CASE C01 · US · 2016
MnDOT: pesquisa faseada de inspeção de pontes com UAS em 39 pontes, incluindo a Blatnik Bridge
O MnDOT testou drones de inspeção em 39 pontes, em fases, de 2015 a 2017. Reportou uma economia média de custo de 40% e, na Blatnik Bridge, o custo caiu de cerca de US$ 59.000 para US$ 20.000 e o tempo de 8 para 5 dias. Uma ponte custou mais com o drone, e as tarefas manuais e os espaços apertados continuaram fora do seu alcance.
| Proprietário | Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) |
| Prestador | — |
| Local | Duluth, Minnesota, United States (plus Nielsville, St. Paul and Stillwater) |
| Aeronave | senseFly albris (prototype inspection UAS); Flyability Elios tested in Phase 3 |
| Sensores | RGB still/video camera (90° tilt), thermal infrared, ultrasonic proximity sensors |
Antes
Caminhões com braço articulado que alcançam a parte inferior do tabuleiro, com inspetores em cestos ou em cordas, geralmente com fechamento de faixas.
Com drones
Um UAS de inspeção independente de GNSS fotografou elementos de arco de aço, treliça e bueiros e captou imagens térmicas.
Resultados
| Métrica | Valor | Base |
|---|---|---|
| inspection cost (Blatnik Bridge) | about US$59,000 conventional (excluding mobilisation/travel) vs about US$20,000 with UAS | Reportado |
| inspection duration (Blatnik Bridge) | 8 days with four snoopers and an 80-ft lift vs 5 days with UAS | Reportado |
| safety / traffic | some lane closures curtailed or eliminated (not quantified) | Reportado |
| average cost saving (Phase 1–2 research) | 40% on average; savings from avoided access ranged US$540–21,000 per bridge | Reportado |
| bridge-by-bridge cost (12 bridges analysed) | e.g. Structure 62504: $3,660 → $1,020; Structure 27831: $2,580 → $540; but Structure 19538 cost more with UAS ($1,080 → $1,860) | Reportado |
Ressalvas e limites
- Not every bridge was cheaper: on Structure 19538 the UAS-assisted inspection cost more than the traditional one, and cost analysis covered only 12 of 39 bridges.
- Drones cannot perform hands-on tasks such as cleaning, sounding, measuring or tactile testing, so they supplement rather than replace the inspector.
- The albris was not collision-tolerant enough for very tight spaces (box girders, small culverts); a caged drone was trialled next.
- Figures come from MnDOT's research summary of a phased pilot, not from a full programme rollout.
- Large drones could not enter some confined spaces, and operation still required substantial training and skill.
Fontes
- MnDOT improves on award-winning use of drones for bridge inspectionMinnesota Department of Transportation Research Services Texto completo lido
- Benefit: MnDOT UAS bridge inspections saved 40% on average (ITS Knowledge Resources 2019-B01369)U.S. DOT ITS Joint Program Office Texto completo lido
- Cost: UAS-assisted vs traditional bridge inspection costs (ITS Knowledge Resources 2020-SC00448)U.S. DOT ITS Joint Program Office Texto completo lido
Fontes verificadas: 2026-10-22