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 Aerial Imagery Based on Commercial Flights as Remote Sensing Platform

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Mastelic ◽  
Josip Lorincz ◽  
Ivan Ivandic ◽  
Matea Boban
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Aerial Imagery ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Sensing Platform ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Aerial Systems

Remote sensing is commonly performed via airborne platforms such as satellites, specialized aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems (UASs), which perform airborne photography using mounted cameras. However, they are limited by their coverage (UASs), irregular flyover frequency (aircraft), and/or low spatial resolution (satellites) due to their high altitude. In this paper, we examine the utilization of commercial flights as an airborne platform for remote sensing. Namely, we simulate a situation where all aircraft on commercial flights are equipped with a mounted camera used for airborne photography. The simulation is used to estimate coverage, the temporal and spatial resolution of aerial imagery acquired this way, as well as the storage capacity required for storing all imagery data. The results show that Europe is 83.28 percent covered with an average of one aerial photography every half an hour and a ground sampling distance of 0.96 meters per pixel. Capturing such imagery results in 20 million images or four petabytes of image data per day. More detailed results are given in the paper for separate countries/territories in Europe, individual commercial airlines and alliances, as well as three different cameras.

scholarly journals Automatic Crack Segmentation for UAV-Assisted Bridge Inspection

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6250
Author(s):  
Yonas Zewdu Ayele ◽  
Mostafa Aliyari ◽  
David Griffiths ◽  
Enrique Lopez Droguett
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Prestressed Concrete ◽  
Damage Identification ◽  
Image Data ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Bridge Damage ◽  
Model Training ◽  
Prestressed Concrete Bridge ◽  
Uav Image

Bridges are a critical piece of infrastructure in the network of road and rail transport system. Many of the bridges in Norway (in Europe) are at the end of their lifespan, therefore regular inspection and maintenance are critical to ensure the safety of their operations. However, the traditional inspection procedures and resources required are so time consuming and costly that there exists a significant maintenance backlog. The central thrust of this paper is to demonstrate the significant benefits of adapting a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted inspection to reduce the time and costs of bridge inspection and established the research needs associated with the processing of the (big) data produced by such autonomous technologies. In this regard, a methodology is proposed for analysing the bridge damage that comprises three key stages, (i) data collection and model training, where one performs experiments and trials to perfect drone flights for inspection using case study bridges to inform and provide necessary (big) data for the second key stage, (ii) 3D construction, where one built 3D models that offer a permanent record of element geometry for each bridge asset, which could be used for navigation and control purposes, (iii) damage identification and analysis, where deep learning-based data analytics and modelling are applied for processing and analysing UAV image data and to perform bridge damage performance assessment. The proposed methodology is exemplified via UAV-assisted inspection of Skodsberg bridge, a 140 m prestressed concrete bridge, in the Viken county in eastern Norway.

scholarly journals UAV – a useful tool for monitoring woodlands

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Zmarz
Keyword(s):  
Field Research ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Digital Cameras ◽  
Forest Division ◽  
Human Costs ◽  
The One ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Spectral Channels

Abstract Unmanned aerial systems are in many countries one of the most dynamically developing branches of technology. They have also been recognized and are being utilized by scientists who find remote sensing indispensable in their work. Today, it is increasingly common to find research teams utilizing so-called drones in field research. Unmanned systems are becoming ever more important for environment monitoring by, on the one hand, providing data from inaccessible or remote areas, and, on the other hand, reducing the human costs required by traditional large field teams while also increasing the efficiency of the work. This paper presents the possibility of utilizing UAVs for image data collection in woodland areas. Flights over Głuchów and an Arboretum were performed using two different UAVs (Mentor, AVI). The flights were made in 2010 in the middle of the growing season. Images were taken with Sigma DP2 digital cameras in four spectral channels: R (red), G (green), B (blue) and IR (infrared). Images were saved in 8-bit. The Głuchów forest complex is located in the Głuchów forest district, which forms a part of the Rogów forest division. From the administrative viewpoint, the forest division is located in the Łódzkie province, Skierniewicki Poviat. The Arboretum is a park with a collection of trees and shrubs from different regions of the world. The area is characterized by a high variability of species and trees of varying heights. It is located in the Łódzkie province, Skierniewicki Poviat.

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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