A systematic approach for monitoring and evaluating the construction project progress

A persistent problem in construction is to document changes which occur in the field and to prepare the as-built schedule. In current practice, deviations from planned performance can only be reported after significant time has elapsed and manual monitoring of the construction activities are costly and error prone. Availability of advanced portable computing, multimedia and wireless communication allows, even encourages fundamental changes in many jobsite processes. However a recent investigation indicated that there is a lack of systematic and automated evaluation and monitoring in construction projects. The aim of this study is to identifytechniques that can be used in the construction industry for monitoring and evaluating the physical progress, and also to establish how current computer technology can be utilised for monitoring the actual physical progress at the construction site. This study discusses the results of questionnaire survey conducted within Malaysian Construction Industry and suggests a prototype system, namely Digitalising Construction Monitoring (DCM). DCM prototype system integrates the information from construction drawings, digital images of construction site progress and planned schedule of work. Using emerging technologies and information system the DCM re-engineer the traditional practice for monitoring the project progress. This system can automatically interpret CAD drawings of buildings and extract data on its structural components and store in database. It can also extract the engineering information from digital images and when these two databases are simulated the percentage of progress can be calculated and viewed in Microsoft Project automatically. The application of DCM system for monitoring the project progress enables project management teams to better track and controls the productivity and quality of construction projects. The use of the DCM can help resident engineer, construction manager and site engineer in monitoring and evaluating project performance. This model will improve decision-making process and provides better mechanism for advanced project management

Automated pavement imaging program (APIP) for pavement cracks classification and quantification

This paper describes the development of an Automated Pavement Imaging Program (APIP) for evaluating pavement distress condition. The digital image processing program enables longitudinal, transverse, and alligator cracks to be classified. Subsequently, the program automatically predicts types of cracks and estimates the crack intensity which can be used to rate pavement distress severity. Results obtained by this technique are compared with the conventional manual method to check accuracy. The algorithm developed in this study is capable of identifying types of cracks and the severity level at about 90% accuracy, which is similar to the accuracy obtained by the manual method

Spatial evaluation of speed-flow-geometry relationship on two-lane rural highways

The mean travel speed of drivers on uninterrupted flow facilities such as two-lane rural highways is deemed as good performance indicator for the subject road class; as the variable relates well with user perception. However, the operating conditions on two-lane roads relating to travel speed is different from those on other types of facilities, as fast moving vehicles in either direction are usually impeded by slower moving ones in the same travel direction and also facing oncoming traffic in the opposing lane. Thus, impeded vehicles may be compelled to travel at lower speeds than desired; particularly, in the absence of sufficient sight distance and permissible gap in the opposing traffic stream, being the appropriate lane used for passing maneuvers. This implies that the operating speed on two-lane highways substantially depends on the level of traffic flow and perhaps, its composition as well as the roadway geometric features. This paper examines the effects of traffic level, composition and road geometric features on the operating speed on two-lane highways based on a spatial approach. An empirical model relating mean travel speed to traffic flow parameters and highway geometric features was derived for prediction of mean travel speed on two-lane rural highways based on easily observable variables

Automated pavement imaging program (APIP) for pavement cracks classification and quantification – a photogrammetric approach

The evaluation of pavement conditions is an important part of pavement management. Traditionally, pavement condition data are gathered by human inspectors who walk or drive along the road to assess the distresses and subsequently produce report sheets. This visual survey method is not only time consuming and costly but more importantly it compromises the safety of the field personnel. With an automated digital image processing technique, however, pavement distress analysis can be conducted in a swifter and safer manner. Pavement distresses are captured on images which are later automatically analysed. Furthermore, the automated method can improve the objectivity, accuracy, and consistency of the distress survey data. This research is aimed at the development of an Automated Pavement Imaging Program (APIP) for evaluating pavement distress condition. The digital image processing program enables longitudinal, transverse, and alligator cracking to be classified. Subsequently, the program will automatically estimate the crack intensity which can be used for rating pavement distress severity. Advancement in digital photogrammetric technology creates an opportunity to overcome some problems associated with the manual methods. It can provide a low-cost, near real time geometrical imaging through digital photogrammetry without physically touching the surface being measured. Moreover, digital photogrammetry workstation (DPW) is user-friendly, less tedious and enables surface conditions to be represented as ortho-image, overlay contour with ortho-image, as well as digital elevation model. The algorithms developed in this study are found to be capable of identifying type of cracking and its severity level with an accuracy of about 90% when compared to the traditional method. This is to show that the combination of the photogrammetric approach and APIP is a viable system to be used in pavement evaluations

Application of digital photogrammetry to quantification of road surface distresses

Amongst the salient aspects in treating road surface failure, proper diagnosis and correct timing are considered as the forefront in road maintenance. It is important to obtain the assessment systematically and subsequently performing the appropriate treatment in time. This is because such actions will prolong the actual service life of the road and optimize both financial and human resources. Conventionally, road surface conditions are assessed manually for various types of road surface failure. Current technology is to utilize an infra-red image processing technique to automate the evaluation process. The earlier approach is laborious and time consuming thus limits the frequency of the assessment. The later, on the other hand, is expensive in terms of instrumentation and expertise, thus, limits the frequency of the assessment. This paper describes the application of close-range photogrammetric and digital image processing techniques to obtain the required raw data for future assessment of any given road surface. The potential capability and reliability of a workstation-based digital photogrammety system for quantifying road surface delamination was demonstrated and assessed. Surface measurement is represented by ortho-image, overlay contour wit ortho-image, as well as digital elevation model of the delamination area. Preliminary results on delamination indicate that the extent of the road surface distress can be quantified swiftly and accurately when compared to the conventional method

A systematic procedure for developing the 3D model to evaluate the construction project progress

This main purpose of this study is to summarize the experience at the Construction Technology and Management Center (CTMC) to develop a Digitalizing Construction Monitoring (DCM) system by integrating 3DAutoCAD drawings and digital images. The objective of this paper is to propose a framework model for the DCM system and discuss in detail the steps involved for developing and calculating the 3D coordinate values from 2D digital images

Strength characteristics of iron ore tailing concrete

Materials used in proportioning of concrete have significant impact on the properties of concrete produced. Iron ore tailings (IOTs) is a waste product generated from the production process of iron ore. In this study, IOTs is used as partial replacement for natural sand in the production of normal strength concrete. Samples of Iron ore tailings from two different mines in Kota Tinggi were collected. The Physical properties of natural sand and these Iron ore tailings were determined. The Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and the microscopic image of these materials were also studied. Normal strength concrete was designed based on water/cement ratio of 0.54 and cement content of 463Kg/m3 was used in preparing the fresh concrete. For each kind of Iron ore tailings concrete, four different types of concrete samples were produced. The percentage of Iron ore tailings as partial replacement for sand in the sample was varied from 10% to 40% at 10% interval. For each concrete sample, the average of three cubes, three cylinders and three prism specimen results was used for the determination of the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and the flexural strength respectively. Also studied are the water absorption, the ultrasonic pulse velocity and the mode of failure of the IOTs concrete compared with the normal strength concrete. The concrete sample CZT30 containing 30% IOTs recorded the highest 28days compressive strength of 43.7 N/mm2

Decision making framework for earthquake resistant building

Malaysia is a country with very low seismic. Most of the buildings in our country may not consider seismic load during structure design, thus the level of safety for remains unknown. Recently, earthquake events have become more frequent. Therefore, engineers have to be alert and kept updated with the knowledge and behavior of earthquake trend in this area. It is vital to assess the precaution measures that can be taken and consider them in the future building design. Therefore, a decision making framework in designing earthquake resistant building especially for school building in Malaysia is needed to help engineers to consider earthquake risk in the building design. This framework employed NERA Program with the assistance of SAP2000 software for analysis of the performance of earthquake resistant building

Implementation of project based learning for civil engineering students at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Implementation of Project Based Learning (PtBL) in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as part of Outcome Based Education (OBE) framework have faced various challenges (i.e revamp on the undergraduate co-curricullum, required high commitments from academicians & faculty and facilities to cater PtBL activities). This paper discusses the effectiveness of PtBL teaching method in an effort to develop the students’ soft skills in tandem with the technical or professional competencies; and problems, challenges and potential improvement in the course. The Survey Camp course which is offered at year one of a four years civil engineering degree programme in the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA), UTM was chosen for this study. It is a ten days fieldwork in which the students will carry out an engineering survey project from field to finish in groups of five to six students supervised by the academic staff. Assessment of the technical aspects was based on the students ability to meet the minimum engineering surveying’s standard whereas the assesment of soft skills was conducted during various sessions of the survey projects. Survey questionaires were given at the beginning and the end of the course as part of evaluation of the course effectiveness. The research has found that the technical aspects were achievable though with lesser degree for the engineering design. However, on the soft skills, students demonstrated an overall improvement of competency but it was difficult to determine the levels for the average students while the best and poor performers were easily observed

Investigating the feasibility of photogrammetric area-based image matching technique in the measurement of three-dimensional deflections of structures

The study of beam deflections and deformations is one of the many important areas in civil engineering. Designs need to be checked for deflections. The physical behaviour of a structural member subjected to loading provide useful information to structural engineers in deriving optimum designs. Present laboratory practice uses transducers in determining the deflections of beams. These transducers are fitted such that they are physically in contact with the beams. As such, much time is spent in the preparation of the equipment and peripherals for a particular test. Furthermore, deflections can only be measured at points where transducers are fixed and in many cases would be limited. Deflections at any other points, if desired, would be obtained by calculations. This study presents the use of close range digital photogrammetry to obtain a three-dimensional deflections of a concrete beam. Since, photogrammetry has always had the advantage of being able to provide measurements on a large number of points on the object of interest, the representation of the deflections would be enhanced. Image correspondence is achieved by using an area-based image matching which makes use of simple surface models. Laboratory tests involving load test on concrete beams were performed. Images of the beam under various load were captured using off-the-shelf digital cameras that are relatively fixed and calibrated. Whilst the image matching process employs a revised area-based matching algorithm, the image coordinate refinements and the three-dimensional model of the beam surface was acquired through elementary photogrammetric operations. Validation of the results was done by means of comparing the photogrammetric output against those obtained from the transducers. Initial results show that the differences between the photogrammetric and conventional approaches are not statistically significant. This indicates that the use of close-range digital photogrammetry in producing the deflections is a viable additional approach in determining the physical deformities of concrete structures