The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry relies heavily on technology to maintain competitive advantages and cost benefits. Despite the industry’s overall tendency to be slow embracing new technologies, most AEC professionals now utilize technology to enhance project planning, design, and implementation. Constant advancements are always being made, which can provide significant benefits to the AEC industry. One of the latest advancements is the use of drones in creating digital twins.
"In the AEC sector, digital transformation entails the use of drones, robotics, IoT, laser scanning, and virtual and augmented reality, in addition to BIM. Organizations that can take advantage of these technologies and adapt fast will triumph in the future."
A digital twin is a dynamic, up-to-date virtual replica of physical assets or systems that can be used to simulate, monitor, and analyze performance over time. The concept of a digital twin is not just a marketing gimmick, they provide lasting value for investors and managers. One of the most effective ways to create digital twins of a construction project is using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of using drone technology for digital twin creation in the AEC industry, the stakeholders who benefit from digital twins, and how to digitize construction projects using drones.
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Drone 2D Orthomosaic Map of Construction Site
What are Digital Twins in Construction?
In the construction industry, digital twins are computer-generated replicas that mirror physical buildings or infrastructure assets. For instance, SoFi Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, had a digital twin constructed during its 2020 building process. The digital twin of the stadium and surrounding park continues to collect real-time data and can answer questions ranging from maintenance to janitorial services. Similarly, digital twins are being used to build airports like the Ezhou Huahu International Airport to cars where companies like Tesla are presently creating digital twins of every vehicle it manufactures and using sensors and data that get continuously uploaded to the cloud for processing.
The creation of these digital twins is made possible through a range of technologies such as 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Drones are now utilized to create detailed digital twins to capture a large volume of data very quickly, with high accuracy, and lower costs.
"Construction has historically been time and labor-intensive. Dozens of stakeholders are involved in every step. Digital twins accelerate every stage of a project. These digital models really are “twins” of their real-world counterparts, and can accurately predict how a worksite will behave over time, or how it will respond to different conditions or processes."
By using drones to capture the required data, a drone service company can provide stakeholders with reports and deliverables they can use throughout the construction process, which can be used for:
- Monitoring all aspects of the construction process
- Analyzing infrastructure and asset performance
- Facilitating communication and collaboration between different stakeholders in the project
- Minimizing risk
- Improving decision-making
- Reducing costs
Additionally, with a virtual replica of the project, stakeholders can identify potential issues early in the project, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to avoid costly mistakes later in the construction process.
Related Article – How Drones are Revolutionizing the BIM Life-Cycle in Construction
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
Drone LiDAR Elevation Dataset
Utilizing Drone Technology for Digital Twins
Drones are a valuable tool when it comes to creating digital twins. These unmanned aerial vehicles have the ability to collect various types of data more quickly, with higher accuracy, and at a lower cost when compared to traditional methods. Commercial UAV’s can create digital twins through a variety of ways using:
- Aerial imagery / video
- Topographical information
- Thermal imaging data
- LiDAR
- 3D mapping data sets
One of the main advantages of using drones to create digital twins is their ability to provide a highly detailed and accurate view of the entire worksite. They can capture precise measurements, angles, and elevations, which can be difficult or costly to obtain using traditional methods. UAV’s can also eliminate the need for human workers to carry out dangerous or labor-intensive tasks, which can significantly reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.
Another advantage of using drones to create digital twins is their versatility. They can be programmed to fly a specific path, collect data, and return to the operator. They can also fly at different heights and angles, providing different views of the worksite.
Aerial Photo of Apartment Complex Under Construction
AEC Stakeholders Maximizing the Benefits of Digital Twins
Digital twins have brought significant benefits to the AEC industry, allowing stakeholders to streamline their processes, enhance collaboration, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes. Stakeholders who have found ways to benefit from the construction of digital twins include:
Architects
Digital twins have helped architects understand how their designs will perform in the real world, simulating potential challenges that may arise during the construction process.
Engineers
Engineers can leverage digital twins to optimize building performance, predict maintenance needs, and identify potential safety hazards.
"Engineers utilize the concept of digital twins for centuries. Digitization and advancements in computer sciences now allow all these processes to be automated using sensors while algorithms generate insights."
Construction Managers
Construction managers can use digital twins to enhance project scheduling, coordinate resources, and prevent potential delays.
Building Owners
Digital twins provide building owners with greater visibility into their assets, enabling them to monitor performance, improve maintenance, and reduce energy costs.
Facility Managers
Facility managers can utilize digital twins to identify and resolve potential maintenance issues, optimize facility operations, and improve energy efficiency.
General Contractors
Digital twins can provide a thorough perspective of the built environment without the need for actual site visits, enabling management to get subcontractor estimates more quickly and accurately. By adding comments, links, images, and videos to the 3D model, virtual punch lists can also be made.
Although setting up and operating a digital twin can be complex, each stakeholder can reap its benefits. The utilization of digital twins can lead to the development of more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable building projects. Partnering with a professional drone services company can also ensure the seamless execution of the process.
How to Digitize Your Construction Projects with Drones
Digital twins are revolutionizing the AEC industry by providing stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of a construction project, enabling them to make informed decisions that reduce costs and improve project outcomes. Drones are a critical technology for creating these digital twins, providing higher accuracy, speed, and more cost-effective data capture methods.
At The Drone Life, our team of experts offer tailored aerial solutions for the AEC industry, with direct experience in digital twin solutions. We can help you successfully implement a custom-designed drone technology package for your facility, ensuring you stay ahead of the game in the ever-evolving construction industry. Don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with one of our drone experts today and discover the benefits of digital twins for your building project.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
