Surveying Apparatus Automated Abnormality Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting abnormalities in target objects, such as bridge piers and concrete structures, are inefficient as they require manual inspection and processing of 3D measurement data, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A surveying method using a combined total station and laser scanner system, where exterior orientation parameters between the total station and laser scanner are known, allowing for repeated laser scanning to detect changes in point cloud data, identifying abnormal parts through difference analysis, and enabling precise positioning and imaging of these areas for detailed inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inspection and processing of 3D measurement data is used, then detailed inspection accuracy can be maintained, but work efficiency decreases and inspection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes 3D measurement data through automated abnormality detection algorithms, comparison processing between multiple scans, and automatic generation of inspection reports. The apparatus performs self-service by eliminating manual data processing steps, where the computer automatically identifies abnormal parts, calculates deformation amounts, and generates detailed inspection lists without human intervention in the data analysis phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection processes with automated optical and computational systems. The laser scanner automatically captures 3D data, the computer performs automated comparison processing between multiple scans, and the system generates inspection results without manual intervention. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with automated optical-measurement-computation systems dramatically improves productivity while reducing inspection time.
2Reliability
If comprehensive laser scanning is performed to ensure detection accuracy, then abnormality detection reliability improves, but data processing complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive 3D measurement data into manageable units by automatically identifying and extracting only the abnormal parts through comparison processing. Instead of processing entire point cloud datasets, the system segments data to focus only on regions showing deformation or abnormalities, significantly reducing processing complexity while maintaining detection reliability through targeted analysis of critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential information from comprehensive laser scanning data by automatically identifying abnormal parts through comparison between multiple scans. The computer extracts deformation amounts, abnormal part locations, and critical measurement points from the full dataset, separating useful abnormality information from redundant data. This extraction process maintains high detection reliability while simplifying subsequent processing steps.
3Measurement precision
If multiple laser scanning measurements are performed to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but inspection time and data volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary registration and coordinate system alignment of multiple laser scan datasets before detailed comparison processing. The computer pre-processes the scanned data by establishing consistent reference frames and identifying corresponding points across multiple scans. This preliminary action enables efficient subsequent comparison processing, allowing the system to achieve high positioning accuracy through multiple scans without proportionally increasing total inspection time, as the heavy lifting of data alignment is performed once beforehand.
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
This method significantly increases the efficiency of detecting abnormal parts by automating the detection process, reducing manual inspection time, and providing accurate positioning and imaging of defects, thereby enhancing deformation observation accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a laser scanning function... emitting laser light to scan a target object
Implementation Method 2
obtain 3D coordinate information on the basis of light reflected at each scanned point
Implementation Method 3
a laser positioning unit adapted to emit a positioning laser light
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A surveying apparatus has a combined structure of a total station and a laser scanner. The surveying apparatus includes a point cloud data acquiring unit, an abnormal part detecting unit, an abnormal part position acquiring unit, and an automatic sighting controller. The point cloud data acquiring unit acquires first point cloud data and second point cloud data obtained by laser scanning that is performed on an object to be inspected at a time interval. The abnormal part detecting unit calculates a difference between the first and second point cloud data to detect a part of the object to be inspected, at which position information varies, as a detailed-inspection target part. The abnormal part position acquiring unit acquires a position of the detailed-inspection target part. The automatic sighting controller controls to make the total station sight the detailed-inspection target part, based on the position of the detailed-inspection target part.