Visibility Enhancement of Crane Operators Using BIM-Based Diminished Reality

Abstract

The limited visibility experienced by crane operators in construction sites poses significant challenges, leading to reduced performance and safety concerns. Obstructive elements, such as existing buildings, construction elements, or vehicles, can block the crane operator's field of view, hindering their ability to execute lifting operations with precision and confidence. To address this issue, this study presents a novel approach using Building Information Modelling (BIM)-based diminished reality (DR) to enhance visibility by dynamically removing obstructive objects from the crane operator's perspective in real-time. The research employs a marker-based registration system that effectively aligns BIM data with the physical environment, ensuring realistic and precise DR visualization. Additionally, a semi-automatic selection method that involves minimal intervention from the user is employed to select desired objects. To generate the background, the system utilizes real-time observation data from occluded areas. A validation through a case study demonstrates the practical applicability of the developed system in real-life construction scenarios