BIM model-based structural damage localization using visual-inertial odometry

Abstract

Ensuring the safety of a structure necessitates that repairs are carried out based on accurate inspections and records of damage information. Traditional methods of recording damage rely on individual paper-based documents, making it challenging for inspectors to accurately record damage locations and track chronological changes. Recent research has suggested the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) to record detailed damage information; however, localizing damages on a BIM model can be time-consuming. To overcome this limitation, this study proposes a method to automatically localize damages on a BIM model in real-time, utilizing consecutive images and measurements from an inertial measurement unit in close proximity to damages. The proposed method employs a visual-inertial odometry algorithm to estimate the camera pose, detect damages, and compute the damage location in the coordinate of a prebuilt BIM model. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method were validated through an experiment conducted on a campus building. Results revealed that the proposed method successfully localized damages on the BIM model in real-time, with a root mean square error of 6.6 cm.