Construction Quality Assessment Using 3D as-built Models Generated with Project Tango

Abstract Assessing the quality of construction for compliance with the design intent has been a challenging task in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. As modern design methods using Building Information Modeling (BIM) techniques have been increasingly adopted by the AEC industry, construction quality assessment using BIM has become a challenging new task for practitioners. In the past few years, 3D as-built models for construction quality assessment have been developed using data acquisition techniques like 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry. However, certain limitations like non-affordability, requiring expertise to operate, and dependence on time-consuming processes are restricting their usage for construction quality control purposes. The main objective of this work is to study the applicability of using a new, affordable, easy to use, and faster modeling technology (Project Tango) to produce 3D as-built models for facilitating the construction quality control process. For this purpose, a construction project was chosen as a case study and three different scenarios (including interior and exterior environments) were modelled using Project Tango. A post-processing method was developed to prepare the scanned as-built models for comparison with the design BIM. The accuracy level of these as-built models were also evaluated using dimension accuracy analysis. The prepared as-built models and the design BIM were then integrated and adjusted in the Autodesk Navisworks environment to perform the quality control assessment. This assessment process includes object completeness testing and spatial deviation analyses. This research thus highlights both the advantages and limitations of Project Tango and shows that such technologies have a great potential for construction quality assessments.