Automated 3D data collection (A3DDC) for 3D building information modeling

The Architectural/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry is slowly shifting toward performance-driven project and project delivery. Assuring good performance requires efficient performance control processes. Among the different construction performance control processes, many critical ones, including progress tracking, productivity tracking and dimensional quality control, rely on efficient three-dimensional (3D) information flows. However, the AEC industry currently lacks reliable and efficient means of monitoring 3D information at the object level, which is critical to these processes. The authors have developed an innovative approach for automated 3D data collection (A3dDC) by automatically recognizing 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model objects in 3D laser scans. This paper rapidly presents this approach and then details how it enables (1) automated life-cycle project 3D data collection for integration within Building Information Models, and consequently (2) the monitoring processes above to perform better. It is also shown how this approach enables planning for 3D scanning and ultimately strategic scanning.