Zhang, S; Bogus, S M; Lippitt, C D; Kamat, V and Lee, S (2022) Implementing remote-sensing methodologies for construction research: An unoccupied airborne system perspective. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 148(9): 03122005, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In the past four decades, remote-sensing data and methodologies have been increasingly used in many fields to improve the efficiency, accuracy, or safety of data collection, and construction management is no exception. In recent years, unoccupied airborne systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, have emerged as an important platform for the collection of remote-sensing data. When coupled with increasingly affordable sensors and automated image processing techniques, UAS have made the application of remote-sensing approaches to myriad construction and civil engineering problems practical and attractive to the point that UAS-based airborne imaging is becoming routine for many construction management tasks. Based on our review of literature, a comprehensive discussion on the use of UAS methodologies for collecting and analyzing data to assist with construction research is much needed. This paper was developed to discuss current best practices in UAS aerial imagery collection and processing for construction research, including defining key terms. In addition, this paper discusses a variety of methods for the analysis of UAS collected aerial imagery for the following tasks: preconstruction planning, material tracking, project progress tracking, safety, as-built documentation, and building/structure inspection. This paper also includes a perspective on the future of UAS for a variety of construction management tasks. This work contributes to the Data Management and Data Science Body of Knowledge by informing construction researchers of the state of the art of UAS data collection and analysis methodologies. This study also provides practitioners with a comprehensive guide to the use of UAS for onsite construction management tasks, which is an essential component of e-Construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction research; remote sensing; unoccupied aircraft system |
| Index terms: | data management, inspection, onsite, efficiency, platform, becoming, image processing, progress tracking, remote sensing, best practice, science, documentation, accuracy, routine, drone, body of knowledge, methodology, state of the art, practitioner |
| Subjects: | specialized education, practitioner, research dissemination and communication, business, knowledge management, research products and data, automation and robotics, computer vision, digital design, professional development, performance management, research methods, philosophical process, quality assurance, data management, project controls, sociology, building construction |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Time Control, Education, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here