UAS Center at SBD Supports Drone-Enabled Bridge Inspections

    SAN BERNARDINO, CA, March 16, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) engaged a team of professional drone pilots to work with a certified structural engineer on an aerial inspection of San Bernardino's Mountain View Avenue bridge. The collaboration was made possible through the UAS Center at SBD, located at the San Bernardino International Airport, which encourages the adoption of drone technology by public sector entities.

"Conducting a bridge inspection by drone improves safety and is more cost-effective and faster than a conventional bridge inspection, enabling greater accuracy and more efficient data location and collection," says Gerardo De Santos, Vice President of Syrusa Engineering.

Equipped with specialized lighting and assisted by ground-based lights, drones enable close-up access to hard-to-reach places, such as the underside of a bridge, while capturing high-resolution images. 3D and infrared models of the structures can then be generated from these images to identify areas of corrosion, scour and fracture. Through the duration of repairs, drones can be used to track progress, provide continuous updates, and make before-and-after comparisons. Infrastructure inspections are just one of the ways drones and other unmanned aerial systems are transforming public works projects and public policy at a time of critical need.

"The UAS Center at SBD offers drone pilot training as well as a location for test flights and demonstrations at our 78,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. We are pleased to enable public sector agencies such as IVDA to significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their work," states Kimberly Benson, Administrator of the UAS Center at SBD.

View video of the Mountain View Avenue Bridge Inspection

About the UAS Center at SBD: Located just an hour's drive east of downtown Los Angeles, the Center serves as a thriving hub for the advancement, commercialization, and adoption of autonomous technology in the U.S. and globally. Clients include government agencies, drone manufacturers, software providers and research institutions. www.uascentersbd.com

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