Introduction to elevation grid and heatmap reporting with DatuBIM

Reasons why an elevation heatmap report is crucial

1. Quality Control and Assurance: It provides a clear visual representation of whether the as-built conditions meet the design specifications. For instance, using color coding, DatuBIM can highlight areas within ±5cm of the design elevation in green, signifying acceptable levels, while deviations are marked in yellow or red, signaling the need for further attention. This ensures high precision in meeting design intentions, which is critical in structures where tolerance levels are tight.
2. Resource Management: The report aids in managing resources more effectively by pinpointing exactly where additional work is required. This allows project managers to allocate labor and materials where they are most needed, optimizing the use of resources and minimizing waste.
3. Risk Mitigation: By identifying areas that deviate significantly from the design, the report helps mitigate risks associated with structural integrity, water drainage, and soil stability. It serves as an early warning system for potential issues that could compromise the safety and longevity of the project.
4. Client Communication: It facilitates clear and transparent communication with stakeholders, providing visual documentation of project progress and compliance with design standards. Clients can easily understand the state of the project through the intuitive color-coded system.
5. Regulatory Compliance: For projects subject to regulatory oversight, such reports serve as evidence of compliance with design and safety standards, which is essential for audit trails and regulatory reviews.
   

Real-Life applications

The application of elevation heatmap reports is extensive in the field of civil engineering. For example, consider the construction of a sloped terrain as illustrated in the images provided. The reports generated by DatuBIM clearly delineate the zero level line, which is critical in assessing the cut and fill balance of the site. Such detailed visualization assists in effective grading, which is essential for adequate drainage and foundation support. In another instance, the color-coding within a given site, showcasing deviations from the design elevation, guides contractors in pinpointing areas that require grading or packing to achieve the desired elevation.

Setup the elevation grid and heatmap report

In the example above, the green regions identify areas with low elevation differences (less than ±5cm), which allow the customer to view in a glance the regions that have reached the final design level and do not need further work.

Yellow regions identify areas with medium elevation differences, (± 5-10cm), which allow the customer to view in a glance the regions that require a bit more work or could be adequate depend on geographical factors or other project stakeholders’ decisions. 

Red regions identify areas with high elevation differences, (>±10 cm). Thus, clearing out that a fill or cut must be applied to achieve the desired elevation level.

The result is the following report:

In dynamic environments, such as infrastructure and residential projects, heat maps can be updated after each flight, allowing stakeholders to monitor changing patterns and respond quickly to emerging trends or issues.

In summary, heat maps in elevation reports offer a powerful and user-friendly way to analyze and interpret elevation data, enabling various stakeholders and managers to make informed decisions based on patterns and trends.

Tips:

1. Choose distinct colors for easier identification
2. To execute only 2 levels of elevation, select one of the colors as transparent or a range of zero
3. Follow industry-standard color conventions collaboratively agreed by your peers, managers, and contractors