Technologies Numériques et Transformation du Secteur de la Construction

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core definitions, applications, workflows, and case studies across six digital technologies in construction.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

An aircraft that operates without a person physically inside it, equipped with cameras, sensors, and positioning systems for site surveying, monitoring, and inspection.

UAV Technology Workflow

A five-step process consisting of: 1. Plan (flight path & area), 2. Fly (capture site data), 3. Process (analyze images/sensor data), 4. Generate (maps, 3D models, measurements), and 5. Analyze (engineer interprets results).

Photogrammetry (UP Diliman Case)

A technique used at the University of the Philippines Diliman to process UAV-captured construction site images into a 3D as-built model to compare actual progress against planned drawings.

Virtual Reality (VR)

An immersive 3D virtual environment with real-time response capabilities, primarily focused on planning, design, visualization, virtual walkthroughs, and safety training.

Augmented Reality (AR)

A technology that overlays digital information onto a real-world environment using real-time spatial alignment, focused on construction, inspection, verification, and facility management.

Nova Hospital VR Implementation

A project in Finland where over $350$ staff members used VR goggles and BIM to perform virtual walkthroughs and test room workflows prior to physical construction.

Trimble SiteVision (Hensel Phelps)

An AR application deployed on iPads by field engineers in the USA to verify in-wall conditions, deck inserts, and utilities directly against BIM models on-site.

Blockchain Technology

A decentralized, tamper-proof digital ledger that records transactions, material provenance, and project milestones across all construction stakeholders in real time.

Smart Contracts

Self-enforcing digital agreements on a blockchain that automatically release payments to sub-contractors immediately upon verified milestone completion.

Immutability

A core blockchain principle ensuring that once site data, BIM revisions, and compliance records are logged, they cannot be altered or backdated.

HerenBouw

An Amsterdam harbor development project that serves as a real-world example of blockchain implementation in real-time construction supply chain management.

AI-Guided Project Management

The integration of artificial intelligence into project workflows to automate tasks, enhance predictions, and shift project managers from primary decision-makers to orchestrators.

Human-in-the-Loop

A governance principle for AI project management requiring that AI-generated outputs be reviewed by human experts at every stage.

nPlan

A London-based AI company using a database of past construction schedules to forecast project outcomes and accurately predict delay risks, such as on Crossrail.

Track3D

An AI platform partnered with Hensel Phelps to automate visual progress tracking using site photos and drones across over $200$ active projects.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer-based system used to collect, store, manage, analyze, and display geographic information by integrating maps, spatial data, and analytical tools.

NAMRIA

The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, which acts as the Philippine government's central mapping agency responsible for topographic maps and geospatial data.

DIME Project

Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation; a Philippine initiative using satellites, drones, and geotagging to monitor major public infrastructure projects.

ArcGIS by Esri

A widely deployed commercial GIS platform used by governments and engineers to manage infrastructure, analyze spatial data, and build interactive maps.

QGIS (Quantum GIS)

A free and open-source GIS application utilized for managing spatial datasets, conducting geographical analysis, and generating customized maps.

5G Network

The fifth generation of mobile network technology, characterized by multi-gigabit speeds, low latency, and high device density to support real-time site automation.

5G Jobsite Architecture

An integrated data pipeline connecting field workers, smart wearables, drones, and IoT sensors through a 5G network to edge/cloud AI systems for project management analysis.