scholarly journals Bridge inspection: human performance, unmanned aerial systems and automation

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sattar Dorafshan ◽  
Marc Maguire
Keyword(s):  
Human Performance ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aerial Systems

Field Application of UAS-Based Bridge Inspection

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (12) ◽  
pp. 72-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junwon Seo ◽  
Luis Duque ◽  
James P. Wacker
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Bridge Damage ◽  
Efficient Alternative ◽  
Aerial Systems

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), commonly known as drones, has significantly increased over recent years in the field of civil engineering. In detail, the need for a more efficient alternative for bridge inspection has risen because of the increased interest from bridge owners. The primary goal of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a drone as a supplemental bridge inspection tool. To complete this study, a glued laminated (glulam) girder with a composite concrete deck bridge was chosen in South Dakota, and a Dà-Jiāng Innovations (DJI) Phantom 4 drone, was employed to perform the bridge inspection. Based on the literature review, an inspection procedure with a drone was developed to efficiently identify damage on the bridge. A drone-enabled inspection was performed following the procedure, and resulting images were checked with those available in the past inspection report from South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT). This study includes UAS-based bridge inspection considerations to capture appropriate image data necessary for bridge damage determination. A key finding demonstrated throughout this project is that different types of structural damage on the bridge were identified using the UAS.

Application of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Bridge Inspection

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110318
Author(s):  
Hoda Azari ◽  
Dennis O’Shea ◽  
Joe Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Early Adoption ◽  
Bridge Inspections ◽  
Tremendous Amount ◽  
Aerial Systems

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are experiencing tremendous growth in both the technological advancement of the systems themselves and the expansion of practical uses for the systems. One application for this system includes the use of UAS as a tool in support of bridge inspections. The ability to fly UAS into positions difficult to reach by an inspector has the potential to save time, reduce costs, and improve safety. An increasing number of bridge owners are exploring the use of UAS for bridge inspections through pilot studies and early adoption as an integral part of their inspection processes. This study aims to enhance the industry awareness and knowledge base of stakeholders in bridge inspection processes. This paper presents the aircraft and sensors used to assist or augment inspections, the data needs of the bridge owners that can be provided through the use of UAS, and the means and methods by which the bridge owner, or the organization supporting the bridge owner, can manage the tremendous amount of data that can be collected by sensors deployed on UAS during an inspection.

scholarly journals A Practitioner’s Guide to Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for Bridge Inspection

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Sattar Dorafshan ◽  
Robert J. Thomas ◽  
Calvin Coopmans ◽  
Marc Maguire
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial System ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Bridge Inspections ◽  
The Right ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Departments Of Transportation ◽  
Selection Of

Small unmanned aerial system(s) (sUAS) are rapidly emerging as a practical means of performing bridge inspections. Under the right condition, sUAS assisted inspections can be safer, faster, and less costly than manned inspections. Many Departments of Transportation in the United States are in the early stages of adopting this emerging technology. However, definitive guidelines for the selection of equipment for various types of bridge inspections or for the possible challenges during sUAS assisted inspections are absent. Given the large investments of time and capital associated with deploying a sUAS assisted bridge inspection program, a synthesis of authors experiences will be useful for technology transfer between academics and practitioners. In this paper, the authors list the challenges associated with sUAS assisted bridge inspection, discuss equipment and technology options suitable for mitigating these challenges, and present case studies for the application of sUAS to several specific bridge inspection scenarios. The authors provide information to sUAS designers and manufacturers who may be unaware of the specific challenges associated with sUAS assisted bridge inspection. As such, the information presented here may reveal the demands in the design of purpose-built sUAS inspection platforms.

scholarly journals Investigation of Strategic Deployment Opportunities for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at INDOT

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Hubbard ◽  
Bryan Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Management ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Stakeholder Acceptance

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are increasingly used for a variety of applications related to INDOT’s mission including bridge inspection, traffic management, incident response, construction and roadway mapping. UAS have the potential to reduce costs and increase capabilities. Other state DOTs and transportation agencies have deployed UAS for an increasing number of applications due to technology advances that provide increased capabilities and lower costs, resulting from regulatory changes that simplified operations for small UAS under 55 pounds (aka, sUAS). This document provides an overview of UAS applications that may be appropriate for INDOT, as well as a description of the regulations that affect UAS operation as described in 14 CFR Part 107. The potential applications were prioritized using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a methodology used in the aerospace industry that clearly communicates qualitative and ambiguous information with a transparent framework for decision making. The factors considered included technical feasibility, ease of adoption and stakeholder acceptance, activities underway at INDOT, and contribution to INDOT mission and goals. Dozens of interviews with INDOT personnel and stakeholders were held to get an accurate and varied perspective of potential for UAVs at INDOT. The initial prioritization was completed in early 2019 and identified three key areas: UAS for bridge inspection safety as a part of regular operations, UAS for construction with deliverables provided via construction contracts, and UAS for emergency management. Descriptions of current practices and opportunities for INDOT are provided for each of these applications. An estimate of the benefits and costs is identified, based on findings from other agencies as well as projections for INDOT. A benefit cost analysis for the application of UAS for bridge inspection safety suggests a benefit cost over one for the analysis period.

LIGHTER-THAN-AIR (LTA) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (UAS) CARRIER CONCEPT FOR SURVAILLANCE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1255
Author(s):  
Ahmad Salahuddin Mohd Harithuddin ◽  
Mohd Fazri Sedan ◽  
Syaril Azrad Md Ali ◽  
Shattri Mansor ◽  
Hamid Reza Jifroudi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial System ◽  
Border Control ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Operational Safety ◽  
In Situ Methods ◽  
Aerial Systems

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has many advantages in the fields of SURVAILLANCE and disaster management compared to space-borne observation, manned missions and in situ methods. The reasons include cost effectiveness, operational safety, and mission efficiency. This has in turn underlined the importance of UAS technology and highlighted a growing need in a more robust and efficient unmanned aerial vehicles to serve specific needs in SURVAILLANCE and disaster management. This paper first gives an overview on the framework for SURVAILLANCE particularly in applications of border control and disaster management and lists several phases of SURVAILLANCE and service descriptions. Based on this overview and SURVAILLANCE phases descriptions, we show the areas and services in which UAS can have significant advantage over traditional methods.

Beach and dune impacts due to Hurricane Florence in Dare County, North Carolina

Shore & Beach ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Sciaudone ◽  
Liliana Velasquez-Montoya
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
State University ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Full Report ◽  
Aerial Systems

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina (NC), a team of researchers from NC State University traveled to Dare County to investigate the storm’s effects on beaches and dunes. Using available post-storm imagery and prior knowledge of vulnerabilities in the system, the team identified several locations to visit in the towns of Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Buxton, and Hatteras, as well as a number of locations within the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (Figure 1). Data collected included topographic profiles, still imagery and video from unmanned aerial systems, sediment samples, and geo-located photography. This Coastal Observations piece presents some of the data and photos collected; the full report is available online (Sciaudone et al. 2019), and data collected will be made available to interested researchers upon request.

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