When most people think of satellites, they think of television or maybe an object up in space, orbiting the earth. Few, however, realize how important satellite technology has become in the construction industry over the last twenty years.
Satellite imaging allows workers to review projects in real time, allowing them to monitor material use and damage, and act before it’s too late. In turn, this keeps workers safer, uses fewer materials (because workers know exactly what is needed to fix the issue), and limits the amount of time required to make repairs.
Case Study: Texas InSar
Satellite technology is used throughout the industry in many different ways. State Highway 130 stretches between San Antonio and Austin, requiring near constant maintenance due to the high traffic volume, extreme weather changes, and predominantly clay soil (which expands and retracts quickly due to moisture levels, causing damage to asphalt). Recently, SH130 Concession Co, the group responsible for maintenance, started using remote satellite sensing technologies to evaluate the conditions of the entire roadway within millimeter accuracy. This is now allowing them to identify problems before they affect road safety or rideability, and since they can identify these issues earlier, they can plan for preventative work at times when the road is less busy, causing fewer delays and preventing accidents.
This project uses InSar (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) technology, which uses radar signals from orbiting satellites to make high density measurements at more than 30,000 points along the roadway. This data is collected every six days, and then is compared to the last seven years of historical data. Using these comparisons, crews can determine which areas to review and in-person teams are sent out to investigate and make any needed repairs. While in-person inspections will always be needed, InSar allows crews to identify high risk areas long before they start to show any visual signs of damage.
Case Study: Chesapeake Bay InSar
InSar technology has also been used to monitor construction projects that are affected by nearby water levels. The sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay area is consistently monitored by satellite data, and is used by construction project managers who work on the roads and various building projects along the coast. Those working on the underwater tunnels between Portsmouth and Norfolk, VA also receive InSar data about the Elizabeth River, which flows over the tunnels. It’s important workers know about rising water levels so they can plan for increased pressure, erosion, and other potential structural issues.
Case Study: California & Florida Recovery
Satellite technology has also been instrumental in the aftermath of disasters. One of the first times it was used in construction was in 1992, after it showed the surface damage of a California earthquake. Since then, it’s proven to be invaluable in the identification of infrastructure damage after natural disasters like earthquakes, sinkholes, and landslides. Most recently, InSar was used to examine the safety of neighboring structures in Surfside, FL, where a condominium collapsed in 2021, killing 98 people and injuring countless others.
Case Study: Active Projects
It has also been used to monitor infrastructure improvements as they’re progressing. In Pennsylvania, InSar technology was used to monitor the extension of MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) retaining walls. The state of Washington used it to keep an eye on the effects of “Bertha”, the 57.5 foot tunnel boring machine used to make a replacement tunnel under downtown Seattle. In all of these cases, managers were able to make sure citizens remained safe and secure while major projects were completed.
Whether it is monitoring the impacts on roads, buildings, levees, or other infrastructure, the use of satellite technology has become indispensable. As data management and tracking software continues to advance, we expect to see satellite technology become a key part of many building projects and continue to promote safety, sustainability and efficiency.