MEP Middle East – November 2018

http://www.mepmiddleeast.com November 2018 | MEP Middle East 27

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or building information models can be further used
to retrieve relevant information at the wish and will
of the engineer.
BIM uses a wealth of data gathered in various
ways to accurately create a 3D model of a project,
signifi cantly streamlining the preparation and ongoing
monitoring phases, and reducing costs. However, the
key to effectively using BIM is gathering accurate data
from mapping tools, Google Earth and other resources.
No source provides more precise data, including aerial
imager y and digital elevation, however, than drones.
Unmanned aerial vehicles are revolutionizing the
construction and engineering fi elds. PwC estimates
the value of labour and ser vices that will be replaced
by drones at $127.3bn. More than one-third of that is
from infrastructure and construction companies. How

The combination of BIM

and drone usage streamlines

many aspects of the

construction process.‰

are drones being used? Consider how leveraging

drones can improve a fi rm’s BIM output.

One of the key benefi ts of drone usage is preci-

sion. The degree of accuracy in the data is phenom-

enal, better than any other method. Drones provide

a controllable, repeatable process not rivaled by

manual techniques. Here’s how it works. A fl ight

path can be programmed into a mapping applica-

tion such as DroneDeploy, so that it automatically

sur veys the same area each day. While in the air,

the drone takes hundreds of images. Those images

are sent to the cloud and incorporated into BIM

software to create a 3D image. The 3D image is

overlaid on the original CAD designs to look for

problems and inconsistencies. As the project moves

for ward, construction crews can catch mistakes

quickly, such as pipes or trenches that were not dug

correctly. Catching these inconsistencies upfront

saves money and timeline setbacks, advantages for

both contractors and their clients.

Drones can sur vey a construction site, creating

data for ever y square inch. Compare that precision

to traditional mapping techniques that yielded a data

point ever y 30 or 40 feet. There’s no comparison.

Data can be collected daily, if necessar y. “Daily scan-

ning allows you to spot problems as they happen so

you can either fi x it or, if it’s not a big deal, model

it for the next guy who comes so he won’t make a

mistake”, according to a Robotics Trends inter view.

The combination of BIM and drone usage

streamlines many aspects of the construction

process. One huge way is simple collaboration

between teams. BIM software creates a “shared”

model, allowing each building discipline to make

notes that are seen by the rest of the teams and

departments. The need to rework drawings or

create duplicates is eliminated. Each shared object

is attached to a database. As new data is collected

and construction specs evolve, the model quickly

updates, giving all team members real-time access

to the latest 3D version.

ConstructionWorkZone referred to 2015 as a

“transitional year” for drone use and predicted 2016

as a “break out” year for commercial drone use. The

total drone industr y will be worth $127bn by 2020.

PwC says drone solutions are best suited for

sectors that require high quality data, businesses

that manage assets dispersed over big areas, large-

scale capital projects and infrastructure maintenance,

all accurate descriptions of projects handled by

construction and engineering fi rms. Drone usage

benefi ts contractors and their clients. Investing in

and using this technology now will put a company

ahead of its competition.

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Drone solutions are best

suited for sectors that

require high quality data.

References:

https://www.dronegenuity.com/construction-drones-

bim-software/

https://www.e-zigurat.com/blog/en/can-drones-be-

utilized-in-construction-for-creating-accurate-bim-

models/