Incorporating Virtual Field Information In Learning Construction Operations

Construction students must be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience for them to function effectively in the real world. One of the ways to expose students to the real world is to capture and share actual project information in a classroom setting. This study takes advantage of two of the recent developments in information technology for capturing and transferring real-world construction field data virtually to classrooms. These technologies include real-time, GPS-based construction equipment tracking and rapid 3-D modeling using digital photos and video data. The GPS system collects real-time construction equipment data from GPS sensors, and these data can be used by students to analyze construction productivity and design look-ahead schedules and to perform what-if analysis using computer simulation. The rapid 3-D modeling component allows users to transform a set of regular digital photos or video clips acquired from a construction site into an interactive 3-D model. Once the model is created, students can experience, on a personal computer, a 360-degree view of the site that can be used for effective visual presentation and communication, progress monitoring, and site layout planning purposes. The application of these technologies is demonstrated based on two industrial case studies.