UAVs have potential for cost-effective data collection for civil engineering applications. Researchers at Oregon State University are using UAVs to inspect bridges and wireless towers, map slopes for stability analysis, and conduct surveys. Students are gaining experience with UAV photogrammetry, laser scanning, and GPS techniques. Research aims to evaluate UAV accuracy, optimize data collection and processing, and explore applications such as transmission line inspection and post-disaster mapping.

1. UAV 3D SurveysUAV 3D Surveys
for Civilfor Civil
EngineeringEngineering
ApplicationsApplicationsMike Olsen, Ph.D.
Dan Gillins, Ph.D., P.L.S.
Chris Parrish, Ph.D.
School of Civil & Construction
Engineering
July 14, 2015

2. UAV Potential
UAV-related technology has tremendous potential:
•Cost-effective method for collecting remote sensing data at
high detail
•Enables safe view of areas that are difficult to access or
otherwise inaccessible
•Video or still imagery can be viewed in real-time during a
flight. This is known as “First Person View (FPV)”
•Flights can be performed at very low altitudes, close-up,
and/or with sensors pointed at advantageous angles
•Multiple flights can be performed over time, allowing time-
series analyses

3. UAVs in the School of Civil & Construction
Engineering, Oregon State University
July 14, 2015
3
F550 with DJI Wookong-M
•10 minute endurance with 1 kg
(2.2 lb) payload
• 2 hexacopters are ready for missions
S900 with Pixhawk Flight Management
Unit
•18 minute endurance with 6.8 kg (15 lb)
payload

4. Heavy-Lift UAV from LidarUSA
July 14, 2015
4
RIM Copter ARC Angel X8
•Octocopter with 8 co-axial engines
•30+ minute flight endurance with
18 kg (40 lb) payload
•Easily capable of lifting a lidar
sensor
•Pixhawk flight management unit
•First Person View up to 5 km in
HD
•Dual control compatible
- Pilot flying system with
another person controlling
the camera+gimbal.

5. Funded Research from PACTRANS and ODOT
1. Test and evaluate the effectiveness of
inspecting structures with UAVs
• Bridges
• Wireless communication towers
1. Identify which ODOT inspection
requirements can and cannot be
satisfied with a UAV inspection
2. Perform a cost-benefit analysis on
using UAVs as compared with
conventional methods without a UAV
3. Provide recommendations on how
safely implement UAV inspections
• Safe operations
• Flight mission settings
• Camera settings
July 14, 2015
5
Inspection of the Mill Creek Bridge with a
Snooper Crane; from ODOT(2011)

6. Glitter Gulch, Parks Highway, Alaska
UAVs for slope stability analysis

7. July 14, 2015
7
Other Research Interests
•Engineering surveys and mapping using UAV photogrammetry
(extracting 3D positions from 2D imagery)
•Evaluate accuracy and precision of UAV-based surveys.
•Improve data collection and data processing steps
• Develop direct geo-referencing methods
• Optimize data processing
• Combine/compare lidar and photogrammetry products
•Transmission line and tower inspections with UAV’s
•Reconnaissance and mapping after extreme events (i.e.,
earthquakes)
• (Team currently in Nepal mapping earthquake damage)

8. 3D Point Clouds (“lidar-like” results)
July 14, 2015
8

9. CE 505. Kinematic Positioning &
Navigation: 2015 Student Projects

10. CE 505. 3D laser scanning and imaging
July 14, 2015
10

11. CE 505. GPS Theory and Practice
• Learn GPS signal structure
• Understand error budget of GPS
• Plan and perform GPS surveys
• Static and rapid-static control surveys
• Real-time kinematic surveys
• Real-time network surveys
• Intro to basics of geodesy
• Adjust GPS survey networks by
least squares
July 14, 2015
11
Ground control point for geo-
referencing aerial imagery