On-Site Measuring Robot Technology for Post-Construction Quality Assessment of Building Projects

Post-construction quality assessment of building projects involves inspecting and verifying that completed construction works meet the specified standards. This process is traditionally conducted through manual methods, which can be inefficient and time-consuming. Existing measurement robots, typically integrating a robotic platform with 3D laser scanners, face challenges such as high storage demands, reliance on specialized post-processing software, and substantial costs. Additionally, robots with multiple sensors may face limitations in handling diverse measurement items. To address these issues, this article introduces a cost-effective and fully automated on-site measuring robot. A systematic approach was employed, including robot design, measurement algorithm development, validation experiments, and engineering applications. Firstly, a cost-effective hardware was designed, reducing expenses by 30% compared to commercial 3D laser scanners. Thereafter, the algorithm was developed by processing effective point cloud data to measure dimensions, wall evenness, alignments, floor heights, and corner angles, achieving a 90% reduction in data storage requirements. Subsequently, validation experiments were conducted, which verified the measurement accuracy of the developed robot. Furthermore, the robot was applied in two building projects, demonstrating a 40% improvement in efficiency over manual measurements and a minimum 50% reduction in labor costs. This investigation shows that the developed on-site measuring robot offers a practical and automated solution for post-construction quality assessment in building projects.