Challenges in bridge inspection using small unmanned aerial systems: Results and lessons learned

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sattar Dorafshan ◽  
Marc Maguire ◽  
Nathan V. Hoffer ◽  
Calvin Coopmans
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
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.

Unmanned Aerial Systems Mission Task Element Development: Lessons Learned from Flight Test

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Schulze ◽  
Justin P. Miller ◽  
David H. Klyde ◽  
Christopher D. Regan ◽  
Curtis Olson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flight Test ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Aerial Systems

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.

Development and Testing of an Experimental Tool to Support Evaluation of Performance in Handling Competing Attentional Demands

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1785-1789
Author(s):  
Angelia Sebok ◽  
Noah Adler ◽  
Elijah Lofgren ◽  
Jake McCord ◽  
Kimberly Spahr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Software Tool ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
Human In The Loop ◽  
Experimental Systems ◽  
Evaluation Of Performance ◽  
Competing Demands ◽  
Agile Software ◽  
Aerial Systems

This paper describes the design and evaluation of experimenter capabilities associated with a software tool to train attentional management. This training tool will be used by sensor operators of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), to learn attentional skills associated with managing the competing demands of UAS operational tasks. Before the tool is taken into use, the effectiveness of three different approaches to training will be evaluated in a human-in-the-loop experiment. An agile software development process was used to create, test, and refine this tool. Designing to support experimental evaluations differs in some respects from designing for use by an operational community. Although the overall process is similar, specific needs related to data collection and configurability differ significantly. This paper describes the process, tool, and lessons learned to apply to future experimental systems.

Designing Data & Dashboard Visualizations for Future UAV Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
Jeffrey T. Hansberger ◽  
Sarah Meacham ◽  
Victoria Blakely
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Task Analysis ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Information Requirements ◽  
New Information ◽  
Mission Critical ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Information Visualizations

Technology advancements in unmanned aerial systems have provided greater levels of autonomy to the extent that it has fundamentally changed the operator’s task and information requirements. This research has applied a task analysis driven approach to identify these information requirements and generated new information visualizations to more effectively present mission critical information to the operators. Experimental results will show the performance benefits across both accuracy and response time to retrieve information and lessons learned related to task driven design and information visualizations.

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 Combating the Current Pandemic and Preparing for the Next: Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic From the Perspective of Deployed Special Operations Forces

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J Scheiber ◽  
Lemar M Simmons ◽  
Richard D Neading ◽  
Casey F Becker ◽  
Tyler R Scarborough ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Special Operations ◽  
Special Operations Forces ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Host Nation ◽  
Operational Capacity

ABSTRACT The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a threat to global health, including the health of deployed armed forces. Servicemembers had to adjust to the “new normal” while maintaining the interests of the nation’s security as well as that of our host nation partners. This commentary examines how Special Operations Forces operating within four different regions worldwide leveraged the challenges presented by the onset of this pandemic in maintaining stability, sustaining a ready force, and operating forward deployed. Deployed forces face constant difficulties with logistical support, varied medical resources access and a medical system predominantly focused on trauma care. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic there was little guidance specific to these circumstances which required an improvised adaptation of the recommendations set by national and Department of Defense medical authorities. Plans were constantly revised to match the ever changing medical and operational environment. Strategies such as the “Bubble Philosophy” and tiered force protection measures helped our units to maintain a rigorous training cycle. New methods of communication and training with our host nation partners such as the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) platforms to survey host nation training became standard. Through these measures all of our forces were able to maintain operational capacity, protect the force, and maintain rapport with the host nations. We hope these experiences will provide a rough framework for future forces faced with a similar struggle. We also want to stress that challenges vary depending on the area of operations and the pathogen responsible for the pandemic. Any feedback and collaboration that may come from this work is appreciated and encouraged.

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.

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