Consumer-grade mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, peripheral devices, and Rovers, are increasingly used as innovative tools in construction project delivery, documentation, and inspection. Advances in camera technology combined with increased accuracy in geolocation, graphical displays, and LiDAR abilities provide a powerful construction technology that is also widely accessible and used by most construction professionals on jobsites. Mobile device applications that can be used by construction professionals include digitized documents; geolocation of data; augmented reality with engineering precision; capturing 3D images of as-built conditions through built-in LiDAR cameras; object recognition through AI; viewing of 3D models; access to inspection history; connecting QA results to the model; data storage, object recognition, and feature extraction methods; and improved communications.

The objective of this synthesis was to document state DOT practices for using mobile devices to support digitized project delivery, documentation, and inspection. Information for this study was gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs. Case examples of five state DOTs provide additional information on using mobile devices to support digitized project documentation and inspection.

Dr. Hala Nassereddine and her colleagues at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, collected and synthesized the information and wrote the report. The members of the topic panel are acknowledged on page iv. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records state DOT practices on the use of mobile devices to support digitized project documentation and inspection that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand. The Synthesis was published as NCHRP Synthesis 635.