Remote QA/QC: Revolutionizing Construction Quality Control
Whether you're in construction, inspection, or engineering, you're no stranger to the traditional physical inspections that have been an industry staple for years. These on-site assessments have been a cornerstone of project evaluation, from initial site surveys to post-construction documentation. However, the landscape is evolving, and a new player has entered the field – remote quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).
In this article, we'll delve into the world of physical vs. remote asset inspections, examining their respective merits and drawbacks. We'll explore how remote QA/QC is redefining the game, offering cost-effective, efficient, and often safer alternatives to its physical counterpart. By the end, you'll understand why an increasing number of construction, engineering, and inspection professionals are embracing remote QA/QC for routine monitoring, reserving physical inspections for exceptional cases.
Understanding Physical Asset Inspections
Physical asset inspections are what they sound like – a comprehensive, hands-on evaluation of a structure, building, or infrastructure conducted on-site. Typically, experts or engineers are dispatched to the asset's location, where they meticulously examine its condition, integrity, and potential vulnerabilities.
These on-site experts document their findings extensively, capturing images and notes that form the basis of their assessment. Inspections involve detailed examinations, critical tests, and, if required, sample collection. Physical inspections excel at uncovering complex or concealed issues, providing a level of detail that's often hard to achieve through remote means.
However, there's a catch – physical inspections can be astronomically expensive, especially in specialized industries where expert inspectors are in limited supply. The costs associated with flying out these experts and compensating them for their time can quickly spiral out of control. As a result, many companies are now reevaluating their approach and employing physical asset inspections only when absolutely necessary.
Enter Visual Asset Inspections
Visual asset inspections, on the other hand, leverage technology and remote visualization to assess an asset's condition from afar. During a visual asset inspection, the physical reality of the structure or infrastructure is captured using hardware like smartphones, 360 cameras, and drones. This data is then fed into a photogrammetry engine, which produces highly accurate 2D and 3D reality models.
An expert is then tasked with reviewing the inspection results, all without the need for extensive travel. This remote viewing capability is a game-changer, allowing for efficient, cost-effective assessments. It's worth noting that even individuals without expert-level inspection skills can use visual asset inspections to review the condition and status of multiple sites without setting foot on any of them.
One of the primary advantages of visual asset inspections is the precision they offer. These inspections create remarkably accurate digital twins of structures and infrastructures, providing immersive, measurable, and precise models. Moreover, visual inspections enhance accessibility and safety, as they eliminate the need for inspectors to venture into hazardous or hard-to-reach areas. Efficiency is another notable benefit, with the entire process, from capturing reality to generating a digital twin, often taking minutes, not days.
The Best of Both Worlds
The choice between physical and visual asset inspections isn't always straightforward. In most cases, a combination of both methods yields the best results. Visual inspections are ideal for routine monitoring, offering a cost-effective and efficient way to assess the majority of structures. Physical inspections are then reserved for critical assessments or scenarios where a hands-on approach is indispensable.
Take concrete structures, for instance. These structures demand regular inspection and may be subject to state regulations. Visual asset inspections can cover the bulk of routine assessments for structures known to be in good condition, freeing up resources for in-person inspections on higher-risk sites.
The multi-site and retail industry provides another compelling example. In the past, regional engineers would travel from site to site for asset inspections. Now, visual asset inspections enable on-site managers or even non-experts to capture reality using simple devices like smartphones or 360 cameras. Remote engineers can review the digital twins and site surveys from multiple locations in a fraction of the time it would take to physically travel to each site.
In most cases, remote visual inspections provide sufficient data, making physical inspections the exception rather than the rule. This shift not only saves time and money but also enhances overall efficiency, ensuring that resources are allocated where they truly matter.