How PCL Construction used Twinsity in its SaskPower project
SaskPower, the largest electricity provider in Saskatchewan, undertook a transformative project to restore its 55-year-old, 14-story head office building in Regina, Canada. PCL Construction was tasked with modernizing the building’s infrastructure while maintaining its historical integrity.
Key goals of the project
The primary goals of the restoration project were to extend the building’s operational lifespan, remove hazardous materials from the facade, achieve substantial energy savings, and preserve the building’s historical significance. These objectives were met through an innovative, technology-driven approach to construction, highlighting PCL’s commitment to excellence and sustainability.
Advanced technology in construction: drone-captured 3D models and AI
In the project’s initiation phase, PCL conducted a comprehensive assessment of the building’s exterior before starting the restoration works. A major innovation was the introduction of drone-captured 3D models, which significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of defect detection. Traditionally, inspecting such high-rise buildings involved manual labor, scaffolding, and posed significant safety risks. However, with the use of Twinsity, an advanced AI-assisted inspection platform developed by Twinsity, PCL was able to streamline the inspection process.
How Twinsity revolutionized the project
Twinsity allowed PCL to perform precise inspections of the building’s exterior, identifying defects such as cracks, water infiltration, and material degradation. By leveraging drone technology to capture high-resolution images, the system created detailed 3D models that could be analyzed for structural and other issues. This allowed PCL to get the consulting engineers to inspect the structure early, identify the areas of concern and move up the project schedule. Twinsity allows a thorough documentation of all defects, with reports pinpointing the exact location and severity of each issue.
The drone-derived technology accelerated the project’s progress and provided a comprehensive record of the building. Such records are invaluable throughout the entire lifecycle of the building. The inspection results documented in Twinsity can be accessed at any time in the future, allowing for easy comparison between previous and current building conditions. This not only addresses concerns that the initial inspection might have missed critical issues but also ensures a rigorous documentation of the building’s status at every stage of its service life.
PCL’s integration of advanced technologies in the SaskPower head office renovation set a new industry standard, proving how drone-derived inspection technology can enhance the efficiency, safety, and accuracy of renovation projects. The use of Twinsity allowed for real-time data insights, helping ensure the longevity of the building while reducing overall project costs.
A successful outcome
Twinsity has overcome the challenge of handling the vast volume of data generated by drone inspections, making it easily accessible to consultants, clients, and other stakeholders. Often, these stakeholders don’t have the specialized modeling software needed to inspect or even view detailed 3D models. However, Twinsity provides a simple solution, allowing all stakeholders to access high-resolution data directly through their browsers. Just upload the data to Twinsity, share the link, and they’re ready to explore.
The success of this project demonstrates the future of construction, where traditional techniques are enhanced by cutting-edge innovations like drone inspections and digital defect detection. PCL’s forward-thinking approach has set a new benchmark in restoration and construction, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient building renovations.