Remote Sensing for Bridge Monitoring

Commercial remote sensing (CRS) as robust bridge health monitoring techniques offer unique features that are missing from current embedded structural health monitoring systems, including ability to geo-reference bridge location, provide spatial views and high-resolution top views of bridges. Beginning in 2007, a research partnership (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, ImageCat Inc., Boyle Consulting, Charlotte DOT and North Carolina DOT) has completed a proof-of-concept project to develop ground-based LiDAR scan and sub-inch-resolution aerial photography into the IRSV (Integrated Remote Sensing and Visualization) bridge data diagnostic system. The IRSV system represents a critical juncture towards "Total View Total Integration (TVTI)" infrastructure monitoring concept and provides further incentive for CRS development. This paper presents a high-level discussion on the potentials of CRS tools to enhance bridge inspection and data management.