The new-age and emerging technologies like computer vision, cloud computing, IoT, and machine learning have transformed many sectors. However, the construction management sector is yet to reap much of the benefits from these useful technologies.
According to a KPMG study, only 25% of construction projects come within 10% of their original deadlines. Furthermore, according to a McKinsey study, 30% of work performed by construction companies is rework, of which 52% is due to miscommunication of project data across the value chain.
Combining these statistics along with an aversion to digital adoption and lack of tailor-made construction solutions, you get a severely underperforming sector that’s riddled with cost overruns and unhappy customers.
Challenges in the construction sector
- Constant revision/updates to the plan
- A diverse set of parties (contractors, developers, banks, unit owners)
- Non-transparent reporting – heavy reliance on handwritten notes, reports, emails and spreadsheets
- Sub-optimal and generic tools for project planning and monitoring
- Low adoption of technology by ground staff
- Lack of visual evidence and tech-backed insights for decision making
An economy in its own right, the construction industry contributes massively to the global economy. It serves as the backbone of the expansion of our species. This sector is huge, its operations complex often leading to a lack of coordination, execution, monitoring and inspection. In addition, they rely heavily on site visits, visual estimation, and incredibly complex team dynamics to make sure work gets done right. After all, undoing anything in construction isn’t as simple as pressing CTRL + Z on your keyboard.
In this regard, computer vision holds great promise in infusing the much-needed efficiency and transparency into the construction sector.
Computer Vision for Remote Construction Monitoring
Computer vision is a field of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers and systems to derive meaningful information from digital images, videos, and other visual inputs. The data can be processed to derive actionable-insights and offer recommendations. In short, computer vision enables smart algorithms to observe, understand, make recommendations and call-out the anomalies.
Traditionally, supervisors do rounds of sites frequently and carry out in-person inspection. This visual inspection is key to correctly assess the progress and quality of the work. But, with technology, much of this reliance can be automated.
Nowadays, a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera captures the images of the building’s exterior. Likewise, a 360-degree camera fitted on a supervisor’s safety helmet can capture every construction detail within the interiors. Together, they provide the raw data necessary for deep-learning based analysis. A good platform can analyze this data to create accurate and up to date reports on the progress across various work packages.
These visual-intelligence led construction monitoring reports help the project owners to make informed decisions crucial to meeting deadlines and achieving profit goals.
Visual Inputs
- 360 Camera Feed
- Drone Images
- CCTV Footage
- Mobile Phone Images
Analysis Engine
- Machine Learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Building Information Models (BIM)
- CAD Drawings
- Project Schedules
Visual Intelligence Use-Cases
- Topography Analysis
- AI generated accurate project reports
- Remote Progress Monitoring
- Visual comparison of plan and actual-build
- Early detection of anomalies
- Snag Management
- Automated Milestone Reports
Just like you would notice a building steadily progressing over a year or two. Computer vision is helping developers do the exact same thing at a micro or macro level, while also translating that progress in the form of percentages. Computer vision helps simplify this process by using visual data captured by cameras to distinguish between work packages while simultaneously tracking their progress at specified intervals.
It’s exciting to say that, we at Huviair are at the forefront of creating the next-generation visual intelligence platform that the industry deserves.
Explore CONSTRA SURVEY and CONSTRA BUILD to know more. You can watch a brief PRODUCT DEMO here.
In fact, major developers and their top executives are already using a visual-intelligence led platform to monitor their projects that are spread across the country from the comfort of their desks (laptops) or on-the-go (mobile app). They are able to derive detailed scheduled and automated progress reports while making it accessible on a cloud platform. Furthermore, computer vision is empowering them to undertake virtual interior walkthroughs and exterior monitoring, made possible by 360-degree cameras and drones that are operated by their own on-site crew.
In an industry that is risk-averse, computer vision offers reliability, accuracy, transparency and easy integration with their existing workflows. These are still early days for AI technologies in construction management. We are excited about the giant strides the future holds.
