Project Summary Organization Seikey S.r.l. Solution Reality Modeling/Inspectioneering Advancement Location Caronno Pertusella, Varese, Italy Project Objectives • Standardize inspections and provide complete analysis of Italy's cell tower stations • Initiate an integrated 3D reality modeling approach using drones for high-precision aerial data capture • Accelerate information exchange among stakeholders for improved plant maintenance, operations, compliance, and lifecycle asset management Products Used Bentley Map, ContextCapture, MicroStation®, Navigator, ProjectWise® Seikey Uses Drones for Aerial Data Capture of Italy's Cell Tower Stations Integrating Bentley 3D Reality Modeling Technology Optimized Inspections and Improved Asset Maintenance and Management for More Effective Cell Phone Coverage Fast Facts • Seikey initiated a data capture and reality modeling project to accelerate information exchange. • The team used drones for high-precision aerial data capture of the BTS and ContextCapture to generate a detailed reconstruction of all BTS. • Using ProjectWise enabled immediate exchange of the large quantities of data among stakeholders, enhancing decision making for improved lifecycle asset maintenance and management. ROI Using drones for data capture enabled Seikey to safely perform station inspections while operational in just six hours compared to an average of five days per facility. The integrated 3D real-time modeling approach optimized maintenance and inspection activities, reduced costs, and enhanced signal strength of BTS facilities for better cell phone coverage. An Innovative Aerial Data Capture Initiative Italian telecommunications company, Telecom Italia (TIM) provides digital and cellular data services enabling intelligent connectivity throughout Italy. TIM needed to standardize inspections of the BTS and accelerate information exchange for improved plant maintenance, compliance, and asset management to optimize cell phone coverage. Specializing in aerial data collection and telecom solutions, TIM's technological partner Seikey initiated a data capture and reality modeling approach to evaluate the integrity of the numerous BTS components and provide TIM advice for asset maintenance and management. The project provided an innovative, aerial method for inspecting the RBS operating parameters while operational, using drones to enable information to be safely gathered and analyzed to correct and prevent any component deviations or anomalies. Beyond the electromagnetic influences that could affect drone survey accuracy and the 3D reconstruction difficulties, Seikey faced additional challenges to simplify inspections and facilitate precise analysis for improved infrastructure performance and maintenance. Confronted with managing the different flight schedules, collecting required permits, and processing and sharing several terabytes of data, Seikey needed to leverage its expertise in high precision aerial data capture and integrate the 3D reality modeling and visualization capabilities of Bentley technology. Integrated Reality Modeling Solution Optimizes Inspections To ensure a global view of each inspected item, Seikey carried out BTS inspection activities using an integrated approach encompassing several terabytes of high-precision data captured via civilian drones and processed using ContextCapture to generate real-time, 3D photogrammetric and digital models. ContextCapture enabled the team to add the measured electromagnetic field frequency to the inspection and, ultimately, the reality model to address the reconstruction difficulties associated with the electromagnetic influences. All data in ContextCapture was then analyzed in MicroStation and reprocessed for enhanced point-cloud management, mesh generation, and creation of tags to better represent BTS operational parameters. Integrating Bentley Map and Navigator enabled Seikey to link associated data and geospatial information to the model to visually identify and tag anomalies and other station information, while ProjectWise facilitated real-time access to all asset inspection data. "The perfect integration of all Bentley software has allowed and ensured optimal data management, as well as fostered the organization of flight schedules and collection of permits to carry out inspections in urban and non-urban areas," stated Cristiano De Leonardis, CEO and Founder of Seikey S.r.l. The integrated data capture and reality modeling solution enabled Seikey to perform the inspections, without shutting down the facilities, in just six hours compared to an average of five days, and minimized risks to human life that occur with traditional inspection techniques. ProjectWise Accelerates Information Mobility As part of its inspectioneering and reality modeling project, Seikey sought to accelerate data and information exchange among stakeholders. Using ProjectWise enabled the team to achieve that goal, allowing immediate collaboration among impacted parties. Through ProjectWise, drone-captured data is streamed and can be viewed in real-time during the inspection stage where it can be analyzed for potential corrective action. The software facilitates clear and intuitive data organization, enabling quick searches of raw and processed data by the respective stakeholders and more effective collaboration to resolve issues and eliminate costs of on-site inspections. Each station is classified with a unique code in ProjectWise containing basic information and allows for geo-tagged anomalies within the 3D model, providing a quick, linear, and rational representation for accurate and efficient analysis and stakeholder consultation. "Given the high number of BTS to be analyzed, ProjectWise has been of utmost importance, allowing the rapid, linear, and easy to understand consultation and organization of data and documentation. It offers all participants involved effective collaboration to improve and integrate the overall management of the project," explained De Leonardis.