Would Use The Aircraft For Bridge, Tunnel, And Other Inspections

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has applied for authorization to use UAVs for inspection of bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure.

The Boston Herald reports that the agency has applied for a waiver from the FAA to use a "larger drone", according to state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack (pictured). She did not say what type of UAV the agency was considering.

“There is a lot of interest in remote inspections of the underside of bridges and interesting things we would do. I do think it’s a technology that is going to be very valuable in the infrastructure industry, but we’re in the early stages of figuring it out,” Pollack said.

Minnesota has already used such an aircraft to conduct "limited" assessment of four bridges last month. The cost of the program was reported to be about $33,500. Connecticut is also said to be considering a test run using a UAV provided by an independant contractor.

(Pollack pictured in official photo)

FMI: www.massdot.state.ma.us