A new imaging platform similar to Google Maps, “Street View”, will allow investors, owners and workers to walk through their construction site without leaving their lounge rooms.
PlanRadar, a digital construction and real estate management app, has unveiled its new AI-powered ‘SiteView’ feature, which captures 360° imagery of worksites to be integrated into a 2D map.
The images provide an accurate archive of project progression throughout the development’s construction process, allowing those involved to stay current, review plans and make new decisions as the site progresses from anywhere in the world.
The snapshots are created and updated using a 360° camera attached to a helmet as a worker walks the construction site before camera-to-app software aligns the walk-through images with a 2D representation of the construction zone.
The cutting-edge technology means the updated progress shots are ready to review via the app shortly after a site walk is completed, boosting efficiency and enabling quick documentation of visual ‘as-builts’ within minutes.
Images can also be compared using a side-by-side feature to review changes over two different date periods and review progress, or lack thereof.
Software will save time and prevent costly mistakes
PlanRadar Group Co-CEO Ibrahim Imam described the technology as a “game-changer.”
“The easy-to-use experience with the highest levels of accuracy makes it possible to achieve complete visual as-builts and field, progress, and photo documentation, in place of taking thousands of photos,” he said.
“With our core documentation, communication and ticketing platform, SiteView means anyone working on a project can now easily go back and look ‘behind the wall’ to see exactly what was built or installed, often reducing rework.”
PlanRadar digital construction specialist for Australia and New Zealand, Leon Ward, says SiteView could speed up construction times by improving team collaboration and inspection time efficiency.
“360° photographic images provide all the documentation needed to see what has happened, delivering complete project transparency,” he said.
“With minimal training required, users simply set a starting position on a 2D construction plan within the PlanRadar mobile app, walk the site, and press stop when finished; our sophisticated algorithms take care of the rest.”
AI arriving to the job site
The technology uses Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) software, the same cutting-edge feature used in driverless cars, to meticulously survey unfamiliar environments while in motion.
It operates by estimating the path of the site walker on a digital construction plan, with algorithms constantly aligning to determine position and path.
AI-powered computer vision algorithms are then used to integrate depth estimation and accurate localisation to create a final look similar to Google’s Street View.
The integration of SiteView augments PlanRadar’s existing features, including document management, reporting, and integration capabilities, facilitating streamlined project management by consolidating all processes within a single platform.
