CONTEXT
Every year, there is about $10 trillion in construction-related spending globally, equivalent to 13 percent of GDP. This makes construction one of the largest sectors of the world economy. The sector employs 7% of the world’s working population and, by building the structures in which we live and work, which create our energy, materials, and goods, and on which we travel, has an impact well beyond its own boundaries. Construction matters. The construction industry is responsible for executing essential infrastructure for the well-being and economic progress of society. Having a multiplier effect and influence over other sectors like manufacturing, transportation, real estate and technology.
PROBLEM
There is a productivity challenge in the construction industry due to the lack of experience, informality, limited access to financial support, lack of technical knowledge, it is a highly fragmented market mainly divided into two big sections: Small companies and Big infrastructure companies. In addition to this The complexity of large-scale projects can overwhelm management, leading to poor coordination and ove rsight. Furthermore, the average age of workers is 40 and because of that they are more resistant to new workflows. Isolated workflows are also a big reason why the productivity problem is happening. Despite the potential of new technologies to improve productivity, the construction industry has been slow to adopt innovative tools, materials, and methods (Laszig et al., 2020).
There is a strong correlation between the level of digitization in a sector and its productivity growth. The construction industry still lacks an integrated platform that combines all aspects of construction, from project planning to design to construction to operations and maintenance. Also, many stakeholders in the production value still rely on isolated workflows to handle their projects.
Projects suffer from major time and cost overruns due not only to insufficient attention to design at an early stage, but also to an inability to execute projects effectively. Poor communication, a lack of sufficient and deliberate front-end loading, and low adherence to collaborative planning processes lead to high levels of change orders during the life cycle of projects.
SCOPE
This thesis aims to develop and evaluate computer vision framework for tracking construction progress for small-scale sites in Mexico. The study will focus on integrating this framework with BIM systems to detect and mitigate deviations from 4D data. By prioritizing affordability, ease of use and scalable solutions, the framework will address adoption barriers for subcontractors and architects. Validation will occur through case studies or simulations, with deliverables including a prototype framework, documentation, and practical recommendations.The study excludes large-scale enterprise solutions and prioritizes user-friendly, cost-effective implementations adhering to Lean Startup principles.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
How can a scalable computer vision framework for construction progress tracking, empower small-scale subcontractors and architects in Mexico to effectively document and manage deviations from original designs within Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems, overcoming the resistance to adopt new technology due to its intimidating learning curve and costs?
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
