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Drone-Driven Learning: Advancing Construction Education through UAV Integration

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) in Construction Education

Tagged Division

Construction Engineering Division (CONST)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47207

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Paper Authors

biography

Hariharan Naganathan Wentworth Institute of Technology Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-0435-8347

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Dr. Hariharan Naganathan, an Assistant Professor of Construction Management at Wentworth Institute of Technology, has made significant contributions to sustainable construction practices through research on energy analytics of buildings and the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in construction education. As a passionate educator, Dr. Naganathan develops a curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on AR/VR experiences, preparing students to design and analyze construction projects. Currently, Dr. Naganathan is working on research projects aimed at improving energy efficiency in existing buildings and exploring the potential of AR/VR in construction education. His dedication to fostering innovation in sustainable construction inspires the next generation of construction managers to create a more energy-efficient built environment.

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Jonghoon Kim University of North Florida

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Abstract

Recent technological innovations have altered the construction industry's perception from being conservative in adopting technologies to implementing and providing promising solutions. These can be various tasks in the construction fields, including aerial photogrammetry, job site productivity, inventory tracking, site logistics, safety inspection, visualization, progress tracking, and structural condition inspection. Emerging technology such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, were initially developed for military purposes, but it has made a successful technology transition to the construction industry. Currently, the applications of UAVs in the construction industry have significantly increased due to several proven advantages such as cost-effectiveness, productivity, safety, and flexible operation. Still, a significant level of relevant knowledge in computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering technology is required beyond the traditional topic area. Although engineering technology education has introduced UAVs and 3D scanner technologies in classrooms to accommodate this movement, there is no systematic process and learning tools that construction engineering technology educators can utilize. The paper details the basics of emerging technologies and proposes a preliminary matrix through learning outcomes from various accreditation bodies. The paper also explains the steps required to implement UAVs and 3D scanners into construction education by reviewing multiple industry case studies. In addition, the research identifies the challenges and effectiveness of utilizing these technologies in classroom education through educators' perspectives

Naganathan, H., & Kim, J. (2024, June), Drone-Driven Learning: Advancing Construction Education through UAV Integration Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47207

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