UFTI Researcher Uses Drones to Inspect Bridges

Traffic structures in Florida must be inspected regularly, every 2 years for bridges and every 5 years for high mast light poles. Bridges that are difficult to access often require special bridge inspection vehicles that have extension arms to position the inspector under the bridge but also require lane closures. High mast light-poles are visually inspected with binoculars. Dr. Jennifer Bridge, associate professor in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE), demonstrated using small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs), or drones, for structural inspection of bridges and high mast light poles. SUAVs were found to be useful in specific situations to monitor known defects and avoid lane closures.

Click Here for the Final Report!