360-Degree Cameras: A Game Changer for Building Inspections
By Sarah Valentine (Structural and Forensic Engineer – NJA Consulting)
Understanding 360-Degree Cameras
A 360-degree camera is a specialised device that captures a complete panoramic view of its surroundings in a single shot. Unlike traditional cameras that focus on a specific angle, 360-degree cameras use multiple lenses to simultaneously photograph everything around them, creating a spherical image. This technology allows users to experience immersive visuals that can be explored interactively. When viewed through a computer, users can navigate the captured environment as if they were physically present. The application of 360-degree cameras has been traditionally limited to real estate and tourism, due to the expense and specialised training required to use this technology.
Early iterations of 360-degree photography involved specialised cameras and extensive manual stitching of images. While these methods were groundbreaking, it was a costly and cumbersome process. In recent times, the technology has progressed and subsequently, has become accessible and affordable. The advancement in the technology has enabled users to capture full-spherical images with relative ease, paving the way for broader applications across various industries. The ability to document environments in a comprehensive manner has revolutionised inspection practices.
Evolution of Use in Construction
Although the potential for 360-degree cameras in construction is significant, their adoption among engineers and building inspectors has been relatively slow. Many professionals are still relying on traditional inspection methods, despite the advantages that 360-degree imagery can offer. The technology has yet to be fully embraced in the field, but its applications present exciting opportunities for enhancing efficiency and accuracy in construction related work. Engineers and building inspectors can utilise 360-degree cameras to communicate project status to clients and stakeholders, document the condition of a structure, or provide insight into the external site features surrounding a structure. The ability to visualise a site from all angles fosters a deeper understanding of complex environments and provides a clear visual narrative that supplements written reports.
Enhanced Visualisation
Today, 360-degree cameras provide comprehensive visual coverage of an area, capturing high-resolution images from all angles in a single shot. This capability allows engineers and building inspectors to document existing conditions thoroughly, facilitating better planning and decision-making. The immersive nature of 360-degree imagery enables stakeholders to virtually walk through a site, gaining insights that traditional photographs or videos often miss.
Improved Documentation and Reporting
The integration of 360-degree cameras into inspection workflows streamlines documentation processes. Engineers can easily generate detailed reports that include panoramic images alongside notes and annotations. This holistic view helps in identifying issues and provides a clear record for future reference and compliance with industry standards.
Usefulness for Inspection Reports
360-degree imagery could prove particularly valuable in building and engineering. It is almost always the case that the recipient of a report does not attend the site themselves. The reader of a report is often faced with the task of assessing the importance of observations made on site, without really understanding the various features of a site that are described in the report being reviewed. A virtual tour can be viewed by clicking on a hyperlink provided in a report. This allows the reader to move around the site within the virtual tour and develop a more detailed understanding of the composition of the site described in the report.
Balancing Cost-Effectiveness
When considering the use of 360-degree cameras for inspections, it’s essential to evaluate the cost-effectiveness based on the scope of the project. For smaller projects, a simplified and cost-effective approach may be sufficient, utilising simple software and basic techniques. This method can provide valuable insights at a low cost.
However, in larger legal cases or complex projects where multiple stakeholders rely on the findings, a more detailed and meticulous process may be warranted. Further detail can be added to the 360-degree tour, such as embedded photos, notes or documents pinned to locations within the virtual tour. For example, this function could be utilised to show historical photos of a defect or the design documentation of the aspect at the pinned location. This comprehensive documentation can enhance the accuracy and reliability of the tour. In these situations, the added cost can be justified by the need for thorough information to be provided to the end user of the report.
Increased Safety
Safety is paramount in building inspections, often requiring professionals to assess hazardous or hard-to-reach areas. 360-degree cameras enable remote inspections, once the photos have been captured, others can evaluate conditions without exposing themselves to risk. This capability is particularly valuable in environments such as construction sites and industrial facilities. The virtual tour can be linked to different types of media that enhances the users understanding of the site features. The various types of media linked in the tour could be a flat image of a site plan where the user can click on a label (called a hotspot) that takes the user to a flat image of the selected location, or the hotspot could take the user to a video of flyover drone footage. The ability to link various media at hotspots within the tour further allows the user to obtain a greater understanding of the site features and conditions.
Cost and Time Efficiency
Using 360-degree cameras can significantly reduce the time required for inspections. With a single capture, teams can gather extensive data, minimising the need for multiple visits to a site. This efficiency not only saves time but also reduces labour costs, making the inspection process more economical.
Collaboration and Communication
The immersive nature of 360-degree imagery fosters collaboration throughout a project. All parties can access the same visual data, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This shared perspective enhances communication and streamlines decision-making, as stakeholders can discuss issues and solutions with a clear understanding of the site conditions.
Potential Uses
Potential users of 360-degree virtual tours within the building dispute area are as follows:
- Standard causation reports:
This could be a report in relation to footing system movement related problems where the report references relevant external site features such as filled ground, trees or poor site drainage. A 360-degree tour will allow a clearer understanding of the relevant site features to be identified by the reader.
- Final inspections at completion of construction:
A 360-degree tour will allow a more detailed record to be created at the time of completed construction work. This could be the original construction, or the completion of rectification works for a repaired building.
Summary
The integration of 360-degree cameras in building inspections represents a significant leap forward in how professionals approach site inspections. By improving visualisation, documentation, safety, efficiency, and collaboration, these cameras are redefining standards in the construction field. Engineering and building consultant reports can now contain a simple hyperlink that allows the reader to personally move around the site being reviewed and view areas and aspects that were not captured in photos attached to the report. In our experience, not many companies are utilising this readily available technology, but we believe we are setting a new standard for building inspections. We anticipate that this will soon lead to a surge of building inspectors and engineering companies adopting 360-degree camera virtual tours. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for 360-degree cameras will undoubtedly expand, leading to even more innovative solutions in the future.