3D Crane Site Reconstruction with Lifting Path Displaying by a Top-view Camera

Abstract

Due to the complex working environment, limited vision, and complicated crane operations, the crane operator faces two major problems when constructing with a crane: safety and working efficiency. Every year, numerous accidents occur, the majority of which are the result of the crane operator's inability to acknowledge hidden hazards. Some of these accidents can be effectively avoided through a comprehensive and intuitive display of important visual information to the crane operator. In this research, a 3D spatial map is reconstructed through visual simultaneous location and mapping with a top-view camera. The lifting path is planned on the consideration of both the 3D spatial map and working limit area. These information is displayed intuitively in the top-view image. The lifting path can be successfully and precisely shown in the top-view image in both simulation and field experiments. The augmented top-view image with the planned lifting path can help ensure the operation safety in an efficient way. Based on the proposed intuitive information displaying system, a much more intelligent safety and operation related system which can adjust displaying different kinds of visual information for ensuring construction safety and working efficiency can be developed.