Automated data collection in tall building construction

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Envisioned is an automated system that bridges the gap between real field conditions and the virtual world. Indoor construction, which relates to new construction and renovations, is especially difficult to track automatically due in part to congestion in confined spaces, variable light conditions, and continually changing work environment. At the end of the workday, the envisioned system will examine the digital design and schedule model, known as 4D building information models or 4D-BIMs, of the construction project to identify and prioritize locations for progress and quality inspections. After determining the most efficient path to visit each location, an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will be dispatched. An innovative UAV navigation system will be developed specific to indoor environments to allow autonomous, resilient, and safe operation of UAV, thereby allowing the UAV to know where it is, where it needs to go, and how to get there efficiently and safely. The information extracted about the location, quantity, and quality of progress of construction will then be communicated back to the 4D-BIM. Further, it is proposed that this information can be visualized in animating and interactive display technologies such as digital caves. This cyclic process continues throughout the construction stage and ensures smooth, interoperable, and accurate integration of real-world conditions into design models. The research challenges related to this proposal are the development and integration of an autonomous navigation system for UAV in confined spaces, a real time path planning and data capture prioritization method, and a generalized software-independent framework to communicate with visualization tools.