{"title":"Deep learning-based intelligent detection of pavement distress","authors":"Lele Zheng , Jingjing Xiao , Yinghui Wang , Wangjie Wu , Zhirong Chen , Dongdong Yuan , Wei Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The intelligent detection of pavement distress using deep learning methods has consistently been a hotspot in pavement maintenance. This paper aims to offer new insights to promote research and application in this field through bibliometric analysis. Utilizing publications from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning from 2016 to 2024 as the database, this paper conducts a systematic analysis of statistical data concerning the annual publication numbers, countries/regions, institutions, authors, hot papers, disciplines, and journals. Based on deep learning models, datasets, and the state of practice, this analysis explores the hotspots and fronts of this field. It identifies gaps, challenges, and future research directions, including the exploration and optimization of models, the quality and variability of datasets, the evolution of data acquisition methods, the impact of the state of practice, the prospects of unmanned detection technologies, the integration of multi-source heterogeneous data, and the potential of digital twin technologies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105772"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142239121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jong Han Yoon , Istiqlal Aurangzeb , Sean McNamara
{"title":"BIM- and blockchain-enabled Automatic Procurement System (BBAPS) removing relationship bias","authors":"Jong Han Yoon , Istiqlal Aurangzeb , Sean McNamara","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In the subcontractor (Sub) procurement process, the General Contractor (GC) can seek potential Subs from a limited pool based on their past relationships. This challenges new subcontractors who are qualified for the project but lack prior relationships with the GC. Furthermore, it creates a relationship bias that impedes the creation of a constructive business environment where potential Subs are encouraged to enhance their quality and compete fairly to secure procurement contracts. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a proof-of-concept of a transformational procurement system that integrates blockchain-enabled smart contracts and Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based project management. The proposed system can facilitate the data-driven automatic matching of GC with Subs, thus extending the pool of Subs and eliminating relationship bias in the procurement proceedings to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of the procurement. It contributes to the body of knowledge by enabling a digitalized and automated subcontractor procurement leveraging blockchain.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105779"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142239122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Techniques and strategies in extrusion based 3D concrete printing of complex components to prevent premature failure","authors":"Abdallah Kamhawi, Mania Aghaei Meibodi","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Extrusion based 3D Concrete Printing (E-3DCP) is a rapidly growing method of construction due to its ability to manufacture bespoke architectural and structural elements without incurring the additional time and costs typically associated with the manufacturing of the formwork of these components. However, Complex geometries such as overhangs, bridges, and cantilevers pose significant challenges to E-3DCP, increasing the risk of premature failure during 3D printing and complicating the integration of longitudinal reinforcement. In response to these challenges, researchers have developed various techniques and strategies to mitigate these complexities and failures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these methods, evaluating their advantages and disadvantages, and identifying research gaps in the current literature.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105768"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142239123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Carolina Pereira Martins, Isabele Rocha Castellano, Kléos Magalhães Lenz César Júnior, José Maria Franco de Carvalho, Fernando Gussão Bellon, Diôgo Silva de Oliveira, José Carlos Lopes Ribeiro
{"title":"BIM-based mixed reality application for bridge inspection","authors":"Ana Carolina Pereira Martins, Isabele Rocha Castellano, Kléos Magalhães Lenz César Júnior, José Maria Franco de Carvalho, Fernando Gussão Bellon, Diôgo Silva de Oliveira, José Carlos Lopes Ribeiro","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105775","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105775","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Traditional bridge inspection methods have limitations, driving the need for advanced techniques. The primary objective of this paper is to explore and evaluate the potential of combining Mixed Reality (MR) technologies with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and damage information to overcome these challenges. The paper aims to improve communication, collaboration, and the accuracy of structural damage identification during inspections. Parametric objects were developed to accurately represent and locate damage within the BIM model of the Coimbra I Viaduct in Brazil, using detailed geometric parameters. On-site inspections leveraged MR technologies, enabling real-time integration of damage information into the BIM. This approach allowed full-scale interaction with the model in augmented reality (AR), facilitating direct comparison with actual structural features and improving the accuracy and efficiency of inspections. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of a simplified MR-based inspection process, offering a complementary method within a multi-platform Bridge Management System, thereby enhancing bridge maintenance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105775"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142233777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Digital twin non-fungible token (DT-NFT): Enabling data ownership in the AEC industry","authors":"Hossein Naderi, Alireza Shojaei","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105777","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has experienced an unprecedented surge in data growth, primarily propelled by the widespread adoption of digitalization technologies, including Digital Twins (DTs). This surge poses challenges in terms of data control and ownership. To address this, this paper presents a decentralized platform using blockchain-enabled dynamic Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to securely represent DTs. The framework, implemented as a decentralized application (dApp), utilizes a Decentralized Oracle Network (DON) and interconnected smart contracts to convert DT data into dynamic NFTs for a public marketplace. Demonstrated through a synthetic case study, the framework offers transparency, traceability, and immutability. It introduces sustainability-related implications, such as a building carbon credit market, and financial implications, like trading AEC knowledge and a proposed project financing method. This model ensures DT ownership in AEC but also builds trust for knowledge exchange, potentially serving as a foundational model for applications beyond the AEC industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105777"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142239203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiawei Li , Zhaojin Liu , Sicen Li, Jikai Jiang, Yuxiao Li, Changda Tian, Gang Wang
{"title":"Motion planning for a quadruped robot in heat transfer tube inspection","authors":"Jiawei Li , Zhaojin Liu , Sicen Li, Jikai Jiang, Yuxiao Li, Changda Tian, Gang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Steam generators (SGs) are essential in nuclear power facilities and require regular inspection to maintain their safety and operational effectiveness. This paper presents a quadruped robot designed to inspect SG heat-transfer tubes. The point-to-point crawling-motion planning problem of the robot is addressed by integrating an improved A* algorithm with an offline motion-posture library established for the tube-sheet environment. The planner can provide the global path, the step size for each crawling cycle, and the strategic placement of footholds. The proposed method can facilitate the robot in navigating obstacles on a tube sheet, seamlessly adapt to various postures and step lengths, and eliminate the necessity for turning or superfluous posture adjustments, thereby ensuring crawling efficiency. The efficacy of the proposed planner is validated rigorously through simulations and experimental trials using an actual SG tube sheet.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105753"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580524004898/pdfft?md5=a962296765c006030d4a4eab2968a27c&pid=1-s2.0-S0926580524004898-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142232033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Kong , Zhenwen Liu , Han Liu , Jiexuan Hu , Lu Deng
{"title":"Recent advances on inspection, monitoring, and assessment of bridge cables","authors":"Xuan Kong , Zhenwen Liu , Han Liu , Jiexuan Hu , Lu Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cables are critical and vulnerable components of long-span cable-supported bridges, providing essential support and integrity to ensure bridge safety. Bridge cables are susceptible to damage over time due to environmental factors and external loads, and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies are usually employed for early detection and continuous monitoring of these potential issues, enabling scientific management and safe operation of bridges. This review presents a comprehensive understanding and recent advances on the inspection, monitoring, and assessment of bridge cables, including common types of cable damages, various detection technologies for both surface and internal damage, as well as methods for cable force measurement and condition assessment. The challenges and future research are also presented. This review could present vital insights for bridge engineers, researchers, and stakeholders, providing a foundation for future research and innovation in the inspection, maintenance, and management of bridge cables.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105767"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142169329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Question-answering framework for building codes using fine-tuned and distilled pre-trained transformer models","authors":"Xiaorui Xue , Jiansong Zhang , Yunfeng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Building code compliance checking is considered a bottleneck in construction projects, which calls for a novel approach to building code query and information retrieval. To address this research gap, the paper presents a question and answering framework comprising: (1) a ‘retriever’ for efficient context retrieval from building codes in response to an inquiry, and (2) a ‘reader’ for precise context interpretation and answer generation. The ‘retriever’, based on the BM25 algorithm, achieved a top-1 precision, recall, and F1-score of 0.95, 0.95, and 0.95, and a top-5 precision, recall, and F1-score of 0.97, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. The ‘reader’, utilizing the transformer-based <em>“xlm-roberta-base-squad2-distilled”</em> model, achieved a top-4 accuracy of 0.95 and a top-1 F1-score of 0.84. A fine-tuning and model distillation process was used and shown to provide high performance on limited amount of training data, overcoming a common barrier in the development of domain-specific (e.g., construction) deep learning models.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105730"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142172425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Feiyu Wang , Zhuang Ma , Yuyao Cheng , Wang Chen , Jian Zhang
{"title":"Automated measurement of cable shape in super-long span suspension bridges","authors":"Feiyu Wang , Zhuang Ma , Yuyao Cheng , Wang Chen , Jian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The current measurement of the main cable shape of large-span suspension bridges relies on the total station, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, this paper proposes an automatic measurement method for the cable shape of suspension bridges: (1) For obtaining target during the construction process, inertial navigation and differential Global Positioning System fusion and route planning method are adopted in combination with airborne laser scanning to get fine point clouds. (2) Addressing the challenge of large-scale point clouds segmentation, SCF-Bridge-Net is proposed based on Spatial Contextual Features Net (SCF-Net) and suspension bridges point clouds simplification method, enabling spatial positioning of the cable clamp and rapid automated calculation of geometric information. The proposed method is successfully applied to the Xianxin Road Bridge in China. The results show that the average error of the main cable shape is 1.1 cm, and the angle error of the cable clamp is approximately 0.21°, validating the efficiency and reliability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105748"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142172424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimized structural inspection path planning for automated unmanned aerial systems","authors":"Yuxiang Zhao , Benhao Lu , Mohamad Alipour","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Automation in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)-based structural inspections has gained significant traction given the scale and complexity of infrastructure. A core problem in UAS-based inspection is electing an optimal flight path to achieve the mission objectives while minimizing flight time. This paper presents an effective two-stage method that guarantees coverage as a constraint to ensure damage detectability, while minimizing path length as an objective. A genetic algorithm first determines viewpoint positions, and a greedy algorithm calculates the camera poses, as opposed to directly optimizing all degrees of freedom (DOF) simultaneously. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates the range of applicability and superiority of this formulation over direct 5-DOF optimization by at least 30 % shorter path length. Applied examples, including focused and partial space inspections, are also presented, demonstrating the flexibility of the proposed method to meet real-world requirements. The results highlight the feasibility of the approach and contribute to incorporating automation into UAS-based structural inspections.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 105764"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580524005004/pdfft?md5=95ccd71e68473fa7c00b9374cd09fe86&pid=1-s2.0-S0926580524005004-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142172341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}