Automated progress control using laser scanning technology

•A system is set up to assess construction progress with minimum human input.•A laboratory experiment is conducted.•The results are confirmed by camera shots.•The system is superior to image processing.•Once point cloud data are imported, the system proceeds without human interference.

Assessing progress in construction activities is time consuming and requires the use of specialized personnel. Automated progress control could reduce the workforce, the cost, and the time used, reduce disagreements, and add to the overall efficiency of project management. Attempts have been made in the past to resolve this issue using image processing and other techniques but the results have not been satisfactory. A new attempt is now made to set up a system that can assess progress control with minimum human input. An experiment makes use of laser scanning technology. The initial results appear to be promising but there are still obstacles to surmount. The system is robust and accurate in laboratory conditions and constitutes proof of concept. Improvements are necessary to accelerate the registration process of multiple scans, to recognize objects of irregular shape, and to assess the practicality and economic feasibility of such a system.