An Eye Gaze-Aided Virtual Tape Measure for Smart Construction

In construction, the accurate measurements are important in ensuring the quality of work delivered. Different measuring tools have been developed to help workers conduct accurate measuring. However, they may be subject to manipulation difficulties, such as the need for tap/gesture interaction. This paper proposes a novel eye gaze-aided virtual tape measure framework which provides a hands-free manner for conducting the measurements in construction. This framework consists of three components: data collection for point-of-interest, sensor calibration, and distance calculation. Its effectiveness is tested by measuring the dimensions of 15 common objects in laboratory and onsite environments and achieves the average absolute and relative errors of 2.4 cm and 4.8%. The absolute errors range from 0.3 cm to 7.3 cm. A comparison study is conducted to demonstrate its superior performance over iPhone’s Measure application. The results illustrate the feasibility and potential of using the framework to enable measures for smart construction.