From Drones to Decisions: AI Speeds Up Construction Progress Tracking

A large construction firm needed a way to track progress better and make real-time decisions on a massive project. Traditional methods were slow and inaccurate. They implemented an AI solution using drone imagery for 3D progress tracking. This enabled real-time insights, improved decision-making, and faster reporting: weekly vs. monthly.

Client:

Thyssenkrupp AG is a prominent German multinational conglomerate headquartered in Essen. Established in 1999, the company has a workforce of roughly 100,000 individuals internationally and is a trailblazer in innovation and technology.

Their diverse operations are structured into five core segments: Automotive Technology, Decarbonization Technologies, Materials Services, Steel Europe, and Marine Systems. Thyssenkrupp currently has a portfolio of approximately 14,630 patents and utility models.

Problem Statement:

Thyssenkrupp was building a €900 million concrete plant in Saudi Arabia. They needed a way to manage and forecast build progress against schedule. The large scale of the project, coupled with the need for real-time data analysis, presented a challenge for the Thyssenkrupp team.

Traditional methods of monitoring the construction site required a lot of time, did not provide information in real-time, and often had errors. Thyssenkrupp needed a solution to capture and analyze large volumes of data, recognize patterns, track key performance indicators, and make accurate predictions.

Results:

• AI streamlines construction progress monitoring from monthly to weekly reporting.
• Track progress more effectively using drone imagery and AI analysis.
• Gain real-time insights into construction status compared to planned schedules.
• Make data-driven decisions on resource allocation based on progress vs. forecast gaps.
• Enhance coordination and decision-making.

AI Solution:

Leveraging Orbica’s AI solution, ThyssenKrupp significantly improved its construction progress tracking capabilities. By capturing and analyzing 3D imagery from drones, the AI system enabled real-time progress tracking and provided a clear picture of the construction site’s current state.

The ability to scale and adapt to various tasks made the AI solution suitable for multiple construction projects and types of objects. Orbica AI’s continuous learning and improvement processes guarantee high accuracy and performance. Additionally, the AI system facilitated collaboration and communication by providing all stakeholders access to a single source of truth for construction progress information. This led to improved coordination and decision-making.

Orbica AI in Action:

Real-time monitoring of 40+ lakes in New Zealand.

Interesting fact:

Orbica won the Thyssenkrupp challenge at the BeyondConventions pitch competition with their innovative AI solution for 3D construction site progress reporting.

References:

1. GeoAI: Extracting Intelligence from Geospatial Data & Imagery. Case Study: Orbica https://aiforum.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Orbica-Case-Study.pdf 

2. GeoAI startup Orbica develops automated 3D change detection solution. https://www.geoweeknews.com/blogs/geoai-startup-orbica-develops-automated-3d-change-detection-solution

Industry: Construction
Vendor: Orbica
Client: Thyssenkrupp AG