At HumanTech, we are excited to introduce a revolutionary innovation in 3D sensing technology: A novel portable omnidirectional RGB-D device with a 5-meter range in all directions. This cutting-edge scanner stands out from currently available commercial 3D sensing equipment by its ability to quickly capture a 360-degree dense point cloud in a single shot with just one second of exposure time. Its handheld and portable design enables it to capture data in areas that are challenging for conventional scanners, such as cluttered rooms and small spaces, making it an invaluable tool for the comprehensive monitoring and management of construction sites.
We are committed to driving the digitalisation of the construction industry — making it safer, more efficient, greener, and more attractive to a new generation of highly skilled professionals. To this end, we are achieving major breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies with a human-centred design.
One example is the 360° ToF camera we have developed. Its speed, portability, accuracy, and efficiency in 3D data collection are unparalleled, and it is set to transform the way construction sites are monitored and managed.
Enabling frequent digital twin updates
Our main goal with this innovative device is to enable highly frequent digital twin updates and progress monitoring at the construction site, ensuring that professionals have the most recent information at their disposal.
It can also be used to support the creation of a complete digital twin by complementing the extensive scans taken by conventional terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry. 3D data from our sensors can also be aligned and integrated with data from other sensors using machine-readable marker detection and additional re-localization based on feature point matching between images obtained from each sensor. This improves the estimated location’s accuracy, even in scenarios where some markers are not detected.
Verifying effectiveness through real-world applications
In order to introduce this device in the construction industry, we are verifying its effectiveness in practical scenarios through experiments at actual construction sites.
Collaboration and transparency are key in HumanTech. That’s why our partners RICOH and DFKI have published the unique RGB-D dataset collected by this scanner in real buildings. This dataset, which consists of spherical RGB-D images with instance-level semantic and room layout annotations, is available for the research community to explore.
We expect our RGB-D scanner and this dataset to stimulate the development of novel algorithms that bridge the gap between research and practical applications in the workplace.
The prototype of the second version of the device has been completed and is already fully operational from April 2024. This version will significantly improve accuracy, extend the measurement range, and shorten shooting time. Further development is underway to achieve continuous dynamic updating and progress monitoring of the digital twin model.
As we continue to develop our technologies and expand the opportunities they offer, we look forward to seeing their impact on the building sector!
Meet our colleague Hideaki Kanayama, an engineer at RICOH — whose team at HumanTech is dedicated to developing the 360° ToF camera, among other technologies — and who provided the information for this article.
For more details on our developments, stay tuned to our news updates, newsletter, and social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube) to follow our journey toward accelerating the digital transformation of construction.