Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Reducing rework risk and optimizing productivity in a fabrication and modularization environment could save industrial and commercial constructors such as Aecon up to 20% of their fabrication and construction labour costs. Resulting savings could reach hundreds of millions of dollars per year across the industry in Canada alone, and it would enhance the international competitiveness of companies in this industry such as Aecon. Doing this, and thereby doing work right the first time and in the best way requires well trained people, effective delivery of information, proper tools, correct materials and careful planning. We propose to improve information delivery, feedback and planning by further developing a combination of innovative 3D imaging and analysis algorithms recently developed by the applicants. These further developments will be integrated with emerging augmented reality tools to enhance effectiveness. We will focus first on prefabrication work for industrial construction projects that is comprised of piping, conduit and steel assemblies designed in 3D and fabricated in shops by skilled trades-people with advanced cutting, fitting and welding equipment supported by an information technology infrastructure that includes wireless communications, tablet computers and integrated systems. A welder will have a powerful tool as a result of the research that will automatically overlay 3D scans of a work in progress with the 3D design of the work on his tablet computer in a way that will guide his next steps, help him avoid errors in fit-up and welding, check tolerances, and automatically plan optimal alignment procedures. Extensions to incorporate the perspective of the tablet's camera as well will also be explored. A step change in Canadian fabricators' competitiveness will be facilitated by this research.