Innovation in civil engineering: STRABAG tests drones equipped with laser scanners

Construction operators are increasingly using innovative solutions to solve problems associated with increased investment needs. The challenges facing the construction industry are addressed by facilitating decision support through the development of automated digital and optimised workflows.

STRABAG Építő Ltd.], the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and the Duna Aszfalt Road and Civil Engineering Kft. consortium have been awarded funding by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office.

The infrastructure project, which uses innovative construction solutions, aims to

• tackling increased labour shortages,
• improving the quality of workmanship,
• reducing costs and time taken.

A spectacular video on the STRABAG community page shows how the LiDAR drone tested with the help of the project supports decision-making and preparation. This device can be a huge help in the case of greenfield projects, which require a detailed geodetic survey of the areas affected by the intervention before construction can begin, in order to better define the expected excavation volumes.

Currently, traditional geodetic tools are predominantly used for this purpose, such as satellite positioning technologies, measuring stations and levelling instruments. These provide measurements of sufficient accuracy for the purpose, but not of sufficient detail.

The advantage of the drone tested by the STRABAG over drones with cameras is that it is equipped with a laser scanner and measuring instruments. These allow it to perform an active remote sensing process during its measurements, i.e. it scans the area.

The drone emits laser pulses from itself and detects their reflection. This enables it to do what its predecessors could not: collect data from below canopy level, where other instruments would find it difficult or time-consuming to do.

The measurements obtained by the structure are important for greenfield projects to see exactly how much earthworks are needed before construction starts.