Sensor Equipped UAS for Non-Contact Bridge Inspections: Field Application

Abstract

In the future, sensors mounted on uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) will play a critical role in increasing both the speed and safety of structural inspections. Environmental and safety concerns make structural inspections and maintenance challenging when conducted using traditional methods, especially for large structures. The methods developed and tested in the laboratory need to be tested in the field on real-size structures to identify their potential for full implementation. This paper presents results from a full-scale field implementation of a novel sensor equipped with UAS to measure non-contact transverse displacement from a pedestrian bridge. To this end, the authors modified and upgraded a low-cost system that previously showed promise in laboratory and small-scale outdoor settings so that it could be tested on an in-service bridge. The upgraded UAS system uses a commodity drone platform, low-cost sensors including a laser range-finder, and a computer vision-based algorithm with the aim of measuring bridge displacements under load indicative of structural problems. The aim of this research is to alleviate the costs and challenges associated with sensor attachment in bridge inspections and deliver the first prototype of a UAS-based non-contact out-of-plane displacement measurement. This work helps to define the capabilities and limitations of the proposed low-cost system in obtaining non-contact transverse displacement in outdoor experiments.

Roadmap on measurement technologies for next generation structural health monitoring systems

“…However, it was found that the accuracy of UAV-based deflection measurements are dependent on the accuracy of the UAV movement. Garg et al [249,263], Nasimi and Moreu [248,264] and Nasimi et al [265] studied the effect of UAV movement in the accuracy of displacement measurements both indoor and outdoor in the context of bridges SHM and railroad bridge management. For additional commentary on the accuracy and sensitivity of UAVs for civil SHM, the reader is suggested to view Sreenath et al [266].…”

Edge processing for frequency identification on drone-deployed structural health monitoring sensor nodes

“…By using drones for deploying vibration sensors that can perform on-device data processing, there exists an opportunity to deepen our understanding of structural dynamics under challenging conditions. 3,4 Current approaches in SHM have seen significant advancements through the integration of UAVs, edge computation, and SHM measurement techniques. 5 UAV-based remote sensing has emerged as a vital approach for bridge condition assessment, offering an efficient, cost-effective, and accessible means to inspect and monitor the structural health of bridges and other infrastructures.…”