Breaking ground in Ghana: LiDAR for site monitoring and its implications on project delivery

Abstract

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has in contemporary times become a popular technology in the developed world, being utilized in city planning and infrastructure development. Documentation on the knowledge of its usage in Ghana is scanty. A major challenge that hinders the effective and timely delivery of infrastructural projects in Ghana is the delay in validating certificates for payment as a result of the use of traditional methods of measurement. This paper analysed the use of LiDAR in Aboragyei dumpsite in comparison with the existing traditional method of measurement, which is both time-consuming and prone to measurement inaccuracies. The objective was to evaluate the level of accuracy in measurement between the two methods. This paper used quasi-experimental designs on LiDAR technology to capture 3D models and extract vertical and horizontal measurements from them within a short period. The findings from the comparative assessment indicated that LiDAR technology speeds up infrastructure projects by enhancing not only procedure productivity but also cross-team communication. The cloud point models generated by LiDAR mapping do not deform when confronted with angular or complex geometry, unlike theodolite. This study makes a strong case for the utilization of LiDAR as a method for measuring vertical and horizontal angles by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring each reflection with a sensor. LiDAR system if adapted for site monitoring in Ghana will help avoid distortions in measuring horizontal and vertical angles and save time. However, a major constraint using it in Ghana was the unstable weather patterns.