Application of UAS and revit for pipeline design

Abstract

The professionals in the vertical and horizontal construction have tested methods to enhance the quality, safety, environmental impact, delivery time and cost control in their works promoted in learning organisations. Automation strategies applying robots and technology has been a focal point in industry of manufacture by its benefits in productivity levels and quality of works, and in some cases, without affecting other factors in a long-term period. The construction industry is playing a predominant economic heading in certain countries. Therefore, the adoption of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology as an automation strategy represent in short and long terms positive economic impact. UAS or drones have been used for cargo and data capturing in the built environment. Nowadays, the construction of infrastructures is the most benefited project from UAS implementations by gathering visual data of cracks, obstructions, energy levels, traffic and current conditions of the projects fulfilling the gap of human risks reduction, speed on data collection, and digitalisation of the real-world along with BIM. However, there is a breach in reliability and awareness on the UAS application cases in the infrastructure sector. The aim of this paper is to present the reasons and the application case of the UAS from the topography department of a Water Supply public organisation. The findings show that the UAS achieved a higher level of productivity and efficiency in the daily pre-construction works for designing pipelines. The case covers sewer identification and georeferencing in rural areas where the satellites were unavailable to show the state accurately. The tool used was an RTK DJI Phantom 4 to survey the site conditions in BIM format. The integration of UAS in BIM showed a higher level of productivity and efficiency in the employee's workflow in terms of data collection contrasting to old-fashion methods.