2026 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 377-384
Bridge inspections are entering their third cycle. There is a growing demand for efficient inspection methods to replace conventional approaches. Inspections using aerial drones are attracting attention as an alternative to close up visual inspection. Their advantages include eliminating the need for mobile elevating work platform or scaffolding and enabling inspections regardless of conditions beneath elevated structures. This contributes to the streamlining of field operations and the resolution of difficulties in accessing inspection points. However, as a relatively novel technology, the risks not anticipated with conventional inspections can arise, such as human error due to inexperience or equipment malfunctions. The present paper reports on operational considerations, outlining potential risks encountered during practical drone deployment for bridge inspections and corresponding countermeasures, based on field experience.
