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ICTD 2025

Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

UAS Applications in Transportation Infrastructure Systems, Part I

Low-Altitude sUAS Flights for Remote Sensing of Submillimeter Hairline Cracks: A Case Study

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM MT
Abstract: Recent research has made significant strides in leveraging small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) for remote sensing in infrastructure monitoring and condition inspections. Key targets in transportation infrastructure monitoring through remote sensing include cracks, spalling, delamination, rutting, and rust. The current adoption of sUAS for infrastructure monitoring typically involves automatic flight modes at 15-30 m above the target surface, equipped with thermal sensors and/or Red-Green-Blue (RGB) sensors with resolutions ranging from 12 to 61 megapixels.  While the majority of the distresses are visible in RGB orthophotos, it is challenging to detect submillimeter hairline cracks. With hairline crack detection as the primary objective of this study, we conducted a case study to investigate the feasibility of achieving high-resolution submillimeter orthophotos from low-altitude sUAS flights and manually identifying hairline cracks on a bridge deck. Data was collected and processed from two bridge decks: a newly constructed deck with hairline cracks averaging 0.25 mm in width and a one-year-old bridge deck with grooved cracks ranging from 0.35 to 0.7 mm. Data collected from 4.5 m altitude and 12.2 m altitudes were compared for hairline crack detection. This case study shows that even though operating low-altitude sUAS flight has its challenges, the captured orthophotos are useful for fine crack detection.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • Upon completion, I will be able to share and receive comments on ongoing research findings.
  • Upon completion, I will be able to network with other researchers and professionals with a shared passion for sUAS applications in infrastructural monitoring,
  • Upon completion, I will be able to attend different posters and learn from other researchers.