Application of Photogrammetry in Construction Progress Monitoring for High-Rise Buildings in Lagos

Construction progress monitoring is a critical project management function that is increasingly being enhanced through close-range photogrammetry and reality capture technologies, offering time and cost efficiencies over traditional survey methods. This study evaluates the application of UAV-based and terrestrial photogrammetry for construction progress monitoring of two high-rise building projects in Lagos Island and Victoria Island districts of Lagos State. Weekly UAV flight campaigns and monthly terrestrial laser scanner surveys are conducted over a twelve-month construction period, generating georeferenced three-dimensional point clouds and orthomosaic images at each monitoring epoch. Volumetric computations, structural element delineation, and deviation analyses against the Building Information Model are performed in Autodesk Recap and CloudCompare. Results indicate that the photogrammetric monitoring workflow detects structural deviations as small as two centimetres, providing early warning of potential non-conformance events before visible manifestation on site. The approach also demonstrates capability for automated earthwork volume quantification and schedule adherence analysis from aerial orthomosaics. Comparative cost analysis shows that the photogrammetric approach reduces the time required for progress surveys by sixty-three percent relative to conventional Total Station methods. The study contributes to professionalising photogrammetric monitoring practice in the Nigerian construction industry and provides protocols for integration into Lagos State Building Control Agency compliance procedures. Keywords: photogrammetry, construction monitoring, UAV, high-rise buildings, Lagos.