The first facilities built under the Norilsk renovation programme are powered by innovation. The new technologies can speed up construction processes and increase their effectiveness.

One of the most promising solutions in this domain is data-driven laser scanning, which gives digital control over construction and assembly. It can automatically detect any deviation between the constructed facility and its initial 3D model. The laser scanning-based monitoring technology relies on a point cloud and 360 degree panoramic images from LiDAR scanners installed on the ground. The collected data is used as an additional instrument to oversee construction and assembly works. To ensure precision and accuracy, laser scanning is performed at every stage of construction.

“We use a high-precision LiDAR scanner. Laser beams pass through an internal optical system on to the surface of real objects within the field of view of the scanner. For each point on the surface, the scanner records its three-dimensional coordinates, real colour and intensity. It performs as many as hundreds of thousands of measurements per second. As a result, it takes just one day to survey a construction site,” said Sergey Kolesnikov, chief manager for construction and industrial production technologies at the Innovative Development Department of Nornickel Sputnik LLC.

The created point cloud is then linked to the geodetic coordinates of the construction site. This is where AI comes into play — machine learning algorithms clear the point cloud of any noise artefacts and foreign objects found on the construction site, compare it against the initial 3D model, and deliver colour-coded mapping of constructed or absent elements and actual geometric deviations.

The system then generates a report detailing the key deviations, which can be subsequently used to discuss the project progress, analyse the quality of construction and accept the completed works.

Thanks to timely detection of deviations and a comprehensive final inspection, data-driven laser scanning can accelerate construction and optimise costs.

According to Sergey Kolesnikov, the technology was piloted during the Talnakh orthodox church project, where it proved effective. Now, it is used for a project to construct two nine-storey apartment buildings implemented jointly by the Company and the Norilsk City Administration.

The Innovative Development Department plans to test the data-driven laser scanning technology further, along with other innovative products. These include a construction management platform for creating a common data environment to manage and monitor design, survey and construction works (keeping common digital records, checking digital models for regulatory conflicts and geometric deviations, obtaining necessary approvals for documents and construction decisions) and computer vision-powered video analytics to increase on-site safety in construction. Going forward, the above promising solutions will be used in Nornickel’s projects and can be sold to third parties domestically.

For reference

In 2021, Norilsk launched a programme to renovate housing, social and utility infrastructure. Its costs stand at RUB 120 bn, of which two thirds, or RUB 81.3 bn, is to be covered by Nornickel. The programme is coordinated by Polar Division’s project office for the Norilsk comprehensive development initiatives.

Nornickel tests new technologies as Norilsk is undergoing a makeover