Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Estimating subsurface feature locations during excavation

Abstract:

In one embodiment, techniques are provided for capturing accurate information describing the location of subsurface features (e.g., subsurface utilities such as water pipes, sewer pipes, electrical conduits, etc.) usable in providing an augmented reality view. A set of images is captured with a camera rig coupled to a mobile portion (e.g., the boom) of a piece of heavy construction equipment (e.g., an excavator) being used by workers to conduct an excavation that exposes the subsurface features. The set of images is provided to a structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry that generates a 3D reality mesh. Relative and/or absolute locations of the subsurface features are calculated based on the 3D reality mesh and provided to an augmented reality application executing on an augmented reality device for use in providing an augmented reality view.