Automating inspection and documentation of remote building construction using a robotic camera

When constructing buildings, frequent inspection and detailed visual documentation are important but may not be feasible in remote or dangerous environments. We describe a networked robotic camera system that can automatically monitor construction details and allow remote human experts to zoom in on features as construction proceeds to archive the construction process over time, thereby reducing travel cost and human risk. We describe system architecture, interface design, data structures, and algorithms for such systems. We also report initial experimental results from cameras at two outdoor construction sites.