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Imagine trying to capture the intricate beauty and vital function of a natural stream nestled within the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Each moss-covered rock, fallen cedar log, and winding bend in the waterway plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. At Jacobs, engineers like Ben Dupuy are dedicated to protecting and restoring these delicate environments, vital to both local communities and the planet. Traditionally, this work involved painstaking manual measurements and observations: documenting the size of pebbles, the slope of the banks, and the flow of water. But these methods often missed the bigger picture—the complex interplay of elements that make each stream unique.

"We needed a way to capture the spatial data, the understanding of where a tree is, where a log is, how big the boulders are, and how they direct water flow," Dupuy explains. "This level of detail is essential for effective stream restoration, but it's traditionally been difficult to obtain."

Several years ago, while surveying a natural environment site near Seattle, Dupuy and a colleague discussed the potential of the newly released LiDAR sensors in iPads and iPhones. After some research, they discovered Polycam, a versatile 3D capture platform that utilizes LiDAR and other technologies on smartphones and tablets to not only build a photo mosaic of the terrain but also create detailed 3D models.

"Polycam really stood out to us with ease of use, and the image overlay on the 3D mesh allowed us to visualize the site's complex terrain and features with a level of clarity not previously available, giving us a complete understanding of the environment we were working in," says Dupuy.

They also found Polycam’s mobile LiDAR capture platform to be preferable to terrestrial scanners because it enables field workers to quickly capture 3D site data, with minimal training, even while working in and around water, in difficult-to-reach locations, offering both speed and accuracy.

Real-Time Decisions in the Field

Polycam's impact on Jacobs' workflows has been profound. Imagine a field technician, knee-deep in a rushing stream, standing beside a rapidly changing riverbank. In real time, with Polycam in hand, they can instantly measure the distance to a fallen tree or assess the potential impact of scour on nearby infrastructure. This ability to make informed decisions on the spot, directly within the natural environment, saves valuable time and resources. Dupuy validated the data captured with Polycam by comparing it to measurements obtained using traditional survey-grade equipment. He found the data to be highly accurate and reliable, providing a high level of confidence in the 3D models and point clouds generated, which are used for critical restoration decisions.

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Integrating 3D Data for Ecological Benefits

Jacobs is exploring how to supplement site data and hydraulic model information with Polycam terrain data. "By integrating Polycam’s 3D data into our hydraulic models, including specialized software like HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System) and SRH-2D (Sediment and River Hydraulics 2D), and Civil 3D design drawings, we can create more accurate and effective restoration plans," Dupuy notes.

For example, by importing a detailed 3D scan of a stream into SRH-2D, engineers can simulate how water will flow after restoration, predicting the impact of changes like adding large woody debris or reshaping the riverbank. This allows them to create solutions that mimic natural processes, ensuring long-term ecological health.

Transforming Fieldwork

Polycam has dramatically transformed Jacobs' fieldwork. Traditionally, a comprehensive site survey could take days, requiring hours of manual measurements with tools like rag tapes, used to measure distances, and assessments of reference reaches, which are typical sections of a stream used for comparison. Now, data collection time has been reduced from 3-8 hours down to approximately 30 minutes, an 88% reduction in on-site measurement time.

This efficiency extends to pre-project planning, where site visits have been reduced up to 5x. "We'll visit a site up to 5 times typically, and with Polycam, that's down to one or two visits," Dupuy explains. This reduction not only saves time and resources but also minimizes the environmental impact of repeated travel on the road and in critical areas.

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Analyzing Streams with Precision

Beyond individual site surveys, Dupuy has also integrated Polycam into Jacobs' crucial work of analyzing and comparing different stream sections. A key technique in stream restoration involves the concept of 'reference reaches'—relatively stable sections of a stream that serve as a benchmark for what a healthy stream should look like.

Traditionally, comparing a restoration site to a reference reach involved time-consuming manual measurements and visual assessments. With Polycam, Dupuy and his team can quickly capture orthomosaic imagery and detailed 3D scans of both the restoration site and the reference reach. These scans, which provide valuable data such as orthomosaics, point clouds, mesh data, and texture mapping, can then be compared using open-source software like Cloud Compare, enabling precise analysis of differences in channel morphology, habitat structure, and other key indicators.

This capability not only streamlines the assessment process but also allows for more objective and data-driven evaluations of restoration success. By repeatedly scanning the same site over time, Jacobs can use Polycam to monitor changes in stream conditions, such as erosion or sediment deposition, providing valuable insights into the long-term effectiveness of their restoration efforts.

In the face of climate change, this ability to track changes becomes even more critical for adaptation and mitigation efforts, such as assessing flood risk and monitoring the impacts of extreme weather events on stream ecosystems.

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Visual Clarity and Data Sharing

With Polycam, Jacobs can eliminate ambiguity in project communication. Imagine a project manager sharing a Polycam scan of a complex restoration site with a team of hydraulic engineers, geomorphologists, biologists, and contractors.

"With Polycam, we can all see the same detailed 3D representation of the site, which helps us understand the project goals and constraints," says Dupuy. This ability to visually share site information has not only led to smoother workflows and faster decision-making but also facilitates remote collaboration among these scientists and engineers, enabling them to share spatial data and insights with ease.

Saving Time, Resources, and Equipment Costs

Dupuy's implementation of Polycam has led to typical project savings ranging from $16,000-$27,000 per project. These savings are directly attributable to reduced site characterization time, fewer site visits, and the elimination of the need for expensive specialized equipment. For example, projects that previously required a week of on-site surveying and data entry can now be completed in a single day, freeing up valuable resources for other critical tasks.

Expanding Design Capabilities with AR

Jacobs is actively exploring new ways to leverage Polycam. Dupuy envisions using Polycam's augmented reality (AR) capabilities to create a library of 3D models for design assets. He imagines building a collection of detailed 3D scans of various types of large woody debris, rocks, and other natural elements that can be viewed and manipulated in AR. Engineers could quickly incorporate scans of these objects into larger scans or designs, improving the planning of restoration projects. This approach streamlines the design workflow and ensures that restoration efforts closely mimic natural environments.

Expanding Survey Capabilities: Drone Integration for Large-Scale Analysis

To further expand their survey capabilities, Jacobs is investigating the use of drones in conjunction with Polycam. "We're interested in expanding our drone capture capabilities with Polycam to generate detailed terrain models," Dupuy states. This innovative approach would allow for the efficient surveying of large and complex sites, such as entire river reaches or extensive floodplains. By capturing data from an aerial perspective, Jacobs could gain a comprehensive understanding of the landscape.

Immersive Stakeholder Engagement: VR Visualization

Jacobs is also looking to leverage Polycam to further improve project collaboration. "We plan to utilize Scene Editor for merging scans and VR visualization for design review meetings," Dupuy says. By merging multiple scans together, they can create a complete and seamless 3D representation of a site. Furthermore, virtual reality (VR) technology would allow stakeholders to immerse themselves in a virtual model of the project site, providing a more intuitive and engaging way to review designs and understand the proposed restoration work. "People are amazed that you can physically move through the site," Dupuy notes, highlighting the power of this immersive experience.

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Empowering Environmental Professionals

Dupuy, supported by Jacobs, is dedicated to sharing his knowledge of mobile LiDAR with scientists, ecologists, engineers, and conservationists working to protect natural environments. He actively demonstrates the transformative potential of this affordable, phone-accessible technology, especially for projects with limited budgets. Through these educational efforts, he believes we can collectively achieve more with less, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation and restoration.

Jacobs sets a new standard in stream restoration, protecting vital Pacific Northwest ecosystems for future generations.

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