Realizing a Virtual-Space Digital Twin in Partnership with Meissa
Advancing the System by Integrating AI Technology to Lead Smart Construction
DL E&C has become the first company in the domestic industry to deploy a drone platform that implements a ‘Digital Twin’ across all of its housing sites. A digital twin refers to reproducing objects of the real world exactly as they are in a virtual world. Applied to the construction field, it makes it possible to create a ‘twin’ of a real site in a virtual space. This can be used for everything from process, quality and safety management to design, sales and maintenance. DL E&C joined hands with Meissa, a smart construction platform company, to develop the drone platform and build the digital twin. Meissa possesses the only 3D mapping engine in Korea. The two companies used drones to periodically photograph construction sites, carry out precise analysis, and then create a sophisticated digital twin.
On DL E&C’s drone platform, on-site conditions by construction period and process can be checked at a glance in 3D based on the digital twin. Measuring and recording site data such as slope, area and distance is a basic function. Beyond improving construction accuracy by comparing on-site conditions with drawings, efficient site management is also possible.
In particular, DL E&C boosted productivity through thorough cost management enabled by the drone platform. Previously, errors occurred when truck data for site carry-in and carry-out was used to calculate earthwork volume (the amount of soil handled in construction). With the drone platform, however, earthwork volume is automatically calculated through aerial photography, dramatically improving accuracy. DL E&C is operating the drone platform after introducing it at all of its housing sites. It is also being applied at some civil engineering and plant sites. The platform is used not only for construction but also for reviewing business feasibility at the order-winning stage. Going forward, the company plans to advance the system further by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology so that AI can autonomously find and manage errors on site.
An official from DL E&C said, “Using the drone platform, we can not only secure quality and safety but also enhance productivity,” adding, “Based on industry-leading technology and experience in drones, AI and Building Information Modeling (BIM), we will continue to lead the smart construction field.”
▲ A view of the ‘Acro de Seocho’ site created with the drone platform