Performing LiDAR scanning 16-times faster
Instead of relying solely on traditional terrestrial scanning, Turner also uses Spot for mobile mapping. Equipped with a BLK ARC, Spot is able to scan each data hall in approximately 15 minutes – a process that previously took four or five hours.
According to McKee, the mobile mapping is accurate enough for technical teams to pick up any critical issues, and if they’re unsure about something they can use a terrestrial scanner to perform a closer inspection.
“Before, our operator had to gather his gear, load it in the car, get to site and scan, and go back to the office to download the data. Now, Spot can be left on-site and does it all. The data appears in the cloud for our teams to start processing from anywhere,” explains McKee.
The speed and efficiency of Spot’s mobile mapping capabilities means Turner can perform scans far more regularly and detect potential issues earlier – mitigating the need for expensive rework down the track. And because DroneDeploy’s software enables Turner to create autonomous mapping missions, Spot can be scheduled to perform scans at night. This has improved the quality of surveys as there are no moving personnel or equipment on-site.
How DroneDeploy’s BIM integrations help Turner avoid costly rework
At the end of Spot’s missions, data is automatically uploaded to the Ground Robotics platform, where it is pushed to the virtual design and construction (VDC) pipeline. The data can then be analyzed and compared against building information modeling (BIM) projects to detect any anomalies before they result in expensive rework. Turner’s technical teams can also use DroneDeploy to remotely activate and teleoperate Spot, and rescan an area of interest if something needs to be checked.
Looking to the future, McKee hopes this form of robotic reality capture becomes standard for data center construction and other large projects to help clients realize speed and efficiency gains. “Working with the DroneDeploy Ground Robotics team has been a great experience and we’re really excited to scale up our use of Spot on upcoming projects.”