Structure-From-Motion Approach to the Reconstruction of Surfaces for Earthwork Planning

The reconstruction of surfaces from unorganized point clouds can provide very useful information for construction managers. Although point clouds are generally created using 3D scanners, they can also be generated via the structure-from-motion technique using a sequence of images. Here we report a novel surface reconstruction technique for modeling and quantifying earthworks that can be used for preliminary planning, project updates and estimating of earthwork quantities, as well as embedded planning systems in construction equipment. The application of structure-from-motion techniques in earth works is examined and its advantages and limitations identified. Data from 23 earthwork excavation construction sites were collected and analyzed. 3D surface reconstructions during the construction phase were compared to the original land form. Similar experiments were conducted with piles of earth and the results analyzed to determine appropriate ranges of use for structure-from-motion surface reconstructions in earthwork applications. The technique was found to be most suited to pile of materials with volumes less than 2000 m3. Piles up to 10 m in height and with base areas up to $300m^2$ were also successfully reconstructed. These results should be of interest to contractors seeking to utilize new technology to optimize operational efficiency.