Building 360 Scanning and Reality Modeling

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Collins Engineers, Inc. (Collins) have been utilizing drones and other imaging equipment to collect and process large amounts of data during structure inspections with the goal of improving the quality of bridge inspections and improving safety for both inspectors and the traveling public. Processing software and inspection specific asset management platforms are giving asset owners the ability to utilize this data to accelerate their ability to effectively manage these important assets. MnDOT and Collins have become leaders not only in drone technology, but more specifically in creating and utilizing 3D modeling to communicate inventory and inspection data. The work has expanded beyond bridges to roadways, entrance monuments, lighting, sites, and buildings. The Building Services Section (BSS) owns and operates 888 individual buildings at 269 sites throughout Minnesota. BSS wants to explore collecting and processing as-built data for their sites and buildings with imaging and scanning technology. The data can be collected with spherical cameras, handheld cameras, laser scanners, and drones or any combination of these technologies. A recent Transportation Research Synthesis (TRS 1903) demonstrated that there is interest in the technology with other similar agencies there has any significant implementation among public agencies. This research phase promises to demonstrate the advantages to implementing building and site scanning and show that the technology has many benefits. The project will also identify scanning technologies, processing, and data storage options and document workflows. Cost information will be analyzed to determine which technologies are cost effective. The project scope includes utilizing existing technology and leveraging relationships with technology companies and other DOT's to establish building and site scanning workflows. The research team will utilize their existing knowledge of scanning structures while also exploring other technologies. It will be important to compare not only what is the best technology available but also look at technologies which are cost effective and easily implemented and integrated with existing MnDOT software and processes. These technologies will be deployed on a minimum of three MnDOT facilities for the analysis and development of reality models. Another focus of the project will be to not only find ways to acquire and process building and site data but to also find ways to effectively use, store, and share the data. Reality modeling can be data intensive and difficult to share without effective means to view and utilize the data.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $99709
• Contract Numbers:

  1036417

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  395 John Ireland Boulevard
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Performing Organizations:

  Collins Engineers, Incorporated

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Lovelace, Barritt

• Start Date: 20200402
• Expected Completion Date: 20220630
• Actual Completion Date: 20220630

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Data collection; Data storage; Drones; Facilities; Image processing; Scanners
• Identifier Terms: Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Terminals and Facilities; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01736012
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 1036417
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 9 2020 10:04AM