One emerging technique for using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs)—often referred to as drones—to improve construction site safety applies image processing and computer vision methods to extract information from data the UASs capture with high-resolution cameras. Researchers have recently focused on developing techniques to automate operations such as 1) detecting job site hazards and safety-related issues and 2) conducting automated and semi-automated safety inspections. This project used UASs to collect images and combine them with novel computer vision techniques to create an automated fall hazard detection and monitoring system. Through a case study that looked at a high-rise building, the researchers investigated implementation of UASs to monitor guardrails near unprotected edges and openings.

Masoud Gheisari, Behzad Esmaeili, Jana Kosecka, and Abbas Rashidi. June 2020.