Proof of concept for using unmanned aerial vehicles for high mast pole and bridge inspections.

PDFTech ReportBDV28-977-02Drone aircraftInspectionHigh mast lightingBridgesReal time informationStructural health monitoringField testsData collectionFloridaFlorida. Dept. of Transportation. Research CenterOtero, Luis DanielFlorida Institute of Technology. Dept. of Engineering SystemsUS Transportation CollectionBridges and high mast luminaires (HMLs) are key components of transportation infrastructures. Effective inspectionprocesses are crucial to maintain the structural integrity of these components. The most common approach forinspections is visual examination by trained and experienced inspectors. A proposed approach to assist inspectorsduring the visual inspection process is to use small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) equipped with high-definitioncameras to transmit video data of structural components in near real time. The use of sUAS as tools for structuralinspections can significantly reduce costs and safety risks associated with inspectors and motorists, and improve theeffectiveness and accuracy of structural health evaluations. Following a systems engineering approach, a proof-of-concept initial study was conducted to identify system limitations and gain insights into the expected usefulness of sUASas tools for structural inspections. Extensive indoor controlled experiments using industrial fans were conducted toevaluate sUAS flight response in controlled wind conditions, to measure image quality in different flight scenarios, and todetermine image quality in low-light conditions. Altitude, payload, and maneuverability tests were conducted tounderstand sUAS performance and limitation parameters related to their use for transportation infrastructure inspections.In full coordination with FDOT, limited field tests were conducted to collect image data of underside bridge sections andHMLs. The collected images were of similar quality than those collected by inspectors during previous inspections. Inaddition, a basic sUAS flight training program was developed, and a preliminary cost analysis was conducted to estimatethe cost for using sUAS as tools during inspections. Preliminary results showed potential cost savings in man-hours byusing an sUAS approach instead of conventional methods. Overall, results provided evidence that significant benefitscan be obtained from using sUAS during bridge and HML inspections. However, there still exist gaps that need to beaddressed in order to use these aerial systems safely and effectively in practice. Various future research areas areidentified to close these gaps and increase the general understanding of sUAS for structural inspections