Enabling reality capture data collaboration in the cloud with Gregor Willhauck, Trimble Cloud Solutions Market Manager.
Reality capture tools offer a precise representation of progress on a construction project and serve as a common language, bridging gaps in perception and understanding among diverse project teams. It helps answer questions such as is that pipe in the right place? Did we build this to the right specs? But it is also about answering the questions before they could be asked – capturing everything and being able to go back and look at data and see what was done – bringing data to the table so everyone is on the same page and agree on what it looks like.
Having a shared visual and data-driven narrative is essential in aligning everyone’s efforts towards a common goal, enhancing collective efficiency and reducing conflicts and misunderstandings. With scan data in the cloud, non-technical stakeholders can see the real world and design together to make more informed decisions and foster trust. Designers can easily access existing conditions to inform their work and design of real world specs.
2D to 3D
Traditionally, reality capture has required specialised knowledge of the software and hardware – including terrestrial laser scanners and drones – to capture the data, but also of solutions to manage it and turn point clouds into meaningful information. As such, it has been challenging to share the data among key stakeholders because it required a powerful laptop to view the data due to the complexity and size of the data. Instead, information is often shared via emails with 2D screen shots and a narrative to go along with it. This approach devalues the reality capture information that is collected.
Trust issues
Now technology is raising the floor, making advanced technology accessible and user-friendly for all people working in construction. Surveyors are now able to share the high precision data in an environment that retains the original data and accuracy. Sharing the information in the cloud enables on-the-fly updates and interpretations, creating a single source of truth which is fundamental to the trust that is a cornerstone for successful collaboration and project execution. The absence of trust leads to a myriad of issues – from delays and cost overruns to compromised safety and quality.
Data democratisation
Trimble’s new Reality Capture Platform service is available as an extension to the Trimble Connect cloud-based common data environment (CDE) and collaboration solution. Willhauck calls for ‘proper support’ for reality capture data, the ‘one piece that was missing’ from the Trimble Connect solution, and something that customers had been requesting. ‘The cloud service is a mass data storage service focused on reality capture data and serving that data in a cloud environment. It’s seamlessly integrated through Trimble Connect and this integration allows users to bring their reality capture data from different systems, not just Trimble’s, into Connect and work with it seamlessly, building a collaborative workflow. Currently, the main use case is to view, manage and share reality capture data, but the Trimble Connect Reality Capture Platform service was built to enable running AI and other algorithms on the original data in the cloud to analyse and filter datasets.”
Use case: Laing O’Rourke
One of the companies on the test programme was engineering surveying company Laing O’Rourke, which applied the Reality Capture Platform service on an infrastructure project in Australia, a highway infrastructure expansion including replacing and upgrading existing bridges and tunnels.
In the test phase, the project had five reality capture experts uploading data from scans, and over 100 project participants viewing and consuming the data. “The new Trimble Reality Capture platform service enables our workforce to more easily access data and collaborate between the jobsite and office, creating additional efficiencies across our operations,” said Christopher Pynn, Digital Leader at Laing O’Rourke for Eastern Freeway – Burke to Tram Alliance. “Having a single place for designers, engineers and other stakeholders to review and inspect project data is a real leap forward.”
Paradigm shift
Our industry, characterised by complex networks of contractors, subcontractors and stakeholders, is uniquely positioned to benefit from enhanced trust. By empowering all stakeholders with tools that provide an accurate, real-time representation of the construction site, we can bridge communication gaps, align perspectives and build a shared vision. It is time to embrace a new paradigm in construction – one where trust is built through transparency and collaboration, facilitated by the intelligent use of technology. With the right tools, data and mindset, we can redefine the future of construction.