Drones Have Changed Bridge Inspections Forever: Background, Benefits, Case Study
(Room Sagamore 2)
19 Sep 17
10:30 AM
-
11:00 AM
Tracks:
AREMA Technical Sessions- Structures, RSSI
In the rail industry, there have been many discussions and presentations on the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) on bridges and other infrastructure, but most of these have been long on “eye candy,” and short on actionable, railroad-specific results. Based on 3 years’ experience deploying state-of-the-art aerial systems on myriad railroad bridge types, across many locations and in various challenging environments, this paper will present details on how UAVs can perform bridge inspections faster, cheaper and, most importantly, safer than established processes and equipment. We will discuss the current and future roles of UAVs in bridge inspections, the challenges associated with using drones to inspect railroad structures, and the transformative, almost disruptive impact drones are having on how we perform and report on rail bridge inspections. The role of various sensors, including visual and thermal devices, will be discussed. The paper will also highlight the groundbreaking ability to inspect all aspects of a rail bridge, particularly those sections that could previously only be inspected with specialized and service-disruptive equipment. Specifically, we will discuss a successful, drone-based 49 CRF Part 237-compliant rail bridge inspection accomplished by a partnership between a UAV inspection firm and an owner railroad, and the resulting, Part 237 compliant, interactive drone-based railroad bridge inspection report. Examples will also be shown that illustrate results not currently possible without leveraging the abilities of drones to safely, accurately and repeatedly position sensors in every nook and cranny of a bridge, capturing data at each of these locations.