Spatially integrated aerial photography for bridge, structure, and environmental monitoring

摘要

Spatially Integrated Small-Format Aerial Photography (SFAP) is one aspect of the present invention. It is a low-cost solution for bridge surface imaging and is proposed as a remote bridge inspection technique to supplement current bridge visual inspection. Providing top-down views, the airplanes flying at about 1000 feet can allow visualization of sub-inch (large) cracks and joint openings on bridge decks or highway pavements. On board Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to help geo-reference images collected and allow automated damage detection. A deck condition rating technique based on large crack detection is used to quantify the condition of the existing bridge decks.

主权项

1. A computerized method of inspecting a structure, the method comprising:
aerially photographing from a fixed-wing aircraft the structure with a camera having a computer processor connected to a small format digital image sensor; retrieving multiple still images of the structure from the camera, wherein each of the still images of the structure have a ground resolution of not greater than one inch; providing a computer configured for processing the still images; creating a composite image of the structure from a combination of the still images using the computer; and automatically marking physical attributes of the structure on the composite image using the computer, including by altering the appearance of the physical attributes.