Prototype pipeline modelling using interval scanning point clouds

With the aid of computer aided design (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM), as-built to as-designed comparison has seen many developments in improving the workflow of manufacturing and construction tasks. Recently, evolution has been centred around automation of scene interpretation from three-dimensional (3D) scan data. The scope of this paper is to assess assemblies as the installation process progresses and inferring if arising deviations are problematic (complex task). The adequacy of utilising unorganised point clouds to compliance check are trialled with a real life down-scaled prototype model in conjunction with a synthetic dataset. This work aims to highlight areas where large rework could be avoided, in part by the detection of potential clashes of components early in the pipeline installation process. With the help of an extracted model in the form of a point cloud generated from a scanned physical model and a 3D CAD model representing the nominal geometry, an operator can be made visually aware of potential deviations and component clashes during a pipeline assembly process.