U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
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Washington, DC 20590
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
 |
| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-21-086 Date: September 2021 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-21-086 Date: September 2021 |
PDF Version (8.59 MB)
This report documents research undertaken to explore the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to support bridge inspection. It addresses UAS platforms and sensors used to assist or augment inspections, the data-collection needs to which UAS can contribute, and means and methods for managing the tremendous amount of data that can be collected by UAS-mounted sensors. The report also presents case studies that illustrate real-world applications of UAS for bridge inspections and the results of both field and laboratory testing geared toward establishing standards and requirements for UAS sensors that will ensure quality inspection products.
This report will be informative to bridge owners, engineers, and inspectors as well as UAS operators with an interest in bridge inspections. Additionally, the information in the report may be of interest to UAS sensor and system manufacturers as they continue to advance the technologies for the benefit of the transportation infrastructure industry.
Cheryl Allen Richter, P.E., Ph.D.
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
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Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-21-086 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3. Recipient's Catalog No. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Title and Subtitle
Collection of Data with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Bridge Inspection and Construction Inspection |
5. Report Date
September 2021 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code |
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| 7. Author(s)
Kenneth Neubauer, Erik Bullard, Robert Blunt |
8. Performing Organization Report No. | |||
| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Futron Aviation Corporation |
10. Work Unit No. | |||
| 11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH6117R00036 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Report: Feb 2018–Apr 2020 |
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| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
HRDI-20 |
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| 15. Supplementary Notes
The Contracting Officer's Representative is Hoda Azari (HRDI-20; ORCID: 0000-002-7340-0035). |
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| 16. Abstract
This report documents research undertaken to explore the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to support bridge inspection. It addresses UAS platforms and sensors used to assist or augment inspections, the data-collection needs that UAS can meet, and means and methods for managing the tremendous amount of data that can be collected by UAS-mounted sensors. The report also presents case studies that illustrate real-world applications of UAS for bridge inspections, and the results of both field and laboratory testing geared toward establishing standards and requirements for UAS sensors that will ensure quality inspection products. This report will be informative to bridge owners, engineers, and inspectors as well as UAS operators with an interest in bridge inspections. Additionally, the information in the report may be of interest to UAS sensor and system manufacturers as they continue to advance the technologies for the benefit of the transportation infrastructure industry. |
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| 17. Key Words
Unmanned aerial systems, UAS, bridge inspections, sensors |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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| 19. Security Classification (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classification (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
157 |
22. Price
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
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