Mobile Device Coordinate Calibration for Formwork Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction sites face challenges in accurately setting up formwork and scaffolding due to deviations from pre-planned designs, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety hazards, as site personnel often lack awareness of the planned specifications.

Innovation Solution

A method for calibrating a mobile device's internal coordinate system against an absolute construction site coordinate system using image recordings and sensor data, allowing for precise transformation of 3D models into the site's coordinate system for augmented reality overlays, enabling real-time error detection and correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pre-planned CAD designs are used for formwork and scaffolding, then manufacturing precision and material efficiency are improved, but deviations occur during physical construction due to lack of awareness by construction personnel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of formwork and scaffolding assemblyVSAvoidconsistency between plan and execution
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously captures images of the construction site, compares them with the reference model, and provides real-time feedback to construction personnel about deviations from the planned design, enabling immediate correction of assembly errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A mobile device with image recognition technology serves as an intermediary between the pre-planned CAD design and the physical construction process, automatically detecting and communicating deviations without requiring personnel to interpret complex plans

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If support during construction by construction supplier representatives is provided, then errors are prevented and quality is improved, but construction costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of formwork and scaffolding assemblyVSAvoidconstruction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service quality control by automatically comparing construction progress with the reference model and providing guidance to personnel on-site, eliminating the need for expensive expert supervisors while maintaining high quality standards

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human expert supervision with an automated image recognition and comparison system that provides equivalent or superior quality control at lower cost

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

3Ease of operation

If mobile devices are used for capturing construction site images, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but coordinate system alignment and measurement precision are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusability of mobile device for construction documentationVSAvoidcoordinate system alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses identified geometric features in the environment as intermediary reference points to bridge the mobile device's internal coordinate system with the construction site's reference coordinate system, enabling accurate alignment without complex calibration procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the reference model and overlays it with the captured site images, allowing for precise visual comparison and measurement while maintaining the simplicity of mobile device operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3931524B1Construction of formwork and scaffolding using mobile devices
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 PERI AG
  • EP3931524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3931524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3931524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (100) for calibrating an internal coordinate system (11) of a mobile device (1) relative to an absolute coordinate system (21) of a construction site (2), comprising the steps: recording (110) images and/or scans (3a-3c) which show at least part of the construction site (2) and/or determining (120) positions (4a-4c) of the mobile device (1) in a fixed coordinate system (4) using a terrestrial or satellite-based positioning system; additionally detecting (111, 121), using sensors, the position (12a-12c) and/or orientation (13a-13c) of the mobile device (1) in the internal coordinate system (11) of the mobile device (1); establishing (130) equations (51-56) having unknowns (5a-5c) which characterise the transformation sought between the internal coordinate system (11) of the mobile device (1) and the absolute coordinate system (21) of the construction site (2), by identifying (131) geometric features (22) and/or by comparing (132) determined positions, the unknowns (5a-5c) being calculated (140) as solutions of an equation system (5) formed from the established equations (51-56). The invention also relates to a method (200) for the quality control of formwork and/or scaffolding.