BIM-based optimization of camera placement for indoor construction monitoring considering the construction schedule

Construction cameras have been used to support autonomous job site monitoring in recent years. However, it remains challenging to find the optimal camera placement configuration in a dynamic job site environment. To address this problem, this paper proposes a camera placement optimization framework using building information modeling (BIM). The framework considers changes in dynamic obstacles and working areas in different construction stages. Data image is used as the data mediator to connect the three modules (BIM module, mathematical module, and optimization module), visualizing the site discrete and optimized result. The efficiency of the framework is validated through the test of an indoor construction project with a size of 2000 square meters. Compared to the experience-based camera placement configuration, the optimal camera placement calculated by the proposed framework achieves 12% improvement in total coverage.