project aims to bring more innovation in the construction sector, and tackle the lack of precise and actionable information related to the actual status of the construction works, which will lead to the improvement of the monitoring of both the overall construction process as well as the material use and supply on the construction site. Remote and real-time access to data flows coming directly from the project site has a potential to significantly impact the coordination of the project activities and increase the efficiency and productivity of the construction, while reducing waste and cost.
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was designed and equipped with high-quality sensors able to perceive the environment, such as high-fidelity 3D LiDAR, RGB-low light camera and an environmental sensor. The UAV chassis is made out of a carbon plate able to withstand the falls and provide a robust platform.
A state-of-the-art Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm produces 3D models of the environment the UAV traverses through, while estimating its ego-motion. A stable flight is the result of meticulous fine-tuning of the UAV controller. The SLAM combined with a sophisticated controller allow the UAV to fly reliably with the usage of a semi-autonomous exploration algorithms. The maps produced allow its users to inspect objects of interest inside the scanned environment. The UAV can do all that while monitoring its environment specifically for gases.
The AI capabilities developed during the project are an additional feature aimed to help the professionals of the construction industry reduce waste and manage spare materials. The AI models developed showcase the ability of the UAV to perform such tasks with success.
Another important factor is the Cloud platform that hosts the data generated after each mission and deliver them to the end users through a web platform. Through that platform the end users can share the data of their construction project, manage the access towards the data and also request for inspection of their construction site. The cloud connected web platform serves data as they are captured on the field as well as data after being processed. The software also permits the output of a Building Information Modeling (BIM) to the end users, if required, as a form of spatial representation of the building and construction site.
The UAV developed will improve the monitoring of the construction sites, reducing the associated time and costs. It will also increase the quality, level, and frequency of the information collected, thus improving the efficiency and productivity of the construction project.
The project will also contribute to increased revenues and profit for the project promoter, and has so far contributed to the creation of 4 new jobs within the company.