Contracted Data Collection Services
DND establishments face a massive data challenge: collecting the quantity and quality of spatial data required to modernize portfolio management of infrastructure and real property assets.
DND is taking inventory of—and ultimately digitizing information about—all infrastructure and real property assets. This information will prepare DND to better manage portfolio assets throughout their life cycles. Rich datasets will inform decision making related to planning and scheduling maintenance and repair, replacement or disposal activities, and lowering operating expenses.
Data is only as good as its source. To provide reliable asset data, Director Architecture and Engineering Services (DAES) will validate and populate the Real Property Spatial Data Warehouse (RPSDW) as the master database for all DND infrastructure and buildings. This effort requires comprehensive data capture processes that are highly accurate, easy to deploy, and cost effective.
ADM(IE) Real Property Group has initiated agreements with Defence Construction Canada (DCC) to commission the collection of standardized spatial data. Professional consultants will deliver datasets that align with international standards and conform to standardized data schemas. DND and DCC technical specialists will verify and validate these datasets before populating the RPSDW. This approach mitigates operational disruption; and when these collection agreements are fulfilled, DND will be able to reconcile any gaps and verify data across its portfolio.
Spatial data collection contracts will provide data for the following four areas of interest:
1. NRE 1901 – Establish integrated survey control networks and conduct topographic surveys
A validated, integrated geodetic control network is a prerequisite for the geospatial data collection program. It establishes the enduring, recorded reference points required by other spatial data collection activities. This contract creates a survey capability to establish these integrated survey control networks and conduct topographic surveys.
Professional surveying consultants using traditional and state-of-the-art survey equipment and methodologies will conduct these data collection activities. The survey plans and validated network control points will be registered with the provincial and territorial authorities.
2. NRE1902 – Acquire utilities data and assess infrastructure conditions
This contract creates the capability to validate and acquire geospatial data about DND-owned utilities including the following linear assets:
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Water
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Storm
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Sanitary
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Heating
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Electrical
The spatial data collection activities will be conducted using a phased approach to:
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Identify and verify existing data
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Conduct a gap analysis
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Collect field data to address data gaps
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Conduct condition assessments
3. NRE1903 – Acquire building data
This contract creates the capability to use mobile LiDAR scanning technology to produce point-cloud datasets of building interiors and generate standardized building information.
While site surveying will be performed with familiar surveying techniques and technologies, spatial data about infrastructure such as utilities and buildings will also be collected using technologies that can capture thousands of data points in seconds (“point clouds”). With this level of detail, models and digital representations of these structures can be created and manipulated to simulate real-world scenarios. With these “digital twins”, DND will be able to better manage and make informed decisions about assets throughout their life cycles.
The purpose of the instrument is to collect all spatial data features outside of a building or infrastructure that are visible from street level.
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology is one of the tools chosen to capture data describing DND assets. While airborne LiDAR presently complements the Land data program requirements, terrestrial (ground-based) LiDAR data capture systems meet the requirements of the Site, Building and Equipment Programs.
Vehicle-based mobile LiDAR scanning technology combined with high-resolution photography can collect digital data describing an existing asset. This tool captures 360-degree panoramic, panchromatic images of the visual scene viewed from the position of the vehicle. The data output from this technology presents the assets in a 3D point-cloud form or as a colourized model. Data will be collected on a cyclical basis and used to support engineers, planners, architects, and command staff.
The vehicle-based mobile reality capture process will collect all spatial data features outside buildings or infrastructure visible from street level. It is designed to provide the following standardized outputs:
1. Visual Record
The scanning process records a visually accurate record of real property assets and provides DND with a complete scanned record in the form of accurate LiDAR, imagery, and vector information. This technology records the condition of the assets at a point in time. Authorized users can access the data through a browser-based application.
2. Engineering
Select application tools may be available to apply data captured with the technology to update existing mapping and support design, construction, planning and maintenance activities.
3. Inventory
From the imagery, asset information collected can be used to create an inventory for reporting condition assessment information, scheduling maintenance, and planning future requirements.
4. Operations
The imagery and LiDAR data can support downstream activities, such as making accurate and precise measurements for distances, clearances, elevations, surface areas, and other activities to operate and maintain critical infrastructure.
Stationary and mobile terrestrial LiDAR systems offer excellent tools to capture the data describing building interiors and exteriors. This information will support the validation of existing building footprint information and the generation of new 2D CAD building footprint drawings with interior walls and structures. In addition, equipment assets in buildings can be captured, positioned, inventoried and mapped to CAD drawings. These digital representations will be accessed as 2D drawings or eventually as intelligent 3D models in the future.
The spatial data of building interiors can provide the following standardized outputs:
1. Mobile LiDAR Scanning Files
Mobile LiDAR scanning produces accurate and comprehensive representations of buildings reflecting their existing conditions. These data are delivered as point-cloud data files in .LAS and/or .PLY file format. This approach ensures optimal data capture using features such as normals, RGB, intensity, and calculated scalar fields. The files must be stored and delivered on an approved, secure portable hard drive.
2. General Floor Plans
General floor plans that reflect the as-built conditions of DND buildings can be created or validated from the point-cloud data. The general floor plans will serve as baseline data to which more data will be added in future RPSDW phases.
3. Area Measurement
BOMA area measurement standards can be applied to produce area measurement plans. These plans provide gross, rentable and usable area values. They are considered master data when uploaded into the RPSDW.
4. Space Management
Space management drawings that include room/space classification and occupancy information can be uploaded into the RPSDW and will support future Archibus implementation.
5. Facility Management
Future computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) capabilities will be added with the introduction of the Archibus implementation.
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