Digital twin safety analysis of large-span spatial structure based on airborne LiDAR

This paper introduces a novel method for assessing the safety of post-construction large-span spatial structures. Initially, a brief overview is provided of the operating principles and measurement equipment associated with airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Subsequently, a methodology for extracting one-dimensional geometric models from point cloud data is described. The proposed safety analysis method is then applied to the retractable roof of the Shenzhen Gymnasium, with a comparison made between two approaches: the LiDAR-based method and the consistent imperfection mode method, in terms of their consideration of the impact of initial geometric imperfections on structural mechanical properties. The research findings reveal that the one-dimensional geometric models extracted from airborne LiDAR measurements can accurately reflect the real-world structural imperfections and can be regarded as geometric digital twins of the structures. In comparison with the consistent imperfection mode method, finite element models based on airborne LiDAR measurement technology offer a superior representation of the real performance of the structures.