Abstract
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are an excellent tool to remove bridge inspection workers from potential harm. Previous research has documented that UAS for bridge inspection is a strategic priority of a state’s Department of Transportation (DOT), and this paper presents how they can increase safety and presents one methodology to quantify the economic benefit. Although previous studies have documented the potential benefits of using UAS for bridge inspection, these studies have primarily focused on efficiency and capabilities. This paper investigates in greater detail the potential to use UAS to increase the safety of bridge inspection, and includes the results of a survey of bridge inspectors, as well as a benefit cost methodology that utilizes worker compensation rates to quantify the safety benefits of UAS; the methodology is demonstrated using a case study for a DOT. The results of this research present evidence that UAS can increase the safety of bridge inspection, and the benefit–cost methodology and analysis suggest that using UAS to increase safety will provide benefits that are greater than agency costs.
Highlights
The objective of this paper is to document and quantify the safety benefits for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for bridge inspection safety, which is relevant for a state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and local transportation agencies
More advanced technologies incorporated with UAS for bridge inspection, such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR), thermal imaging, night vision and infrared, were not considered because the focus was on imagery to support bridge inspector safety; this was consistent with the preference of the DOT personnel involved in the study
The survey was distributed using the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) bridge inspection listserv, which includes bridge inspectors who work for INDOT, as well as consultants who do bridge inspections under contract with INDOT and Indiana counties
Summary
The objective of this paper is to document and quantify the safety benefits for UAS for bridge inspection safety, which is relevant for a state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and local transportation agencies. Transportation agencies can use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as a tool to support bridge inspection safety, and UAS can potentially increase safety for bridge inspection personnel, as well as for the motoring public. This paper includes a literature review and interviews with professionals in bridge maintenance and inspection, the results of a survey of bridge inspectors, and a methodology to quantify the economic benefits of increased safety using a benefit–cost ratio. The economic analysis is very conservative since it quantifies the safety benefits to bridge inspectors only, per the preference of the sponsor agency. The benefit cost ratio is calculated for a state DOT as a case study to illustrate the proposed methodology
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