Saving time and money on construction
Lidar is one of the most advanced 3D laser scannings. It is now being adopted to help renovate old railways in the United Kingdom. The latest reconstruction taking place needs accurate scans to create an entire plan. These scans will help identify the most critical parts of North Yorkshire’s Ribblehead viaduct. This technology allows for things to run smoother and faster than they usually would. It saves time and money on construction. Though this specific railway will need loads of scans to be accurate, it is still faster than having humans go out and analyze the scene.
This bridge is 144 years old and spans over 444 meters; this is roughly 1456 feet. It is 104 feet high and several arches that line the railway. To get the full bridge in an editing system, the team to take this challenge on had to take over 100 scans of the entire bridge. However, with this many scans in-depth, the team created an almost perfect 3D replica of this old bridge.
“We have all known and loved this location for most of our lives; it is even part of our children’s’ cultural awareness with them learning songs about it at school. So to survey, it has been a privilege. The resulting LiDAR scan not only shows areas which need repair but also places where water could damage the stonework in the future, so leading to other preservation works.” Says CEO of Commendium.
How 3D laser scanning will help this team
3D laser scanning, drones, and other technology pieces all help the team gain several advantages they would not have had in previous projects. This technology creates convenient ways for engineers to research and analyze. Here are some of the excellent benefits:
- Repairs- Any of the bricks that need to be repaired will clearly show up in the scans. If any bricks require emergency repairs, the construction team can start there immediately.
- Removal- If any vegetation has grown around structures essential to the overall railway, the team will be able to see it and understand which pieces to remove. This will keep the plants safe and help maintain the railway.
- Drainage- An essential part of a railway is drainage. Any water that isn’t being drained out of the system can be analyzed and updated easier than ever before.
- Pipework- Pipework is essential to a well-running railway. If any pipes are broken or damaged, the team will be able to make a precise plan with exact steps on how to fix them.
- Repainting- If any part of the railway needs to be painted, the team can easily find the exact color through the editing program.
Most of the advantages can be seen all in one place, making it one of the most useful tools. 3D laser scanning allows all of the information to be gathered quicker than having different teams to analyze the structure. On top of that, it allows them to see all of the information in one place and send it to multiple team members.