Complex Bridge Inspection with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
(Room 200 C)
24 Sep 19
4:00 PM
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4:30 PM
Tracks:
AREMA Technical Sessions By Date- Structures, AREMA Technical Sessions By Functional Group- Structures, Technical Sessions By Day- Tuesday
ARE inspects approximately 20,000 spans nationwide for its rail cliens. In 2017 we realized a need to more effectively inspect large, complex bridges. Therefore, in January 2018, ARE acquired an experienced UAV/Drone inspection company who flies specialized equipment with high-definition, top-mounted cameras. By teaming bridge engineers with drone pilots, who have been taught bridge design fundamentals, we have been able to inspect these major bridges quickly and safely. All while minimizing rope climbing and other expensive access equipment such as boom “snooper” trucks. One example of a bridge we recently inspected is the KNWA Ohio River Bridge located in Point Pleasant, WV and Gallipolis, OH (5 Through Trusses and long approach for a total length of 3,904 ft). Typically, the annual bridge inspection took 3 - 4 days with a boom truck. With this, the boom truck was difficult to operate inside the truss and there were areas that simply could not be inspected. With a commercial drone, the same bridge was inspected in half-a-day and all the areas previously missed by the boom truck were viewed and captured!. After which, ARE engineers spent the rest of the day inspecting the critical areas of the truss that were identified by the drone. Drones provide inspectors access to detailed areas that are usually inaccessible by climbing. With this, detailed procedures are required before performing a proper drone inspection due to the large amount of data that is captured, such as a photo logging and video (live load when a train crosses the bridge). This paper will discuss in detail the planning, deployment, onsite setup and inspection process using drones for the Ohio River Bridge and others. It will also discuss misunderstandings about using drones as an inspection tool and areas where they are not effective. *Missed this Session or want to view it again? Stop by the VirtualAREMA kiosk located in the Registration area to purchase this product today!