Improve construction site safety with 3D modeling
While performing underground construction in Joliet, Illinois, a full-service contractor recently experienced a significant near-miss incident, highlighting the importance of construction site safety. During work on an underground pump station, a plug on the water main was pulled, causing water to rapidly flood the station while two employees were still inside the structure.
A geospatial expert was called in to document the pump station for a safety report and a learning tool to reinforce safety culture. We spoke with Brian Layhew, the owner and founder of 9 Line Aerial Media, who used an iPhone 16 Pro with the PIX4Dcatch reality capture app to create a detailed 3D model of the incident site.
Using reality capture for safety training
While the two employees were on scaffolding working on pipes, a breakdown in situational awareness and a lack of communication with a contractor downrange caused the plug to be pulled. Water immediately rushed into the lower portion of the station, leaving the workers with only seconds to react
“Had they been on the ground, the force of the water would have killed them,” said Brian, “by the time they made it down the scaffolding to access the egress ladder, the water was already waist-deep. It had filled up the room and spilled over the 8-foot retaining wall area in a matter of seconds. They were able to safely evacuate the lower area because of the ladder.”
Airy’s safety culture is second to none, Brian told us, but you can’t anticipate every danger. They used this incident as an opportunity to train and enhance their safety culture.
How to improve situational awareness with 3D modeling
By using PIX4Dcatch, Brian was able to map the entire pump station area and provide a detailed 3D visual with measurements, from capture to finished product in about 5 hours. The model that was processed with the click of a button in PIX4Dcloud, was used to not only document the incident but to serve as an example of how quickly they can be in danger and how unexpectedly things can happen.
This model serves as a training device for safety protocol for the entire company now and gives a much better visual tool to show current and future employees what the entire scenario looked like and how to hopefully plan ahead in the future for as many dangerous scenarios as possible.
With the captured virtual model, you can explore inside and out, with centimeter-level measurement capability. That means teams can revisit the scene, verify dimensions, and build situational awareness without stepping back into a confined space.
It served as a visual in situational awareness and boosted all safety aspects of working in and around pump stations. It has also been shared with other construction companies in the area and featured in discussions for their employees and safety cultures.
“I use the entire PIX4D suite. Why? Because I know that no matter what the customer asks me for, I’m able to create a deliverable that puts me ahead of their expectations and gives them data and insights that no other company they work with can give. PIX4D is absolutely my secret weapon." - Brian Layhew, owner and founder, 9 Line Aerial Media
