Challenges Facing the Use of Remote Sensing Technologies in the Construction Industry: A Review

Abstract

Remote sensing is essential in construction management by providing valuable information and insights throughout the project lifecycle. Due to the rapid advancement of remote sensing technologies, their use has been increasingly adopted in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. This review paper aims to advance the understanding, knowledge base, and practical implementation of remote sensing technologies in the construction industry. It may help support the development of robust methodologies, address challenges, and pave the way for the effective integration of remote sensing into construction management processes. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive literature review, focusing on the challenges faced in using remote sensing technologies in construction management. One hundred and seventeen papers were collected from eight relevant journals, indexed in Web of Science, and then categorized by challenge type. The results of 44 exemplary studies were reported in the three types of remote sensing platforms (satellite, airborne, and ground-based remote sensing). The paper provides construction professionals with a deeper understanding of remote sensing technologies and their applications in construction management. The challenges of using remote sensing in construction were collected and classified into eleven challenges. According to the number of collected documents, the critical challenges were shadow, spatial, and temporal resolution issues. The findings emphasize the use of unmanned airborne systems (UASs) and satellite remote sensing, which have become increasingly common and valuable for tasks such as preconstruction planning, progress tracking, safety monitoring, and environmental management. This knowledge allows for informed decision-making regarding integrating remote sensing into construction projects, leading to more efficient and practical project planning, design, and execution.