D5.7 Cross-case analysis and Benchmarking
Conclusions
Thermographic scanning techniques developed in the project allow measuring temperature distribution of construction objects to, for instance, detecting thermal bridges, without physical contact between the measuring equipment and the object. Additionally, while inspection time is of at least 3 days when using standard procedure, this new methodology, based on Soft Sensing and on an appropriately developed artificial thermal load, allows estimating the thermal transmittance of a building object in a few hours. This combination of advantages extremely increase the applicability of these techniques in the construction sector, where, due to the unstructured and constantly changing environment (construction site) in which most of the processes take place, sufficient time for appropriate quality assessment and close access to the building components are not always available.
Laser scan techniques have the potential to help us detect construction problems that scope the eye thanks to the accurate 3D data they can provide. This represents a huge step forward in comparison with more traditional techniques. However, the building construction industry is just in the beginning of adopting 3D laser surveying as an integral part of a BIM process from as-built data and derived information. The work in INSITER has allowed providing reliable examples upon CARTIF-3 and HCC demonstrators as replicable case studies on the two main construction categories: building construction and building renovation.
Augmented Reality solutions merge virtual building models and planning data with real construction objects, thus connecting BIM data with the on-site real work environment. Developments in this field have been achieved by, besides INSITER and among others, different R&D initiatives such as ACCEPT and Built2spec. In order to successfully apply these technologies in the sector the selected software development platform and applied hardware plays a critical role. Limitations concerning the select the hardware devices or a demises of an utilized AR development platform, as happened in the assessed projects, can actually be a challenge for the operative application or further exploitation of the achieved software developments and AR solutions. In the case of INSITER, the world’s rapid pace of technological evolution allowed us to access hardware which was not available at the beginning of the project (i.e. HoloLens), resulting in a better functionally and usability of the developed software.
The acoustic scanning techniques used in INSITER allow for sound sources identification and localisation in a precise manner, without the need for a manual detailed scan. The comparison of the applicability of acoustic scanning techniques in the building and the automotive industry has allowed to understand that energy performance aspects encountered in the building industry (i.e. identification of potentially problematic sources of noise in MEP components which could affect the system’s energy efficiency), as investigated within INSITER, are absent in the vehicle industry. Conversely, safety and comfort are the main drivers for structural optimisation aided by inspection tools. Despite these differences, the procedure leading to a final product is equivalent, and the existing and evolving experience in the fields of automotive and aeronautical acoustics research is crucial in order to deliver state-of-the-art building inspection tools.
Trials on R&D project’s developments by the intended users, even if the technologies are not 100% finished, always provide relevant and useful feedback to detect flaws and needed improvements. Finding the right moment to carry out those trials is never easy, since users will be expecting highly developed products they can go hands on and at the same time there has to be room for modifications and improvements after assessing the gathered feedback. In INSITER, continuous feedback to focus the developments has been provided by stakeholders in managerial positions (i.e. Quality Managers) and it has been once the technologies/devices where in an advanced stage of development when the blue collars have been involved, facilitating their understanding of the expected functionalities and usability.
Based on the cross-case analysis of the lab, factory and on-site validation and demonstration, the following conclusion can be drawn regarding the real development realised in INSITER and the outlook towards market implementation.
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