About fieldBIM.

One person stands behind the project

I develop fieldBIM independently. Building my own robot and studying other solutions are parts of the same task: understanding how mechanized layout should work and what it needs for use on a real construction site.

Three years have brought knowledge, questions and my own views on the technology. I want to share that understanding here: explain principles, compare approaches and discuss what matters to a specialist beyond a demonstration video.

From an interest in technology to my own implementation

I came to fieldBIM through an interest in the idea of mechanized layout itself. I want to understand how a robot can transfer design geometry onto a floor while operating in building coordinates supported by the geodetic construction control network, or GRO.

Several tasks meet here: data preparation, precise localization, platform motion, marking and result verification. Their connection interests me: how individual solutions can form a working process that is clear and useful on a construction site.

Different implementations already exist worldwide. I study them while developing fieldBIM as my own approach. Existing solutions are introduced in Worldwide solutions ↗.

The complete chain matters to me

In my view, the system’s value depends on more than how straight a line the robot draws. It matters where that line came from, how it relates to the design and site coordinates, and how a specialist can check its position.

A key principle for fieldBIM is operation within the building’s common coordinate system, established by survey control. That control supports construction and verification of the building itself; the robot position and printed layout must be tied to it. I consider this connection an essential part of my project’s engineering task.

This is why the website gives so much attention to surveying, data preparation and verification. I am interested in how the technology changes surveyors’ work and collaboration between construction participants, which operations can be automated and which decisions still belong to people.

fieldBIM is at the prototype stage

I am currently working on my own robot. This is a development stage: ideas and technical solutions still need to become verified system capabilities.

Product readiness, accuracy, productivity and conditions of use will be discussed on the basis of testing. I will distinguish what has been verified for fieldBIM from engineering tasks and the technology’s general potential.

This page records the current project stage. There are no release dates or promises of shipment dates yet.

Moving from prototype to practical use requires resources and site testing. I discuss this aspect of technology development in Investment in mechanized layout ↗ using Dusty Robotics and Rugged Robotics as examples.

A place to understand the technology

While my own robot develops, the website has an independent purpose: to build clear materials about mechanized layout in Russian and English. How it works, which approaches exist, what influences the result and which questions to ask when evaluating a system.

I write primarily for surveyors and technical professionals, as well as people working with BIM, managing construction or simply interested in the subject. I aim to combine technical explanations with my own engineering perspective and support descriptions of other solutions with primary sources.

This is not a development diary: the focus is substantive explanations that readers can return to. As verified results become available, fieldBIM itself will take a larger place on the website. The information materials will remain available.