scholarly journals Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Bridge Inspection Safety

Drones ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Bryan Hubbard ◽  
Sarah Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Potential Harm ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Excellent Tool

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are an excellent tool to remove bridge inspection workers from potential harm. Previous research has documented that UAS for bridge inspection is a strategic priority of a state’s Department of Transportation (DOT), and this paper presents how they can increase safety and presents one methodology to quantify the economic benefit. Although previous studies have documented the potential benefits of using UAS for bridge inspection, these studies have primarily focused on efficiency and capabilities. This paper investigates in greater detail the potential to use UAS to increase the safety of bridge inspection, and includes the results of a survey of bridge inspectors, as well as a benefit cost methodology that utilizes worker compensation rates to quantify the safety benefits of UAS; the methodology is demonstrated using a case study for a DOT. The results of this research present evidence that UAS can increase the safety of bridge inspection, and the benefit–cost methodology and analysis suggest that using UAS to increase safety will provide benefits that are greater than agency costs.

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into State Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Inspection Procedures: Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110444
Author(s):  
Michael Plotnikov ◽  
John Collura
Keyword(s):  
State Department ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Highway Bridge ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bridge Inspections

Rapid proliferation of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) promises to revolutionize traditional methods used to carry out civil engineering surveys and analyses and conduct physical infrastructure inspections. One of the most promising areas of implementation of innovative UAS technology includes the integration of UAS into current state Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge inspections. While regular bridge inspections are paramount for road user safety, many traditional inspection methods and procedures are cumbersome, expensive, and time consuming; present significant hazards to both the traveling public and the inspection personnel; and are disruptive to normal operations of the transportation facilities. The results of recent studies indicate that UAS can serve as a useful tool in many highway bridge inspection procedures, while significantly reducing costs and time and improving safety. The major factors that affect the success of integrating UAS into the bridge inspection process relate to selection of the proper types of UAS platforms and avionics, data collection sensors and processing software, as well as conduct of task-specific pilot training. The paper provides an examination of current standard bridge inspection procedures and protocols currently carried out by state DOTs; an evaluation of state DOT experiences with the integration of UAS technology into bridge inspections; and an assessment of the issues and challenges associated with this technology. It is expected that this paper will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders representing state and federal governments, academia, and industry.

scholarly journals A low cost way for assessing bird risk hazards in power lines: Fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 5-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Mulero-Pázmány ◽  
Juan José Negro ◽  
Miguel Ferrer
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Wildlife Monitoring ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Conservation Projects ◽  
Technical Solutions

Accidents on power lines are one of the most important causes of man-induced mortality for raptors and soaring birds. The factors that condition the hazard have been extensively studied, and currently there are a variety of technical solutions available to mitigate the risk. Most of the resources in conservation projects to reduce avian mortality now are invested in fieldwork to monitor the lines, which diverts the resources available to install actual corrective measures to mitigate bird hazard. Little progress has been achieved in the methodology to characterize line risk, which is an expensive, tedious, and time-consuming task. In this work we describe the use of low cost small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) equipped with on-board cameras for power line surveillance. As a case study, we characterized four power lines, geo-referenced every pylon in selected portions, and assessed their hazard for birds. We compare the effectiveness of two variants of the sUAS method for data acquisition and two methods of plane control. This work provides evidence of the usefulness of sUAS as a fast, inexpensive, and practical tool in conservation biology, adding to their already known applications in wildlife monitoring, the environmental impact assessment of infrastructures.

Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Bridge Inspections

2017 ◽  
Vol 2612 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Wells ◽  
Barritt Lovelace ◽  
Tara Kalar
Keyword(s):  
Research Effort ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Phase 2 Study ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Bridge Inspections

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Collins Engineers have been researching the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) as a tool for bridge inspections. Phase 1 of an implementation study has been completed, and a Phase 2 study is nearing completion. Phase 3 of the research effort will start early in 2017. These research studies are looking at current FAA regulations and evaluating the advantages and challenges of using UASs for bridge inspections; the results are promising. The research has tested different types of UASs on eight bridges of varying configuration, size, location, and condition to determine the effectiveness of UASs as a tool to supplement bridge inspections.

scholarly journals POTENTIAL OF UAV-BASED LASER SCANNER AND MULTISPECTRAL CAMERA DATA IN BUILDING INSPECTION

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B1 ◽  
pp. 1135-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mader ◽  
R. Blaskow ◽  
P. Westfeld ◽  
C. Weller
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Cost System ◽  
Thermal Cameras ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Conventional building inspection of bridges, dams or large constructions in general is rather time consuming and often cost expensive due to traffic closures and the need of special heavy vehicles such as under-bridge inspection units or other large lifting platforms. In consideration that, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be more reliable and efficient as well as less expensive and simpler to operate. The utilisation of UAVs as an assisting tool in building inspections is obviously. Furthermore, light-weight special sensors such as infrared and thermal cameras as well as laser scanner are available and predestined for usage on unmanned aircraft systems. Such a flexible low-cost system is realized in the ADFEX project with the goal of time-efficient object exploration, monitoring and damage detection. For this purpose, a fleet of UAVs, equipped with several sensors for navigation, obstacle avoidance and 3D object-data acquisition, has been developed and constructed. This contribution deals with the potential of UAV-based data in building inspection. Therefore, an overview of the ADFEX project, sensor specifications and requirements of building inspections in general are given. On the basis of results achieved in practical studies, the applicability and potential of the UAV system in building inspection will be presented and discussed.

scholarly journals POTENTIAL OF UAV-BASED LASER SCANNER AND MULTISPECTRAL CAMERA DATA IN BUILDING INSPECTION

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B1 ◽  
pp. 1135-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mader ◽  
R. Blaskow ◽  
P. Westfeld ◽  
C. Weller
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Cost System ◽  
Thermal Cameras ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Conventional building inspection of bridges, dams or large constructions in general is rather time consuming and often cost expensive due to traffic closures and the need of special heavy vehicles such as under-bridge inspection units or other large lifting platforms. In consideration that, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be more reliable and efficient as well as less expensive and simpler to operate. The utilisation of UAVs as an assisting tool in building inspections is obviously. Furthermore, light-weight special sensors such as infrared and thermal cameras as well as laser scanner are available and predestined for usage on unmanned aircraft systems. Such a flexible low-cost system is realized in the ADFEX project with the goal of time-efficient object exploration, monitoring and damage detection. For this purpose, a fleet of UAVs, equipped with several sensors for navigation, obstacle avoidance and 3D object-data acquisition, has been developed and constructed. This contribution deals with the potential of UAV-based data in building inspection. Therefore, an overview of the ADFEX project, sensor specifications and requirements of building inspections in general are given. On the basis of results achieved in practical studies, the applicability and potential of the UAV system in building inspection will be presented and discussed.

scholarly journals Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Bridge Inspection: A Review

DYNA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (217) ◽  
pp. 32-41
Author(s):  
Didier Aldana Rodriguez ◽  
Diego Leonardo Ávila Granados ◽  
Jorge Armando Villalba-Vidales
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Structure From Motion ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Levels Of Automation ◽  
Different Levels

This review describes the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for bridge inspection, with an emphasis on Multi-rotor UAS. It depicts the different levels of automation and autonomy during UAS operation and what levels are achieved during inspections. A description of the payload of UAS consisting of the equipment required to acquire data and images is included. It also contains a compendium of the techniques used to create models from images in order to detect failures and perform Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) through techniques, such as: 3D reconstruction, infrared thermography, Structure From Motion (SFM), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and others. The software required to apply the mentioned techniques is also mentioned. It subsequently explains the generation of mathematical models to characterize the multirotor and generate efficient trajectories. Finally, the review concludes by describing the operational limitations of UAS and future challenges.

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