Smart Construction Monitoring Using Photogrammetry and LiDAR-derived 4D Digital Model: A Case Study from the Tung Chung New Town Development of Hong Kong

The conventional practice of construction site monitoring in Hong Kong relies heavily on in-person site inspection, which is inherently subject to limitations in human resources, health, safety and time. Additionally, given that the advent and application of new digital technologies in the construction industry predominantly occurred after 2010 in Hong Kong, it is more challenging to review/ monitor the changes of a construction site with respect to its historical (pre-2010) status. To overcome these limitations, in this paper, we present the use of the 4D model monitoring method on a case study from the Tung Chung New Town (TCNT) and its extension development in Hong Kong. Nine 3D digital surface models covering a 57-year time period from 1963 to 2020 were built from the historical aerial photographs using the Structure from Motion technique and from the territory-wide airborne LiDAR data. These models were used for monitoring the process of land reclamation, site formation and the subsequent works during the TCNT development. In addition, a preliminary ground model was constructed from approximately 500 Nos. of drillholes to provide an engineering geological background for the study site. It is promising that our innovative 4D digital model and the associated sub-surface rockhead model can be integrated with the Building Information Modelling (BIM) system at a later stage to constituent a Smart Built Environment and to facilitate a smart construction site monitoring practice in near future.