In a move to save time and money on bridge inspections, a Minnesota Dept. of Transportation consultant proposed the use of drones to do the work. MnDOT is now starting its second phase of testing the technology, and the results are promising.
"So far, it turned out really well," says Jennifer Zink, the bridge inspection engineer at MnDOT's Oakdale, Minn., bridge office who is managing the tests. The first phase of testing cost $35,000 and aims to find out how much bridge inspection work drones can take over for the department. The second phase will start in November, cost another $75,000 and employ a cutting-edge, rotary-wing drone made by the Swiss manufacturer senseFLY.