The arrival of a new era in construction monitoring is thanks to the rapid spread of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) tools suitable for surveying. With the help of UAS, the progress of a construction site can be surveyed from the air without disrupting the site. The regular results of construction monitoring can mainly be orthophotos or orthomosaics. These datasets excellently display how the construction is progressing on a map, in layered structures. Based on this information, it is possible to estimate whether the set deadlines can be met and to pinpoint the exact locations of wires, pipes, and other elements to be installed.
In our current blog post, we aim to highlight the latest potential in UAS technology, specifically how it can be effectively used in construction monitoring.
Uninterrupted construction monitoring with UAS
It is extremely important to assess the status of a construction site without disturbing it. This is difficult to achieve with traditional methods (e.g., field inspections). Thanks to UAS technology, data can be collected from a suitable distance and altitude. The UAS operator can also select a point where their presence does not interfere with the construction work.
The results of drone-based construction monitoring surveys can include images, videos, and even 3D files and map datasets. Since progress should ideally be checked at regular intervals, georeferenced maps and 3D files are the best tools for comparative analysis. For example, consider a weekly construction monitoring survey using a drone. During each UAS survey, an orthophoto mosaic is produced, which can be fully compared with the others. The basis of comparison can be a simple visual inspection or a more time-consuming evaluation, where vectorized wires and other new objects indicate what was installed at different times.
The professional sharing of UAS results with the client
The results of a UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) survey can include specialized and large-sized files. Consider that the files generated during the photogrammetric evaluation of photos taken by a drone equipped with a high-quality camera can reach up to 10 GB, even for just a few hundred images. When it comes to regular construction monitoring, similarly large files may be created weekly or even more frequently. This means that a project lasting a quarter of a year may require over 100 GB of storage space. In addition to storage, one must also consider that displaying such a large amount of data will require a PC with substantial hardware resources, along with specialized software capable of opening these files.
A solution to the problem outlined above is the SurveyTransfer custom web-based data-sharing platform. SurveyTransfer is like the Google Drive of geospatial data. It is extremely easy to use:
- Create a project.
- Upload the result files.
- Create a view/Compare window.
- Share the entire project with the client.
The best solution for comparing the results generated during construction monitoring is the Compare feature. You can find more information about how to use it on our How to Use page.
Web-based evaluation of construction monitoring results
After uploading the results generated during construction monitoring to the SurveyTransfer platform, you can create a map or a 3D visualization. Whichever you choose, you can organize all UAS survey results into a layer tree. You also have the option to supplement the information with points, lines, and areas.
SurveyTransfer also allows you to upload and share raw drone photos or even upload reports in PDF format.
From the geospatial data of construction monitoring, you can select two maps created at different times and compare them using the Compare tool. You can see this in the following illustration:
After that, all you have to do is share the whole project with the customer, who can investigate the views you created.
Good to know: SurveyTransfer allows you to restrict file downloads, which is a practical project management solution (e.g., until a completion phase is closed, the client can only view the results). Additionally, SurveyTransfer allows you to embed a display on your own website for marketing purposes, and you can even customize the user interface with your own brand colors and logo.
Try out web-based displays of construction monitoring surveys with SurveyTransfer
If SurveyTransfer’s data-sharing and web display features have piqued your interest, feel free to try it out for 14 days completely free. During the 14-day trial period, we provide 250 GB of storage and the ability to create unlimited maps and 3D views. We do not ask for any confidential information or credit card details for the trial.
Need more information about packages, features, or SurveyTransfer’s capabilities? Check out our landing page where you find all the details, or contact us via the [email protected] email address.
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