Inspection Technologies for Construction and Maintenance of Highway Infrastructure – Review and Analysis

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Inspection Technologies for Construction and Maintenance of HighwayInfrastructure – Review and Analysis

Abstract: 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) seek to provide high quality infrastructure that meets or exceeds the desired quality standards crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency in our nation's transportation systems. Efficient inspection practices—which enable conformance with plans, specifications, and quality standards—are an essential part of this effort. In this digital age, state DOTs are relying on emerging technologies to improve inspection practices. However, there is limited knowledge available regarding various emerging technologies used for highway infrastructure construction and maintenance inspection. This study identifies various emerging technologies that are implemented at the state DOTs and their uses/applications for various inspection purposes. The emerging technologies studied in this project include Remote Sensing and Monitoring Technologies—specifically, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)—as well as Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR). Based on a comprehensive literature review and content analysis of journal articles, technical reports, state DOT documents/reports, templates, and guidelines on the identified technologies, the research findings indicate different usage levels among state DOTs and found that DOTs use these technologies for applications such as structural inspection, verifying quantities, bridge and visual inspection, safety inspection, inspection workforce training, inspection documentation, and measurements of pay quantities, among others. This study serves as a valuable resource for state DOTs seeking to maximize the benefits of their investments and embrace innovative inspection technologies to ensure safety and efficiency in the nation's transportation infrastructure.

Authors: 

MANIDEEP TUMMALAPUDI (MANI), PHD

Dr. Tummalapudi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at California State University, Fresno, and also a faculty fellow at Fresno State Transportation Institute. Mani holds a M.S. with Civil Engineering emphasis from Bradley University and Ph.D. with Construction Management emphasis from Colorado State University. Dr. Tummalapudi's research interests include transportation project delivery, transportation workforce development, construction finance, emerging technologies in construction, transportation equity, and construction education.

PREM RAJ TIMILSENA, BE

Prem Raj Timilsena is a Graduate Student in the Department of Construction Management at California State University, Fresno. Prem holds a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Prem’s research interests include emerging technologies in construction, construction financing, sustainable design, lean construction, and transportation engineering. 

Published: 
January 2025
Keywords: 
Infrastructure inspection
Emerging technologies
Highway construction and maintenance
BIM
AR/VR

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CSUTC
MCEEST
MCTM
NTFC
NTSC
CSUTC
MCEEST
MCTM
NTFC
NTSC
CSUTC
MCEEST
MCTM
NTFC
NTSC

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