A beloved historical landmark in the South Side of Chicago, Promontory Point is known for its large limestone revetments that have become a popular attraction for the local community.
Beginning in the early 2000’s, plans for renovation and replacement of the revetments have been proposed, with major pushback from citizens and local preservation societies. In an effort to save the landmark, KCI was contracted to conduct an above and underwater inspection of the waterfront to determine the structure’s official condition, and assess the feasibility of repairing the revetment in accordance with regulations.
In collaboration with our in-house diving team of engineers, our survey team and licensed drone operators surveyed 3,150 feet of shoreline. The high-resolution drone imagery provided a complete visual of all shoreline components, including the upland section, revetment, promenade, and below-water area near the waterfront. Utilizing Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry methods, we created an orthomosaic, 3D point cloud, and 3D mesh model. The drone-generated maps and 3D models allowed engineers to determine the extents and layout of the inspection site and establish inspection stationing and visual checkpoints for the field inspection.
After detailed inspections, it was determined that the revetment had maintained enough structural integrity to continue providing adequate shore protection without threat of collapse. To support the long-term resilience of the limestones, our team developed a plan for preventative maintenance and repairs, ultimately extending the structure’s service life and mitigating any need for major reconstruction.
