Integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems to Increase Safety and Decrease Costs of Transportation Projects and Related Tasks

US Transportation Collection2019PDFTech ReportO\u2019Neil-Dunne, Jarlath P MEstabrook, EmmaUniversity of Vermont. Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesNew Hampshire Department of TransportationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway AdministrationNew Hampshire. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Materials and ResearchUnited StatesNew HampshireCase studiesCostsDronesInspectionMonitoringOccupational safetyUnmanned aircraft systemsCondition surveysStructural health monitoringInspection equipmentCrash reconstructionEmergency managementMappingRock slopesFHWA-NH-RD-26962J26962J, A004(529)Final reportThe use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) has the potential to reduce costs and increase safety for transportation operations ranging from bridge inspections to construction monitoring. The overall objective of this project focused on evaluating UAS technology for a broad range of case studies relating to the specific needs of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT). Specifically, this project\u2019s objectives are to: 1. Determine the types of transportation projects for which UAS are best suited; 2. Evaluate the capabilities and limitations, along with the costs and benefits, of using UAS technology for a variety of transportation projects; 3. Outline the policies, procedures, staffing, and information technology infrastructure required for NHDOT to fully implement UAS technology; and 4. Develop NHDOT\u2019s UAS capabilities. Eight case studies were generated to address accident reconstruction, airport runway and airport inspection, bridge inspection, construction monitoring, dam/emergency management, traffic monitoring, rail mapping and bridge inspection, and rock slope inspection. These case studies served the purpose of evaluating the applicability of UAS for NHDOT, comparing UAS to existing methods, and analyzing barriers to UAS implementation.133