Newsletter 03/2025 AVAG Practice : Modernization of the Kladno?Railway

?? "Our Investment in Drones Paid Off Within Three Months" ?

??"AVAG Outputs Hold the Same Weight as a Surveyor's Stamp" ?

? "I Fly the Drone for Half an Hour, AVAG Processes the Data Overnight"?

The Kladno – Kladno-Ostrovec construction project is part of the railway modernization from Prague to Kladno. The original single-track railway is being expanded into a double-track line, featuring new platforms, underpasses, bridges, and additional infrastructure. The busiest level crossings have been replaced with grade-separated crossings. Modern security systems, along with new railway superstructures and substructures, will ensure faster, more ecological, efficient, and safer transportation.?

The contractor utilizes drones for construction documentation and earthwork surveying, with data processed by the Czech cloud-based application AVAG.?

??"Our Investment in Drones Paid Off Within Three Months" ?

"We began considering the use of drones on construction sites in 2019 to ease the workload of surveyors during earthwork measurements. The key incentive came from colleagues at AirView, who introduced us not only to drones themselves but also to the possibilities of processing captured data. We presented the project to our superiors, explaining how drones would accelerate construction processes and generate savings in surveying tasks. Within three months of using drones, our assumptions were fully confirmed. Not only did we achieve financial savings and faster data processing, but the initial investment in the drone and its equipment, which amounted to approximately CZK 100,000, was fully recouped within this short period. Consequently, for the modernization of the Kladno – Kladno-Ostrovec railway line, drones became a standard and proven technology," explains Ing. Tomá? Pechr, Project Director at EUROVIA CZ.?

On-site, the site manager operates the drone. At regular intervals, typically once a week, they fly the drone over the entire construction area. Each section takes approximately 30 minutes. The captured images are then uploaded to the AVAG cloud environment, where processing, 3D modeling, and selected calculations take place.?

The traditional method of having surveyors manually map the site was significantly more time-consuming and required multiple personnel (a surveyor and assistants). Drones have greatly simplified and shortened the entire process. A drone pilot only needs basic knowledge of geodesy.?

? "I Fly the Drone for Half an Hour, AVAG Processes the Data Overnight"?

"Processing data from a single drone flight takes approximately 10 hours. Typically, we upload the data to AVAG in the evening, and by the following day, we have the results ready," says site manager and drone pilot Ing. Zdeněk Bahensky.?

The use of photogrammetry tools brings entirely new possibilities. The generated 3D model allows project documentation to be overlaid onto the real-world conditions of the site, providing valuable insights into the design's alignment with actual terrain.?

"Drones begin work even before construction starts. One of the first things we capture is the designated land for material storage and future construction areas. Standard photographs may not be sufficiently conclusive, but drones provide precise topographic details, including elevation data for all points. This makes them an ideal tool for on-site decision-making at all levels. We use them with contractors, network administrators, technical supervisors, and, of course, among our own teams," says Zdeněk Bahensky.?

Railway projects typically involve moving large volumes of materials, particularly for railway substructures and superstructures. The ability to calculate volume metrics, generate cross-sectional and longitudinal profiles, and determine elevation with an accuracy of up to 3 cm at any point is a fundamental benefit of drone data. The 3D model also visually represents all excavations, cuts, and slope gradients and even integrates with 3D models used for automated machine leveling. The method is so precise that its calculations serve as the basis for invoicing.?

?? "Our Investment in Drones Paid Off Within Three Months" ?

"The calculations performed by AVAG are certified. Therefore, AVAG system outputs hold the same value as if they were officially validated by a licensed surveyor," confirms Tomá? Pechr.?

A key advantage of the AVAG application is its accessibility for multiple users associated with a specific project. This includes not only construction company personnel but also subcontractors, project owners, designers, and other experts.?

"Initially, there was some skepticism about using drones, mainly concerning accuracy. However, doubts quickly disappeared as users saw firsthand the usefulness of the technology. Today, all site managers, coordinators, and specialists, including subcontractor employees, actively use AVAG. Drone data, with its visual clarity, offers a far more comprehensive source of information than traditional project documentation. We now open project documentation directly within AVAG and view designs overlaid with real-time aerial imagery or cadastral maps. This ensures that all stakeholders see the same information, which simplifies communication and coordination," explains Zdeněk Bahensky.?

EUROVIA CZ is leveraging its experience with drones and AVAG data processing from the Kladno – Kladno-Ostrovec railway modernization project across other railway projects. By the end of 2024, the company will have three drones and three drone pilots working as site managers.?

AVAG Highlights?

1,121 GB of data processed?

169 data layers used for calculations?

Drone used: Mavic 3E RTK?

Miroslav ?taubr, CEO of AVAG :?

"This project demonstrates the full potential of the AVAG application, which is particularly beneficial for site managers and their teams. With numerous data layers accumulated from dozens of drone flights, there is ample information available for a detailed visualization of the real-time status, allowing for higher-quality and faster decision-making regarding the next steps in construction. The scanned data within AVAG is complemented by CAD drawings and inspection data, primarily photographs. In addition to 360° and Hi-Res Grid images, users can also integrate mobile phone photographs. However, the most crucial aspect, in my view, is the extensive data sharing across the entire project, which I consider AVAG's greatest advantage."?

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Project Details:?

• Project Name: Modernization of the Kladno (incl.) – Kladno-Ostrovec (incl.) Railway Line?

• Implementation Period: 10/2022 - 12/2028?

• Scope: ?

• Railway length: 5.3 km?

• Number of renovated stations and stops: 3?

• Number of new platforms: 7?

• Client: Správa ?eleznic, State Organization?

• Contractor: Consortium Kladno – EUROVIA CZ a.s., Strabag Rail a.s., Elektrizace ?eleznic Praha a.s.?

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