Automated data acquisition for tracking and control of construction projects

Controlling construction projects necessitates controlling their time and cost in an effort to meet the planned targets. Management needs timely data that represent the status of the project to take corrective actions, if needed. The earned value technique is widely used for periodic monitoring of actual expenditures and physical scope accomplishment and, accordingly, for generating period-by-period progress reports. These reports are commonly developed by essentially comparing the collected actual data pertinent to work performed on site to that planned. The objectives of this research thesis are to study and analyze the characteristics of automated data acquisition technologies in an effort to automate the process of data collection from construction sites for progress measurement. This includes their capabilities and limitations and their respective suitability to track various construction operations. Experiments were conducted to study the applications of different automated data acquisition technologies and explore the most suitable IT platform for integrating them in one tracking and control system. Current automated data acquisition technologies are described, and their suitability for use in tracking and controlling construction activities is assessed. This includes bar coding, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, multimedia, and pen-based computers. Each automated technology, is used for a certain construction task on site. For example, 3D scanner or LADAR (laser distance and ranging) was integrated in this thesis together with photogrammetry to rapidly track changes of quantities of work accomplished such as excavation works. Integrating these two technologies alleviates limitations associated with each of them individually such as the number of scans required and the time needed for each scan to produce acceptable results during the 3D modeling process. It also overcomes limitations associated with photogrammetry when modeling 3D images of objects with unclear geometrical properties as in the case of earthmoving operations where modeling 3D images from digital photo images becomes difficult and the presence of a scanned image can be helpful. Bar coding and RFID are utilized for material and labor tracking. In the reporting stage, more photo images would be more desirable. Pen-based or tablet computer is utilized as the main interface tool with the user. The user can move with a tablet PC in the construction site and record, take snapshots and also hand written comments about activities on site. A proposed cost/schedule control model is presented that Integrates different automated data acquisition technologies, a planning and scheduling software system, a relational database, and AutoCAD to generate progress reports that can assist project management teams in decision making.