Council takes to the air to trial innovative bridge inspections

The drones are being trialled by the County Council, in partnership with its contractors Jacobs and Ringway, to thoroughly inspect bridge structures in better, safer, more cost-effective, and recordable ways.

Councillor Mike Rouse, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, says,

“It is fantastic to see that we have started to trial drone technology.  This could contribute greatly towards helping us inspect and maintain bridges in a much more efficient way, proving a huge benefit to road users in Worcestershire. We have around 1,500 bridge structures across the county and if we need to close them, residents and businesses are all inconvenienced.”

“We are committed to bringing this innovation forward to help us better manage our bridges and potentially other structural assets too such as culverts. This will help us get the maximum value from our budget. The use of drones will not in any way replace the judgement of our professional structures engineers but could lead to a more efficient and safer way of making inspections.’’

The drone has a dedicated professional pilot, whilst the camera is controlled by a bridge inspector to enable them to focus on any areas of interest. By using the drone in areas where access would usually be very difficult to reach, such as over water or at height, risk is minimised, and the inspection can be carried out effectively. 

The information that is collected is of excellent quality and could help improve the historic record of the structure, enabling changes to be identified more easily over time.

The first bridge inspection of its kind took place this month at Mildenham canal bridge, Claines. 

Worcestershire County Council is committed to preserving and protecting the environment for future generations, as well as maintaining its top-quartile position for the condition of the county’s roads and pavements.