Using Reality Capture to Help with Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 storm that hit Texas on August 25, 2017. It caused $125 billion in damage, more than any other natural disaster in US history except Hurricane Katrina. It affected 13 million people from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Harvey made landfall 3 times in 6 days. At its peak on September 1, 2017, one-third of Houston was underwater. In the first 24 hours, 2 feet of rain fell. Flooding forced 39,000 people out of their homes and into shelters. We got a chance to visit a friend and colleague who lost 3 cars, their entire first floor, and their folks’ home around the corner. By using photogrammetry, reality capture, drone footage, Revit software, and ReCap software, we were able to help record conditions for this devastating event.