Bridge Inspections with Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Case Studies

Tomiczek, Andrew P.; Whitley, Travis J.; Bridge, Jennifer A.; Ifju, Peter

doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0001376

Cited by 32 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The abutments are found in the substructure. These are vertical walls located at the ends of bridges, which retain the soil around the bridge [21]. If the bridge is composed of several sections, as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Studies Performed With Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Bridge Inspectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inspections performed manually on bridges by means of visual inspection techniques are expensive, risky, timeconsuming and require the expertise of highly qualified inspectors, which produces a high degree of subjectivity in the data analysis process and decision-making for maintenance. Additionally, equipment, such as ladders, ropes and lifting baskets mounted on land or water vehicles are required to inspect areas that are difficult to access [3,21,33]. Due to the large size of certain structures, there is a high risk derived from working at heights.…”

Section: Studies Performed With Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Bridge Inspectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Bridge Inspection: A Review

Rodriguez

Granados

Vidales

2021

DYNA

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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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Section: Studies Performed With Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Bridge Inspectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Studies Performed With Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Bridge Inspectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Bridge Inspection: A Review

Rodriguez

Granados

Vidales

2021

DYNA

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“…To test the capabilities and provide real world feedback, the UF aircraft was used to inspect eight different bridges [ 3 ] as shown in Figure 20 . At each bridge inspection, at least one certified bridge inspector (CBI) was present to help guide and critique the system.…”

Section: Bridge Inspection Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current bridge inspection methodologies involve using expensive equipment, including snooper trucks, that can be hazardous to operate and disruptive to the surrounding traffic [ 1 , 2 ]. A promising solution to this is the use of UAS which present a viable low cost alternatives that do not pose a direct risk to the operators and the public, all without hindering the flow of traffic [ 3 , 4 ]. In order to be a viable alternative, there are many problems that UAS have to overcome when it comes to under bridge inspections such as unreliable GPS access and operating in a cluttered environment [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a Small Unmanned Aircraft System for Bridge Inspections

Whitley

Tomiczek

Tripp

et al. 2020

Sensors

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Bridge inspections are an important procedure for maintaining the infrastructure vital to our economy and well-being. The current methodology of utilizing specialized equipment such as snooper trucks and scaffolding to support manned-inspections poses a significant financial cost, disrupts traffic, and is dangerous to the inspectors and public. The advent of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly called drones, presents a practical solution that promises reduced cost, enhanced safety, and is significantly less intrusive than previous methodologies. Current limitations in the implementation of UAS include the reliance on a skilled operator and/or the requirement for a UAS to operate in a cluttered, GPS-denied environment. A solution to these challenges is presented in this paper by utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware including laser rangefinders, optical flow sensors, and live video telemetry. Included in the system is the obstacle avoidance equipped drone and a ground station intended to be manned by a pilot and bridge inspector. The proposed custom-fabricated UAS was implemented during eight inspections of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) bridges. The UAS was able to navigate under GPS-denied and obstacle-laden bridge decks with position-hold performance comparable to, if not better than, a COTS unit in an unobstructed environment. The position hold capability maintained an altitude of ±12.8 cm with a horizontal hold of ±435 cm. Details of the hardware, algorithm development, and suggestions for future research are discussed in this paper.

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“…Their results highlight some of the challenges in obtaining clear images where such cracks can be detected, especially in GPS denied and windy environments. Tomiczek et al (2019) demonstrate the development and use of an obstacle avoidance system in a small UAV, which is particularly relevant for inspecting the underside elements of bridges where global positioning from satellites cannot be guaranteed. In their paper on automating bridge inspections, Phillips and Narasimhan (2019) present an autonomy framework and execute a prespecified inspection plan using a ground-based robot and generate 3D point cloud reconstructions of a concrete bridge using a 3D Lidar sensor.…”

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confidence: 99%