From Point Cloud to Building Information Model Capturing and Processing Survey Data Towards Automation for High Quality 3D Models to Aid a BIM Process
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UCL CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING From Point Cloud to Building Information Model Capturing and Processing Survey Data Towards Automation for High Quality 3D Models to Aid a BIM Process Charles Patrick Hugo Thomson 2016 Thesis submitted for the Philosophy Doctorate (PhD) Supervisors Dr. Jan Boehm & Dr. Claire Ellul Preface Preface Declaration ‘I, Charles Patrick Hugo Thomson confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis.’ Signed: Charles Thomson Date: 28/04/2016 Page | 2 Preface Abstract Building Information Modelling has, more than any previous initiative, established itself as the process by which operational change can occur, driven by a desire to eradicate the inefficiencies in time and value and requiring a change of approach to the whole lifecycle of construction from design through construction to operation and eventual demolition. BIM should provide a common digital platform which allows different stakeholders to supply and retrieve information thereby reducing waste through enhanced decision making. Through the provision of measurement and representative digital geometry for construction and management purposes, surveying is very much a part of BIM. Given that all professions that are involved with construction have to consider the way in which they handle data to fit with the BIM process, it stands to reason that Geomatic or Land Surveyors play a key part. This is further encouraged by the fact that 3D laser scanning has been adopted as the primary measurement technique for geometry capture for BIM. Also it is supported by a laser scanning work stream from the UK Government backed BIM Task Group. Against this backdrop, the research in this thesis investigates the 3D modelling aspects of BIM, from initial geometry capture in the real world, to the generation and storage of the virtual world model, while keeping the workflow and outputs compatible with the BIM process. The focus will be made on a key part of the workflow for capturing as-built conditions: the geometry creation from point clouds. This area is considered a bottleneck in the BIM process for existing assets not helped by their often poor or non-existent documentation. Automated modelling is seen as desirable commercially with the goal of reducing time, and therefore cost, and making laser scanning a more viable proposition for a range of tasks in the lifecycle. Page | 3 Preface Acknowledgements With a piece of work of this length and scope, that takes place over such a period of time, there are of course many people whose contribution the author wishes to recognise. First and foremost are both of my supervisors Dr Jan Boehm and Dr Claire Ellul. Their guidance, support and advice (both academic and otherwise) throughout the research process have made it a comfortable and engaging environment to work in, for which I am truly grateful. On the practical side, Dietmar Backes deserves thanks for his inception and securing of funding for the GreenBIM project as well as his help in securing indoor mobile mapping instruments for the trials in the early work. I also enjoyed our early shared brainstorming and conversations generally on BIM which helped solidify my own thinking on the subject. I would also like to thank Stuart McLeod at Gleeds for allowing the initial case studies of the manual workflow presented in Chapter 4 to be carried out, especially by arranging access to the Berners Hotel project. My friends from across the CEGE department, but especially the 3DIMPact research group, deserve recognition for their support, interest and diversions from research that made it a pleasure to work amongst them. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents who have helped and supported me the most over the course of this doctorate and none of this would have been possible without them. Page | 4 Preface Contents Preface ................................................................................................... 1 Declaration ............................................................................................ 2 Abstract ................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgements ................................................................................. 4 Contents................................................................................................ 5 List of Figures ........................................................................................ 9 List of Tables........................................................................................ 16 Glossary of Abbreviations ...................................................................... 18 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 20 1.1 Motivation .................................................................................. 21 1.2 Research Objectives .................................................................... 24 1.3 Methodology ............................................................................... 25 1.4 Scope and Thesis Structure .......................................................... 27 1.5 Thesis Contributions .................................................................... 30 1.5.1 Publications .......................................................................... 30 2 Background .................................................................................... 32 2.1 Overview .................................................................................... 32 2.2 Geometry Capture Technology ...................................................... 33 2.2.1 Terrestrial Laser Scanning ...................................................... 35 2.2.2 Point Clouds ......................................................................... 38 2.2.3 Registration .......................................................................... 39 2.2.4 Improving Geometry Capture Efficiency ................................... 42 2.2.5 Indoor Mobile Mapping ........................................................... 42 2.3 3D Geometry Modelling ................................................................ 45 2.3.1 Digital Geometry ................................................................... 45 2.3.2 3D Survey Data .................................................................... 47 2.3.3 Manual Geometry Modelling of Buildings ................................... 48 Page | 5 Preface 2.4 Automated Point Cloud Modelling Approaches .................................. 51 2.4.1 Commercial Approaches ......................................................... 51 2.4.2 Academic Approaches ............................................................. 54 2.5 Measurement and Modelling Standards ........................................... 71 2.5.1 Quality Checking of Geometry ................................................. 74 2.6 Discussion and Research Questions ................................................ 75 2.6.1 Research Questions ................................................................ 79 2.7 Chapter Summary ........................................................................ 80 3 Building Information Modelling ...................................................... 82 3.1 Overview .................................................................................... 82 3.2 A History of BIM .......................................................................... 84 3.2.1 The Birth of the Term ............................................................. 84 3.2.2 Defining BIM ......................................................................... 85 3.2.3 The Evolution to BIM .............................................................. 88 3.2.4 International Adoption ............................................................ 93 3.2.5 The UK Perspective ................................................................ 95 3.3 Research ................................................................................... 101 3.4 Discussion ................................................................................. 102 3.5 Chapter Summary ...................................................................... 104 4 Case Study: Manual BIM Geometry Creation from Point Clouds ... 106 4.1 Overview .................................................................................. 106 4.2 Gleeds Case Study ..................................................................... 107 4.2.1 Office Case Study ................................................................ 108 4.2.2 Berners Hotel Case Study ..................................................... 120 4.3 UCL Chadwick Green BIM Case Study ........................................... 124 4.3.1 Data Capture and Processing ................................................. 124 4.3.2 Geometry Modelling ............................................................. 127 4.3.3 Environmental Data ............................................................. 129 4.3.4 Results ............................................................................... 131 4.4 Discussion ................................................................................. 133 Page | 6 Preface 4.5 Chapter Summary ..................................................................... 136 5 Improving Geometric Data Capture .............................................