Project
Springdale Monopole is a reality modeling project of a cell tower antenna located in Springdale, Pennsylvania, USA. Eye-bot Aerial Solutions initiated this project to help achieve better fidelity and improve workflows by modeling vertical monopole structures that feature transparent complex cross bracing. These complex cell towers are common in the area and modeling them solely with UAV photogrammetry is extremely difficult. Eye-bot sought to incorporate LiDAR scanning as part of the data-capture process, but it needed software that could accommodate both survey methods to generate accurate models timely and cost effectively.
Solution
The project team used ContextCapture to process high-resolution images from different data sources, and generated a precise, 3D reality mesh of the Springdale tower that could be shared among all stakeholders via a hosted web portal. In addition to eliminating risks associated with climbing the tower for manual inspection, the reality mesh allowed for precise measurements of the current as-built structure and enabled new designs to be incorporated into the existing environment for planning and expansion purposes.
Outcome
The interoperability and automated capabilities of ContextCapture and reality modeling illustrate tremendous potential for improved efficiencies in the telecommunications industry. By comparing two 3D models shown in the relative global positions, users can measure and monitor antenna alignment on all the antennas in the network. Knowing the global elevations of each antenna on a client’s network also helps to position equipment to avoid obstacles in between tower assets, such as vegetation heights. Updates could be performed on a regular basis to ensure equipment condition, monitor known issues before needing a physical correction, and communicate with workmen when a repair or upgrade is needed. This communication aids in project planning and material selection, increases efficiency and quality, and reduces resource hours and injury risk to workmen on the antenna towers.
Software
Eye-bot Aerial Solutions used ContextCapture’s support for parallel processing, which allows the project team to distribute the workload over a network. This capability reduced the amount of time required between data collection and product delivery. Moreover, it is efficient to produce a model that can be directly imported into MicroStation. ContextCapture allowed the project team to fully utilize all equipment. Prior to using this software, the team had difficulty processing images greater than 40 megapixels. ContextCapture processed the high-resolution images without a problem, opening the door to experimenting with new data collection procedures and, ultimately, yielding a better model.
Project Playbook: ContextCapture