Ladars for construction assessment and update

Work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on laser radar imaging of a construction site is described. The objective of the NIS T research is to make measurements required in a construction project quick er and cheaper than current practice and to do so without impacting existin g operations. This can be done by developing techniques for real-time asses sment and documentation in terms of 3-D as-built models of the construction process. Once developed, this technology may be used for other application s such as condition assessment of a hazardous environment where human inter vention would be impossible. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.