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  • 1.  Consultation about my graduation project

    Posted 04-27-2018 03:32 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 04-27-2018 03:32 PM
    I am about to do my final research project about application of robots in execution of civil engineering works. Does anyone have more information in this field or some examples of robots used in construction work? I wonder if you can offer me consultation by providing communication with experts in this field? 

    Thanks. 


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    Abu Ahmed S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Sudan / Al Jazera State
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  • 2.  RE: Consultation about my graduation project

    Posted 04-30-2018 02:57 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 04-30-2018 02:56 PM
    One thing that immediately comes to mind is robotic surveying. When I was young it took three people to be a survey/layout crew: an instrument man (there were no females in civil engineering or construction back then) to run the transit (a metal instrument with a telescope to locate the front chainman's plumbob string and a graduated ring to read angles set up on a tripod with a plumbob over the point), a front chainman, and a back chainman (distances were measured with a 100' steel "tape" called a chain and plumbobs). Now, a survey crew can be one person (male or female) who sets up the instrument on a point and then takes a rod to the next point and the instrument automatically turns to find the rod and an EDM electronically measures the distance (at least that's what I'm told, I'm a civil/structural engineer/department head and have been in the office for years, my folks actually do the surveying, and we still survey manually because we have the old equipment and people who do other things but they can survey when necessary because they know how to (as an undergraduate I took surveying and we had a two-week summer surveying camp where those who didn't already know how to survey (many of us did from summer jobs) got field experience actually surveying, I don't know whether or not that's still done) and we can't justify the cost of the automatic equipment.

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    George Fidler P.E., M.ASCE
    DIR OF ENGINEER
    Savannah Airport Commission
    Savannah GA
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  • 3.  RE: Consultation about my graduation project

    Posted 05-01-2018 10:23 AM
    I have been teaching and doing surveying for many years. I always vouched for orthodox methods because of only one reason. 
    Robotic surveying or surveying involving GPS fails in dense forest cover and in hilly areas where you don't get satellite signals. Minimum 4 satellites should be available for GPS. 
    For easy and open terrains it is ok.





  • 4.  RE: Consultation about my graduation project

    Posted 05-02-2018 10:16 AM
    Edited by Abreham Medhin 05-03-2018 09:04 AM
    You can look into drones that are being used for bridge inspection. These drones are mounted with sensors to avoid collision, infrared camera, 3D mapping, etc....

    Good luck

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    AM A.M.ASCE

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  • 5.  RE: Consultation about my graduation project

    Posted 05-03-2018 10:22 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 05-03-2018 10:22 AM
    3D printing of buildings/components is a good one - Recently ​read and watched a youtube video of a start up in Austin TX build a prototype building using a large robotic 3D printer.

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    Abumere Adodo A.M.ASCE
    Spring TX
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  • 6.  RE: Consultation about my graduation project
    Best Answer

    Posted 05-04-2018 12:35 PM
    Edited by Abu Ahmed 05-18-2018 03:20 PM
    Hi Abu,
    The potential of robotics in construction is huge! Robots play many roles and come in many forms: a computer vision-enabled drone can check elevations during grading or a LiDAR sensor on a backpack can generate as-builts or a huge piece of equipment can build a block wall or tie rebar or a worker can wear a smart helmet with AR.  I would highly recommend Googling a bit, deciding on a specific area of interest and then you will find many experts available to help you with your thesis.  Good luck! 

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    Susan Rossbach P.E., M.ASCE
    CEO
    Brains4Drones
    Plano, TX
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