Leveraging Handheld LiDAR for Construction Inspection and Digital As-Builts

****Amendment 001 (A001) to the RFQ hereby incorporates the attached Q&A, revises the RFQ Schedule of Services, and updates the PWS. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) national efforts supporting SHRP2, e-Construction, and building information management (BIM) for highway infrastructure have accelerated the implementation and deployment of technologies such as automatic machine guidance (AMG), real time density control, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), digital models, digital as-builts, e-ticketing, etc. The benefits of LiDAR technology are proven, wide reaching, and impact nearly all aspects of highway transportation. The use of LiDAR technology provides high-quality survey and data mapping that could be collected automatically and remotely. Large areas can be digitally scanned and mapped very quickly in comparison to traditional survey and mapping practices. At the most basic level, LiDAR is a system that shoots low-power lasers at an environment. Using the reflections, it calculates the distance to objects and points in the environment, and creates an accurate 3D depth map or rendering based on the results. Historic use and wide scale adoption are often hindered by equipment size and cost. Most survey grade LiDAR equipment in use today is vehicle or UAS mounted and relatively expensive; which limits its use for everyday construction inspection activities. Thereby creating a barrier to entry for many state and local agencies. Apple Inc. recently released a miniaturized LiDAR (mini-LiDAR) scanner as standard equipment with in their newest iPad Pro model. Per Apple, their mini-LiDAR scanner can measure distance to surrounding objects up to 16 feet away, works both indoors and outdoors, and operates at the photon level at nano-second speeds. While initially targeted at augmented reality (AR) and gaming applications; Apple's mini-LiDAR scanner enables capabilities previously never seen on a consumer level mobile device and opens the door for routine use in digital construction applications. This includes the possibility to easily and cheaply collect data to monitor construction progress. It also enables the possibility of using mini-LiDAR to develop digital as-builts during construction. Several examples of Apple's mini-LiDAR scanning & 3D meshing capabilities can be viewed online; and some examples are shown here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRUsV-esskM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JMYkHC69OA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8kutn1Xu-U Assessing the capabilities and limitations of Apple's consumer grade mini-LiDAR technology has a potential significant impact to state and local agencies by breaking down the LiDAR technology cost barrier and enabling routine inspector use. Capabilities and limitations of Apple's min-LiDAR technology in an outdoor highway construction environment is needed in comparison to current survey grade LiDAR technologies. Leveraging the current use of tablet computing by inspectors to increase efficiency and augment inspection duties, project documentation, project management and acceptance, and create digital as built may be further enhanced with the mini-LiDAR technology already included within a consumer grade tablet computer as standard equipment.