Estimating Earthwork Volumes Through Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems

Abstract

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly attractive for numerous surveying applications in civil engineering, agriculture, and many other fields. The unmanned systems and vehicles are capable of performing photogrammetric data acquisition with equipped digital cameras that allows for converting images to highly precise, georeferenced three-dimensional models. However, more studies are needed to demonstrate practical applications of UAS systems and UAVs on construction sites. In this project, UAS systems and UAVs and digital photogrammetry technology are introduced to estimate the earthwork volume of a highway extension project. The georeferenced images were processed by the photogrammetry software, Pix4Dmapper, which is a tool for converting images into an accurate and applicable three-dimensional point cloud model. Progress models were created over the course of several weeks. The volume of earth was computed by comparing the point cloud of the progress models after model processing. To ensure reliability, the accuracy of the UAS and UAV photogrammetry was verified by comparison with conventional ground survey methods and the results from different flights. The project presents the feasibility and effectiveness of using UAS systems and UAVs in estimating earthwork volumes on the basis of the results of an accuracy test and the efficiency of the survey.

Evaluation of Uav-based Dem for Volume Calculation

“…(Arango & Morales, 2015), demonstrated that volume estimation by means of UAV-based DEM is more accurate than traditional method with total station as well as it is faster than total station by six times in term of data acquisition. (Wang et al, 2017), also proved the suitability and preference of UAV in computing actual earthwork amounts compared to the traditional GPS method with an error ranged from 0.1% to 0.9% of the total earthwork quantities.…”

“…Numerous most recent researches and investigations have written and published on the accuracy volume calculation derived from UAVs using variety procedures and software. (Wang, Al-Shabbani, Sturgill, Kirk, & Dadi, 2017), estimated earthwork volume of a stockpile and trench through the use of conventional GPS survey and unmanned aerial system (UAS). The flight was performed with help of dual-controlled DJI Inspire 1 drone with 75% forward overlap and 60% side overlap.…”

Monitoring and Computation of the Volumes of Stockpiles of Bulk Material by Means of UAV Photogrammetric Surveying

“…As most cameras are lighter than laser scanners, UAV photogrammetry is more affordable than laser scanning because the lower payload makes it possible to use low-cost UAVs (Figure 4). Numerous experiences document the best results obtainable in terms of accuracy of the volumes computed with close-range photogrammetric surveys compared to total station or GNSS [17][18][19], as well as evident advantages also in terms of economic and time costs [20,21] and the achieving of higher levels of reliability and repeatability [22] than with traditional techniques.…”

Integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Aerial Photogrammetry into a Civil Engineering Course to Enhance Technology Competency

“…A surprising result of the questionnaire data was that students reported low understanding of which technologies are used in industry (Likert score of 3.2 +/-0.7 on a scale of [1][2][3][4][5]. This result suggests that communicating relevant applications is needed.…”

“…As an example of technology in industry, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly used by civil engineers in a variety of applications [1]. UAVs are used for structural health monitoring, levee assessment, earthwork quantity estimating in construction, and water resource management [2][3][4][5]. The potential advantages of deploying UAVs in these applications include expanded data sets, more accurate field measurements, the ability to access areas that are dangerous or remote, and faster and less intrusive study methods (e.g.…”