[Let's Run Again Construction Korea] Predicting Work Volume and Days with Drones

Daelim Industrial Leads Smart Construction in the 4th Industrial Era
Maximizing Cost Reduction and Construction Period Shortening
Establishing Compressed Information 'Construction Information Modeling'
Industry's First Adoption from Planning and Design Stages
Developing C2 House Utilizing Big Data

At the ePyeonhansesang Gimpo Royal Heim construction site in Gimpo, Daelim Industrial employees are capturing surveying data necessary for BIM design using 3D scanners and drones.

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] "By flying drones in the sky to obtain precise 3D terrain data, we can measure how much soil needs to be excavated and even estimate the number of working days required."

At the ePyeonhansesang Bupyeong Granghills construction site in Cheongcheon-dong and Sangok-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, managed by Daelim Industrial, surveying work is in full swing to build a large-scale residential complex of 5,050 households on a land area of 166,411㎡, which is larger than two combined soccer fields. In the sky, small white unmanned aerial vehicle drones are buzzing as they capture various parts of the site facing Jangsu Mountain. On the ground, Daelim Industrial employees are controlling the drone flights and comparing the blueprints with the ultra-high-definition footage sent by the drones. A representative from the Bupyeong Granghills site explained, "Drone surveying reduces time and costs compared to conventional surveying, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of site operations."

◆Combining Photogrammetry with Drones to Predict Surveying Workdays= Originally developed as military unmanned aerial vehicles in 1935, drones have undergone commercialization and are now used in various fields such as agriculture, disaster management, and cultural heritage preservation. In construction, they initially served as equipment to capture site panoramas.

Daelim Industrial was not satisfied with merely using drones as flying cameras. They integrated a technology called "photogrammetry" with drones to prepare for smart construction in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Photogrammetry is a technique that creates 3D models from multiple photos taken from various angles and positions. In the film industry, photogrammetry is used to create 3D models of locations that are difficult to shoot, which are then utilized for various computer graphics (CG).

Daelim Industrial first started surveying work using drones. By overlapping or synthesizing photos taken from multiple angles, they created accurate 3D terrain data with an error margin of less than 10 cm. This allowed them to measure how much soil needed to be excavated and estimate the workdays required. Additionally, the site is photographed daily by drones to monitor the construction progress. Since 3D modeling is possible on a daily basis, the construction site can be managed according to plan. The drones used by Daelim Industrial at construction sites can capture ultra-high-resolution images with less than 1 cm per pixel through low-altitude flights. The image quality is so remarkable that even the markings on the blinding concrete (preparatory work where the ground is filled with concrete to lay the building foundation) can be identified.

A company representative recalled, "Before drones, employees had to climb neighboring apartment complexes or nearby mountains to photograph the site to monitor construction progress. It was difficult to do frequent photography, especially when the surroundings were flat or hard to access." He added, "Now, we can frequently check the progress, which has led to definite effects in cost reduction and shortening the construction period." In other words, by diversifying drone usage, they can check work status and building quality, enabling safer and more perfect construction.

Daelim Industrial employees are capturing surveying data necessary for BIM design using 3D scanners and drones at the Gwacheon Knowledge Industry Center site.

◆Training Drone Experts Directly to Maximize Work Efficiency= Since last year, Daelim Industrial has systematized photogrammetry technology work using drones and applied it to all newly contracted sites, digitalizing and effectively managing construction sites. Daelim Industrial plans to utilize this technology from the preparation stage of construction to post-completion maintenance. As camera technology advances with ultra-high resolution and low noise, and autonomous driving technology develops, drone usage is expected to become even more widespread. Consequently, drone operation skills are anticipated to become essential in construction sites. To enhance drone utilization, Daelim Industrial recently recruited a drone expert. This employee holds instructor qualifications, enabling not only drone operation but also training. They visit various sites nationwide to provide drone-related education to Daelim employees. Park Jung-woon, Deputy General Manager of Daelim Industrial’s Technology Planning Team, said, "Since early this year, we have been actively using drone technology at all sites through technical support," and forecasted, "In the future, drone artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous flight will dramatically improve work efficiency."

◆Leading Digital Transformation with BIM and Big Data Center= All these processes are part of Daelim Industrial’s application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to prepare for digital transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. BIM is a digital technology that represents all information about a building?design, materials, construction?in a three-dimensional video format, enabling integrated use.

Daelim Industrial became the first in the construction industry to introduce BIM in the planning and design stages of all apartment complexes starting this year. Their strategy is to shorten the design drawing preparation period and create design documents of perfect quality before construction by reflecting cost reduction, shortened construction periods, and risk elimination. If design errors can be eliminated, it is expected that errors, defects, and delays occurring at actual construction sites will be drastically reduced.

In particular, Daelim Industrial focuses on the utilization of various information and data within BIM technology. They extract diverse cost information to manage costs such as raw material quantity calculation, budget preparation, and subcontractor settlements, and link various productivity information to use BIM for establishing site work plans and construction schedules.

◆Changing Residential Culture Paradigm with Big Data= The paradigm shift is not limited to construction sites. To improve residential satisfaction, Daelim Industrial developed the residential product C2 HOUSE using its big data center, the only one owned by a domestic construction company. To quickly respond to residents’ perspectives and changes in residential culture, they introduced residential products meticulously designed down to millimeter and centimeter units, from kitchen furniture to flooring.

For example, the ePyeonhansesang Vision Centerforet, sold by Daelim Industrial in Pyeongtaek, features kitchen sinks that are 3 cm higher. For decades, the height of apartment kitchen sinks was fixed at 86 cm. While the average height of modern people has been steadily increasing, sink heights remained unchanged. As a result, many residents felt discomfort from bending excessively when washing dishes. Daelim Industrial optimized the kitchen sink height by analyzing big data that reflects modern physical conditions and lifestyle changes, including the increasing proportion of men sharing household chores. A company representative said, "The competitiveness of premium residences ultimately lies in the smallest design details," and added, "We plan to focus our capabilities on developing innovative residential products by analyzing residential trend changes in detail through big data."