Up and above yet incredibly close

When registering major projects, our drones create an overview alongside valuable details.

In the future, the Greater Copenhagen Light Rail will pass through Lyngby city centre. This creates the need for new traffic links in the city and paved the way large road project at Firskovvej.

The area represents a traffic hub for both local residents and businesses. At the same time a major underground rainwater basin and district heating were developed. Concurrently, we had to the light rail project into account.

As the engineer and construction manager for the road project, we were thus responsible for a major coordination task in relation to the other construction projects and a host of cable and pipe owners. The major changes in the area also prompted the municipality to focus on the dissemination of information to the many stakeholders. Our Project Communication & Process Department was an adviser for the entire communication strategy, and one of the many initiatives was to use our drones to create information videos. During the construction phase, the creation of the new infrastructure could therefore be followed, and answers were provided at the same time with regard to the progress of the project, any problems and the future situation. The videos were published on the municipality’s digital platforms, such as Facebook and elsewhere.

A valuable mini study
It made good sense to explore the drones’ additional qualities, as their cameras provide high-resolution images and data, which we can use to make 3D-models. This capability turned out to provide a good basis for recording data and inspection.

What is interesting about using a drone to create a 3D model was to see whether the
level of detail was sufficient to assess the consequences of a given change. For instance, if I find a place where the space between the roadway and kerbstone is for some reason greater than it should be, it is easy to assess whether there is a need for more asphalt when you are in the field. However, it may be difficult to assess the consequences in relation to drainage.

We concluded that the data recorded by the drones were able to provide a sufficiently detailed 3D surface capable of helping us to get an overview of the consequences when combined with Civil 3D and Mike Urban. This enables us to quickly establish an overview of the matter. In addition, the 3D model can be used during the execution phase for surveying, assessment of progress, excavation volumes and much more.

Lotte ByrnakSenior Design Engineer

Roads

Outdoor areas at the Copenhagen University Hospital
This experience proved to be valuable, since we have subsequently been tasked with carrying out a comprehensive survey of the areas surrounding Copenhagen University Hospital. The survey encompasses the pavements, signage, manhole covers, cycle stands, various surfaces and many other conditions.

By combining several thousand images in high resolution, we are creating a 3D-model suitable for planning and design puporses.

In the Firskovvej project, we were able to systematically test photo recording with a drone from different altitudes. This enabled us to create a number of 3D models with varying levels of detail that we could present to Copenhagen University Hospital.

Once we have reconciled the wishes and needs for the application of a 3D model, we can better assess the level of detail that is appropriate to solve the task at hand. In the vast majority of cases, we can record data with a drone in a large area, much more quickly and more precisely than manual pavement registration.

By calibrating the 3D model according to defined fixed points, we can also create meas-urable terrain models or contour cards, which can be used, for example, to assess the scope of impending construction work.

Daniel Sommerlund WolfEngineer and Drone Operator