Investigation on Bridge Assessment Using Unmanned Aerial Systems

The U.S. currently spends tens of billions of dollars annually to inspect infrastructures and collect subjective, qualitative data that can often be unreliable or largely irrelevant. Inspections also require adequate access to remote locations, for example, appropriate scaffolding, lifting and additional protective equipment, which might increase the associated personal safety risk and add costs. The use of unmanned vehicles has experienced a tremendous growth primarily in military and homeland security applications. However, it is a matter of time until Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) will be widely accepted as platforms for implementing monitoring and inspection procedures. Researchers at Drexel University are exploring the use of quadcopters as vehicles to carry a set of remote sensors with the ultimate goal to perform bridge condition assessment. While the accuracy of remote sensing systems is somewhat limited compared to the one of contact sensing systems, the ability to quickly and periodically scan/inspect a structure without the need for scaffolding, ropes, or cherry pickers currently used during bridge inspections could transform the way the industry performs periodic bridge inspections. The Drexel team owns a number of UAS with different payload, flight time and range capabilities. In this paper, recent results obtained from preliminary testing on small mock-up concrete bridge decks as well as on small/medium size bridges are presented. One of the main efforts is to explore how multispectral imaging can provide a preliminary assessment of the deck condition of common highway bridges. Among future goals, Drexel’s team plans to develop and validate computer vision approaches leveraging data collected using UAS to permit geometric characterization (quantification of bearing position, girder deformations) and condition assessment (e.g. quantification of spalling and corrosion areas).

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479117.035
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784479117
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Khan, F
  • Ellenberg, A
  • Mazzotti, M
  • Kontsos, A
  • Moon, F
  • Pradhan, A
  • Bartoli, I
• Conference:
  • Structures Congress 2015
  • Location: Portland Oregon, United States
  • Date: 2015-4-23 to 2015-4-25
• Publication Date: 2015-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 404-413
• Monograph Title: Structures Congress 2015

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Computer vision; Condition surveys; Drones; Highway bridges; Inspection; Remote sensing
• Identifier Terms: Drexel University
• Uncontrolled Terms: Multispectral imaging
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01561785
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784479117
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Apr 27 2015 5:10PM