
Automated productivity measurement for construction projects
The purpose of the project is to test and evaluate semi- or fully automatic progression measurement, productivity measurement and creation of relationship documents (As-Built) in a multi-year house building project.
The project addresses productivity in the construction sector through the application and development of industrial processes for automation and AI interpretations of data. The project is carried out in collaboration between PEAB, LTU, LTH and Cognibotics. Efficiency measures are an important support for operationally and strategically maintaining and developing productivity. The construction industry has for a long time been exposed to criticism for lack of productivity development. Today, there is a lack of industry-wide systems for measurements.
Developing and implementing systems for progression and productivity measurements adapted to construction sites is an important area for construction contractors. Today, follow-up of the construction project against schedule is done manually, it is time consuming and often a structured follow-up is therefore prevented. On the construction site, rounds are made for follow-up towards several project goals and quality requirements such as reconciliation of progression against schedule. There are few possibilities for structured collection and processing of data in a simple way for e.g. what was actually built (as-built). In addition, today it is most often done by men with a Swedish background, which is why a more generic and automatic method could be used as a piece of the puzzle in increased diversity, gender equality and equal treatment in construction companies.
Developments have now come so far that robots equipped with inspection hardware such as high-quality cameras and laser scanners can autonomously collect raw data precisely over time that can be used on construction sites. One such robot is Boston Dynamics Spot, which represents a mobile robot type that combines greater payload and longer battery life with increased manoeuvrability, i.e., handling of height differences (compared to wheel-driven variants). The basic technique for data collection is scanning combined positioning.
In the project, two alternative techniques for data collection will be investigated:
- Smart helmet, a construction helmet with scanner and positioning. A semi-automatic method, a relatively simple method and with a not too expensive equipment. Requires a person to do the actual rounding,
- Boston Dynamic Spot robot as a carrier for a fully automatic method. The challenges are that the robot must be given routes for collecting information that reflects the current situation in the construction process, requirements for an appropriate level of detail in the BIM design and technical coordination between different disciplines and layouts on the construction site.
Raw data collected by Smart Helmet and the Spot robot are analyzed into metrics that can be used to measure project progress. These results are analyzed to develop methods for measuring progress, its accuracy and validity and how this data can be used to determine productivity, for different work steps and components. The aim is to demonstrate a systematized method for measuring productivity, a "Proof of Use" (a practical demonstration of the use of an idea). The project is carried out as a test bed with so-called sprint methodology. It has been shown that an iterative development with sprint methodology goes well in harmony with how a house building project is developed. A sprint for testing, evaluation and data analysis of about 2-3 months is a suitable time for house building projects.
Five sprints are planned to be completed. A sprint begins with data collection through manual measurement, continues with the implementation of data collection semi-automatically and automatically with a robot, conducting interviews individually or in groups for effects and practical experiences. This lasts continuously for 2 months. Thereafter, measurements are paced down and analyses provide evaluations and improvement suggestions with adjustments for the next sprint. The project is mainly located in the theme area innovations and new applications and will contribute with solutions to the effect goals increased productivity in the sector and that construction projects are implemented in industrial processes with the support of digitization by creating a "Proof-of-Use" for structured productivity measurements through automation
Automated productivity measurements for construction projects External link. | Smart Built Environment

Contact
Jarkko Erikshammar
- Senior Lecturer
- 0920-491860
- jarkko.erikshammar@ltu.se
- Jarkko Erikshammar
Lars Stehn
- Professor and Head of Subject
- 0920-491976
- lars.stehn@ltu.se
- Lars Stehn
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