Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring

Bridges are an integral and important part of road networks, but monitoring their condition using traditional methods is expensive, dangerous, and laborious. This study examines the rapidly emerging field of drone-based transportation asset monitoring, focusing on analyzing the cost efficiency and e...

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Main Authors: Taraneh Askarzadeh, Raj Bridgelall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Infrastructures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/63
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author Taraneh Askarzadeh
Raj Bridgelall
author_facet Taraneh Askarzadeh
Raj Bridgelall
author_sort Taraneh Askarzadeh
collection DOAJ
description Bridges are an integral and important part of road networks, but monitoring their condition using traditional methods is expensive, dangerous, and laborious. This study examines the rapidly emerging field of drone-based transportation asset monitoring, focusing on analyzing the cost efficiency and effectiveness of drone applications in bridge condition monitoring. This research innovated a multi-dimensional framework that highlights the transformative role of drone technology in enhancing inspection accuracy, safety, and cost savings. Using statistical models and Monte Carlo simulations, the framework provides an extensive cost–benefit analysis to inform drone investment decisions. A case study demonstrates the utility of the framework in quantifying costs and benefits. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis evaluates how variations in drone costs, driven by technological progress, can potentially influence adoption of the technology.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2412-3811
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Infrastructures
spelling doaj-art-73c343b2f5924f9a92618edf4a4dfadc2025-08-20T03:43:03ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112025-03-011036310.3390/infrastructures10030063Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition MonitoringTaraneh Askarzadeh0Raj Bridgelall1Department of Transportation and Supply Chain, College of Business, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USADepartment of Transportation and Supply Chain, College of Business, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USABridges are an integral and important part of road networks, but monitoring their condition using traditional methods is expensive, dangerous, and laborious. This study examines the rapidly emerging field of drone-based transportation asset monitoring, focusing on analyzing the cost efficiency and effectiveness of drone applications in bridge condition monitoring. This research innovated a multi-dimensional framework that highlights the transformative role of drone technology in enhancing inspection accuracy, safety, and cost savings. Using statistical models and Monte Carlo simulations, the framework provides an extensive cost–benefit analysis to inform drone investment decisions. A case study demonstrates the utility of the framework in quantifying costs and benefits. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis evaluates how variations in drone costs, driven by technological progress, can potentially influence adoption of the technology.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/63autonomous aircraftdata miningasset managementdrone-based monitoringcost-efficient bridge inspectionMonte Carlo simulation
spellingShingle Taraneh Askarzadeh
Raj Bridgelall
Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
Infrastructures
autonomous aircraft
data mining
asset management
drone-based monitoring
cost-efficient bridge inspection
Monte Carlo simulation
title Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
title_full Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
title_fullStr Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
title_full_unstemmed Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
title_short Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Drone Applications in Bridge Condition Monitoring
title_sort cost efficiency and effectiveness of drone applications in bridge condition monitoring
topic autonomous aircraft
data mining
asset management
drone-based monitoring
cost-efficient bridge inspection
Monte Carlo simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/3/63
work_keys_str_mv AT taranehaskarzadeh costefficiencyandeffectivenessofdroneapplicationsinbridgeconditionmonitoring
AT rajbridgelall costefficiencyandeffectivenessofdroneapplicationsinbridgeconditionmonitoring