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Evaluation of UAV–CRP Data for Monitoring Transportation Infrastructure Constructed over Expansive Soils

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Abstract

Application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for civil infrastructure monitoring has gained impetus owing to the advancement of aerial platforms paralleled with the development of sophisticated sensors. Photogrammetry is the science of measuring distances from two or more images, and close-range photogrammetry (CRP) is a part of photogrammetry that involves calculating measurements of an object within a maximum distance of 305 m away from the inspecting sensors. Geotechnical problems including differential heaving and related cracking of expansive soils cause extensive damage to pavement infrastructure. Feasibility of using UAV–CRP technology in health monitoring of pavement infrastructure constructed over problematic soils has been comprehensively studied, and this paper presents an overview of these results. Pavement performance data including longitudinal and transverse slopes, as well as distress conditions such as pavement surface cracking, pothole formation, and rutting or excessive deformation, are monitored via UAV–CRP technology, and these data sets are comprehensively analysed. UAV–CRP-interpreted performance indicators showed a very good agreement with those obtained from traditional methods surveys and profiler studies. With the further research, the UAV–CRP technology will play an important engineering role in safe, inexpensive and comprehensive health monitoring of infrastructure built over problematic soil conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would also like to thank the TxDOT for granting the funds for Research Project 06944 and NSF for funding the Award Number 1760715 (Program Directors: Jonathan Sprinkle and David Corman of CISE, NSF). The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to the TxDOT research team Joe Adams, Jonathan Martin, Arturo Perez, Wade Blackmon and John Vasquez for providing assistance during data collection. The authors would like to acknowledge the University of Texas Arlington team members Cody Lundberg, Ujwalkumar Patil, Tejo Vikash Bheemasetti, Ali Shafikhani and He Shi for their help during data collection. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and generosity of the Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD) for its partial support towards this work.

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  1. Civil Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA

    Surya Sarat Chandra Congress & Anand Jagadeesh Puppala

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  1. Surya Sarat Chandra Congress
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  2. Anand Jagadeesh Puppala
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Correspondence to Anand Jagadeesh Puppala.

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Congress, S.S.C., Puppala, A.J. Evaluation of UAV–CRP Data for Monitoring Transportation Infrastructure Constructed over Expansive Soils. Indian Geotech J 50, 159–171 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-019-00384-4

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