Construction Site Resource Tracking with Camera and Laser Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for monitoring operation situations of construction machines at construction sites require significant manpower and are not fully automated.

Innovation Solution

A measuring system utilizing a camera for continuous photography, recognition, tracking, and laser light positioning to determine the positions of construction machines and workers, with a map-preparing function to display their movements, minimizing manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual monitoring methods are used to track construction machines, then detailed operation information can be obtained, but significant manpower is required and automation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation levelVSAvoidmanpower requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual monitoring operations with an automated system comprising cameras, laser measuring devices, and computer processing. The camera captures images of construction machines, the laser device measures positions, and the computer automatically processes this data to track machine movements and operations, eliminating the need for manual observation and recording while providing detailed operation information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If continuous monitoring of multiple site resources is performed, then comprehensive operation situations are captured, but system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is divided into separate functional modules: cameras for image capture, laser measuring devices for position measurement, and a computer for data processing. Each module performs a specific function, and they work together through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple site resources simultaneously while keeping each component relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses universal components that can monitor multiple types of site resources (construction machines, workers, materials) with the same hardware setup. The camera and laser measuring device can track various objects without requiring different equipment, and the computer processing system handles diverse data types through unified algorithms, reducing overall system complexity despite comprehensive monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient, automated monitoring of construction site resources, reducing manpower requirements and providing detailed operation situation analysis.

Implementation Method 1

determining the positions of construction machines by laser light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

a position of a reflection point of laser light in the construction machine photographed by the camera

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4112824B1Measuring system, measuring method, and measuring program for determining the positions of the site resources at a construction site
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP4112824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4112824B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4112824B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to monitor operation situations of site resources at a construction site efficiently, a measuring system uses a surveying apparatus 100 including a camera and a position-determining function using laser light, and the measuring system includes a photographing means for continuously photographing construction machines 201 to 204 which are site resources for performing operations at a construction site by the camera, a recognizing means recognizing the site resources in photographed images obtained by the photographing, a tracking means for tracking the image of the site resources recognized in the multiple photographed images obtained by the continuous photographing, and a position-determining means collimating to the site resources which are objects for the tracking, and determining the positions of site resources by the position-determining function, in which the determining of positions is performed multiple times at intervals.