Infrastructure Remote Sensing with Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems: Challenges and the Way Forward

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

The application of remote sensing using small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in transportation infrastructure has facilitated rapid, comprehensive, and real-time data inspection of pavements, bridges, railways, and ongoing construction sites with erosion and sediment control devices, among other applications, at varying scales and in difficult-to-access locations. As opportunities have multiplied, sUAS adoption has surged across US agencies, including both federal and state departments of transportation. In response to the trends, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established rules and regulations governing operations and compliance. Beyond the benefits documented in prior studies, it is essential to identify limitations and challenges that arise during sUAS deployment for infrastructure monitoring tasks. Implicit in the adoption of sUAS are critical factors that, if not well identified and prepared for, could frustrate workflow. While some of these factors are already presented in the FAA guides, other factors have been extrapolated from lessons learned during practical applications. Drawing on our experience conducting various sUAS-based infrastructure monitoring projects, in this paper, we discuss common critical factors that impact the typical workflow of sUAS-based infrastructure monitoring. We also present practical pathways for mitigating the challenges arising from oversights of these factors, paving the way for seamless and effective adoption of sUAS.

Publication Title

International Conference on Transportation and Development 2026 Transportation Safety and Emerging Technologies Selected Papers from the International Conference on Transportation and Development 2026

ISBN

[9780784487013]

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