Unladen by heavy tools or gear, a worker strolls around a construction site. No, he is not taking a break from work but instead deploying the latest on site-scanning technology to capture real-time point cloud data to generate maps of the site – all through his backpack. The pack is part of dConstruct Robotics’s latest tech innovation, d.ASH Pack, and houses cutting-edge Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, sensors Within three hours, the entire site is mapped out and reconstructed digitally, a far cry from the traditional method of site scanning.

“The old-school way of scanning takes about two days for one or two rooms and can be done only during off-peak hours because having people around will affect the scan,” said Mr Jiayi Chong, Chief Technology Officer at dConstruct Robotics, which specialises in developing Artificial Intelligence and robotics solutions. dConstruct is one of the growing number of construction tech, or ConTech, startups with exemplary innovations to enable the realisation of Integrated Planning and Design envisioned under BCA’s Built Environment Industry Transformation Map.

Previously, individual scans of each room or section would have to be pieced together manually, requiring up to four weeks to produce a complete digital site map.

“If the site team made a disastrous error and only found out four weeks down the road, that might mean they have to re-do by tearing everything down, which is costly,” Mr Chong explained.

d.ASH Pack speeds up the scanning process, enabling construction companies to detect and respond faster to any mistakes.

It also makes the job less strenuous. Instead of lugging a laser scanner atop a tripod around construction sites, the user walks about with a backpack-mounted scanner to create an initial site map. With the initial site map, an autonomous robot can take over subsequent scans for later stages of construction.

A worksite personnel utilising a prototype of the d.ASH Pack to generate a digital twin of the construction site.

Marrying tech and construction

This use of autonomous robots sets dConstruct’s technology apart from other products in the market.

“Our scans are multi-purpose – they can map construction sites like other products, but they also allow robots to navigate these construction sites,” Mr Chong explained. “This opens up a wide range of possibilities, from high-resolution scanning to site inspection, facilities management and surveillance.”  These capabilities align with the “Smart Inspection and Management” category outlined in the digital solutions roadmap of the refreshed Built Environment Industry Digital Plan (BE IDP). Launched in September 2024, the BE IDP aims to guide and empower Built Environment small to medium-sized enterprises on their digitalisation journey.

dConstruct’s unique integration of tech and construction was an idea born in 2021, when the company was tasked with scanning the light-rail Beach Station that was being built in Sentosa. That was the company’s first dip into the construction industry, where it discovered a new use case for its technology.

“Originally, we were focused on building a robust stack of systems for autonomous robots. It wasn’t till then that we realised our technology could be applied to mapping construction sites too,” he recounted.

Then came extensive prototyping. From a humble setup – a makeshift backpack with a scanner attached precariously to a pole sticking out of the bag – the design evolved into a 3D-printed backpack.

“The two key elements we focused on during development were accuracy and scale – being able to get accurate maps but also at a frequent enough rate,” he said.

dConstruct carried out benchmarking against global navigation satellite systems to ensure accuracy and functionality in GPS-denied environments, which were common in concrete-clad construction sites.

Along the way, the company discovered another gap in the market – scans could only be done during off-peak hours when there was no one around. So, dConstruct utilised machine learning and deep learning to develop an algorithm which could automatically remove dynamic objects from its scans.

“This became a core feature of our product,” noted Mr Chong, adding that it allowed for less disruption to the overall construction process.

Save time, save money

Since its launch in March 2023, d.ASH Pack has been deployed by more and more construction companies looking to integrate technology to enhance their workflows. The product’s biggest value proposition is its ability to save time – a prized commodity in the industry.

“It means you can scan and thus check for errors much more frequently, reducing the number of uncomfortable meetings you might have if a mistake is made,” said Mr Chong.

To speed things up further, d.ASH Xplorer, a software which processes 3D point cloud data, was recently integrated with Autodesk, a platform widely used by architecture and construction companies. Now, 3D models and building information modelling (BIM) data from blueprints can be imported from Autodesk platforms such as Construction Cloud into d.ASH Xplorer, where comparisons can be made with data from site scans. Deviations are automatically detected, making the scan analysis process easier and quicker. The latest updates to d.ASH Xplorer deliver a more comprehensive user experience, introducing AI features like volumetric measurements, spatial few-shot search for object identification and 3D neural reconstruction (digital twin). These enhancements empower project teams to accomplish more with greater precision and ease.

Integrated visualisation of a point cloud and a BIM model, showcasing a building structure within its real-world environment.

The company is also continually refining d.ASH Pack, with plans to miniaturise the system for use on drones and develop a more photorealistic 3D reconstruction algorithm, which Mr Chong says can help visual effects companies too. Scaling its technology to scan entire cities is another ambitious goal.

“Time is money… no one wants to spend too much time scanning. What they want is the end result of data from the scan to analyse and reconstruct, so our job is to reduce the cost of scanning by making it faster,” he said.

“And you often cannot proceed till scans are done to verify things. So when companies adopt technology, they are not just paying for the tech, but also the hidden cost of time.”

Discover how digitalisation and cutting-edge technologies can streamline your workflow and boost efficiency. Learn more about how to enhance on your company’s digital capabilities, including stage-specific solutions, skills training, cybersecurity measures and funding support, through the refreshed BE IDP here.

The ConTech ecosystem is growing, with around 120 active ConTech startups in the SEA region alone. Keep a look-out for the latest ConTech developments and events by BCA here.