This document discusses a project using camera drones to monitor construction and operation of capital projects. It describes how current practices for data collection are time consuming and labor intensive. The project aims to develop guidelines for implementing and safely operating drones equipped with cameras and sensors to accurately collect timely data for as-built documentation, progress monitoring, quality control, and safety monitoring. The execution plan has two phases: phase 1 creates guidelines and recommendations for data collection and analytics, and phase 2 develops standards and metrics for measuring performance of data collection and analytics solutions. The project is currently recruiting additional members.

1. Eye in the Sky – Stuart Young Fiatech

2. $500M Sacramento King’s Stadium Project
© University of Illinois, ImageInFlight, Turner Construction
“Camera Drones” for Monitoring Construction
and Operation of Capital Projects

3. Eye in the Sky
“Camera Drones” for Monitoring Construction and Operation of Capital Projects
Project Managers:
Mani Golparvar-Fard (University of Illinois), Rayan Jreije (CCC)
Project Team Members:
Zachry, Shell, Bechtel, Fluor, Skanska, Autodesk, Costain
Steering Committee Members:
Todd Sutton (Zachry); Stuart Young

4. • Visual Data Analytics has received tremendous attention
• For many projects, current procedures are time consuming,
labor intensive
• New services such as professionally photography, laser
scanning, and Scan2BIM are created to address these some
of these limitations
• Only a few have been successfully
Introduction

5. Commercial UAVs 4 Data Collection
TYPICAL SPECS:
Dimension: 0.5m×0.5m×0.3m
Aircraft: Battery Operated
Flight Time: 15-20 minutes
Payload: 3.4 kg
Temperature: -10° to 40° C
Wind speed: <20 mph
Navigation: with/without GPS
DJI Inspire 1
• 2014-2015 shows exponential growth in their application
• A total of 1,613 companies have FAA Section 333 exemption (~40-50% in AEC)

6. 6
$500M Sacramento King’s Stadium
Sacramento, California
Turner Construction and University of Illinois
As-built 3D and 4D Modeling

7. Intro to UAVs
7
Business Problem
• Current practices limited to data collection
• Not accurate and complete for performance analysis
• Without systematic data collection the value remains limited
Image courtesy of Skycatch

8. Visual Production Control in Construction
• As-built Documentation
• Progress Monitoring
• Quality Control
• Safety Monitoring
• Contractor Hand-Over

9. Eye in the Sky
Objective:
Deliver an adoptable and adaptable guideline for implementation and
safe operation of UAVs– equipped with digital and thermal cameras
and/or laser scanners– for monitoring construction and operation of
capital projects.
A. Accurate and timely data collection
B. Data analytics, and
C. Communication of construction and operation performance data.
The project brings traceability and accountability for safe and efficient
operation of the UAVs on project sites.

10. Execution Plan
• Phase I– Create guidelines and recommendations for
data collection and BIM-driven analytics per
application.
• Phase II – Develop standards and metrics for
measuring performance of emerging solutions for data
collection and analytics.

11. Phase I- Guidelines & Recs (Y1)
• Planning and Setup:
• Scalable Workflow Development
• Create Testbeds and Launch Initial Case Studies:
• Conduct Proof-of-Concept Study:

12. Currently recruiting members
Interested in joining our project?
young@fiatech.org