by AUVSI News 

As of March 2016, a growing number of Departments of transportation are leveraging innovative drone technology to creatively improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and save money. 

A survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials conducted in March 2016 found that 33 state departments of transportation have or are exploring, researching testing or using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to inspect bridges and assist with clearing vehicle crashes, among other innovative applications.

AASHTO’s Transportation TV released a special report that explored many ways the state DOTs are using drones. Their latest poll comes behind a joint survey of members of the AASHTO Standing Committee on Aviation and the Standing Committee on Highways conducted in the summer of 2015, which documented growing interest in drone technology.

This spring, the Michigan State Department of Transportation is set to begin a two-year UAS study. Steven J. Cook, MDOT engineer of operations and maintenance, stated that UAS are safe, reliable and cost-effective ways to monitor traffic flows, obtain photos from inside confined spaces and gather data on bridge conditions.

“Our first study looked at the viability (of UAS), and what we found out is that the unmanned aerial vehicle provided a mechanism to keep our workers out of harm’s way,” Cook says. “A traditional bridge inspection for example typically involves setting up work zones, detouring traffic and using heavy meal equipment. The UAVs can get in and get out quickly, capturing data in near-real time and causing less distraction and inconvenience to drivers.”



MDOT estimates that a standard bridge deck inspection takes eight hours, a crew of four people and heavy equipment, costing an estimated $4,600. But with a drone, this can cut the use of a crew down to two people, two hours and at an estimated $250.



“We’ve been looking into drones for some time at the Minnesota Department of Transportation,” says Cassandra Isackson, eirector of aeronautics at MnDOT. “In addition to operating the highway system, MnDOT is in charge of aviation as well, so we’ve been looking at drones from the perspective of commercial operators, businesses, everyone out there using them. The highway side of MnDOT has been exploring for potential cost savings for things like bridge inspections, surveying and aerial photography.”



The AASHTO March 2016 survey found that 17 state DOTs — Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington — had studied and use drones while 16 states DOTs — Alaska, Colorado, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — were either exploring drone usage, assisting in the development of drone policies or supporting drone research. 



AASHTO is planning a series of webinars on UAS technology and will hold a peer exchange during the upcoming AASHTO Spring Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, to update the latest developments in the use of drones by state DOTs.