Abstract:
With the rapid advancement of technologies such as Laser Scanning and Point Cloud Data processing, the
influence of these technologies in Civil Engineering Projects are inevitable. These technologies are used in
various industries, including Civil Engineering, in tasks namely, 3D model preparation, Construction progress
monitoring, Quality control, Virtual walk-throughs, etc. Many countries have already made the most out of
these technologies whereas Sri Lanka as a developing country, seems to have lagged in implementing such
tools, especially in the construction sector. Further applications of these digital technologies extend to preserve
ancient monuments from disasters, create digital copies of structures, update timely variations of structures and
predict the life-cycle of buildings. For instance, during renovations, the availability of any BIM models or any
related drawings may be limited and renovations with destructions must be avoided; these limitations pave the
way to the adaptation of non-destructive laser scanning and other related technologies. Moreover, there are
significant advancements in efficient 3D point cloud data acquisition and accurate processing techniques
around the globe, making it a reliable and effective solution for various civil engineering challenges. This study
reviews the available technologies and their applications in the civil engineering domain and the feasibility of
implementing these technologies in the Sri Lankan civil engineering industry.
