As originally posted by Bentley Systems.
ContextCapture Safely Collects More Data Faster to Build Precise Reality Meshes
| Improving Cell Antenna Fidelity Eye-bot Aerial Solutions, a drone service company, completed a 3D reality model of cell tower antennas in Springdale, Pennsylvania. The project team at Eye-bot initiated the Springdale Monopole project to improve model fidelity, positional accuracy, and photo-realism by comprehensively modeling vertical monopole structures that feature transparent, complex cross-bracing. In the long term, Eye-bot strives to use the enhanced models to help create standardized 3D modeling workflows. The organization specializes in using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry to generate 3D models of cell towers. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Eye-bot has worked within several industries, including industrial manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunication, infrastructure, construction, insurance, and power and utilities. A Federal Aviation Administration-certified company, Eye-bot can inspect, monitor, aerial survey, and 3D model a variety of locations. Difficulty Modeling Towers The main challenge of the Springdale Monopole project was the characteristics of the cell tower antennas. Vertical monopole antenna towers are difficult to model solely with UAV photogrammetry, and using UAV photogrammetry is even harder when the tower contains complex cross-bracing and is see through. These features are common in self-supporting, guyed towers, as was the case on this project. Because of these conditions, the team realized that it needed to incorporate LiDAR scanning as part of the data capture process. A software application that could accommodate both survey methods was necessary. Eye-bot combined UAV photogrammetry with LiDAR scans to easily create 3D models with Bentley’s ContextCapture. |
“ContextCapture is the only software we’ve found that can use photogrammetry and LiDAR scans together, giving it a unique advantage in this application,” said Jake Lydick, founder, and CEO of Eye-bot.