Automatic segmentation and 3D modeling of pipelines into constituent parts from laser-scan data of the built environment

The demand for three-dimensional (3D) modeling of as-built or as-is pipelines that occupy large areas in operating plants has been growing in recent times. In practice, although measurements can be efficiently performed by the use of laser-scanning technology, generating a pipeline model from laser-scan data remains challenging, possibly due to the data characteristics. This paper proposes a method for generating 3D models of entire pipelines, including straight pipes, elbows, reducers, and tee pipes, from laser-scan data. The proposed method comprises three main tasks: (1) identifying the existence and location of entire pipelines from laser-scan data, (2) segmenting each pipeline surface into its constituent forms (straight pipe, elbow, reducer, and tee), and (3) reconstructing the geometry of the individual pipelines and generating a 3D model of it. Field experiments were performed at two different operating industrial plants to validate the method. Evaluation of the quantitative results reveals that the proposed method can indeed be used for the automation of 3D modeling of the pipelines in industrial plants-and to be capable of producing such models with high accuracy.