Towards automated progress assessment of workpackage components in construction projects using computer vision

Traditional methods of collecting data on the progress of construction projects often involve human judgement, high costs, and are too infrequent to provide managers with timely and accurate control data. This study proposes a system that aims to address some of these shortcomings through automation. Our first contribution is a framework for the automatic generation of work packages. We describe the conceptual model and develop a prototype implementation, based on the results of a survey designed to capture the current practice of formulating work packages as performed in the industry. Our second contribution is a system that employs computer vision (CV) techniques to report on the progress of these work packages automatically. This is achieved by analysing sequences of digital images acquired regularly by on-site cameras. The result of this analysis, when compared with the expected state of construction, provides progress feedback on the work packages, allowing a project to be monitored more effectively. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.