Tag Archive for: drone bridge inspection

With the sudden outburst of COVID-19 last year, many individuals were concerned about how it would affect the economy. Despite the negative effects of the pandemic, studies indicate a steady rise in the global bridge construction market.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the bridge construction market and what factors affect its growth.

The Construction Market

The construction market consists of sales made in the construction industry such as construction services and goods by organizations, sole traders, and partnerships that construct buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). While the market primarily consists of the construction of buildings or other projects, it also includes the process and materials necessary for preparing new construction sites.

These materials are obtained from both domestic and international suppliers such as manufacturers and wholesale trade operators. The service and goods provided by this market include construction, civil engineering, specialty trade contracting, and other residential, non-residential, and engineering modes.

What Affects the Market?

A large market such as the construction market has several variables that come together to influence the industry. However, there are always key factors that contribute more than others.

The availability of raw materials, the technology for extracting and processing raw materials, government policies, and increased sustainability focus all greatly affect the construction market. A great example of this is demonstrated through the pandemic as many companies struggled to procure their materials from their usual international suppliers. COVID-19 created a significant impact on the industry that will greatly affect but not hamper the market moving forward.

Technology is an important factor that is pushing change in nearly every industry. Its influence over the construction industry is illustrated with more drone usage and 3D printing than ever before. Not to mention, new innovative methods of bridge construction such as modular and prefabricated designs.

The Projected Global Boom of the Bridge Construction Market

In 2019, the global bridge construction market was valued at $908.0 billion and projected to reach $1,212.6 billion by 2027. Thus registering a CAGR of 4.6% from 2020 to 2027.  The strong growth of this market is attributed to an increase in investments, government initiatives, and global economic growth.

The global urban population is expected to rise by 2050. Thus, fueling the demand for bridge construction and other transport infrastructure. Furthermore, the surge in the standard of living, particularly in developing countries is anticipated to drive market growth.

In addition, technological advancements are expected to encourage the growth of the market. These improvements in equipment and systems are intended to reduce the time and cost involved in bridge construction. This economic and urbanization boom is expected to fuel the expansion of the railway networks throughout the globe. Thus boosting the growth of the bridge construction market.

U.S. Bridge

Here at U.S. Bridge, we pride ourselves as leaders in the bridge construction industry. We’ve been engineering and manufacturing bridges for decades with services worldwide.

We understand that a bridge project is a major investment. That’s why we designed an effortless process for you to build a bridge that will last generations. Please contact us for a free quote or use our exclusive bridge design tool Bridge Scope for a quick five-minute scope. Together, we’ll build a better future for America’s infrastructure.

Bridge Inspection Market expected to Quadruple by 2029

One in nine bridges in the United States is structurally deficient, with an average age of 42 years old. The increase in structurally deficient bridges is giving way to development in the bridge inspection market. Sooner or later, these structures require inspections to identify significant maintenance, rehabilitation, or potential replacement.

The Rise of Bridge Inspection

Already, there is a rise in bridge collapses across the globe. Moving forward, more bridges will continue to destabilize due to changing climatic conditions, increasing traffic, and extreme weather events.

Demand for routine bridge inspections will rise at least four times its current level, according to research firm Fact.MR. The industry is projecting to reach a market valuation of $6.3 billion by the end of 2029, as federal governments consider funding solutions to support infrastructure.

Estimates from the same research expect routine bridge inspections to create an absolute dollar opportunity of $5 billion in the United States. Meanwhile, developing economies such as China, India, and Brazil are seeing a spike in infrastructure upkeep as well.

Benefits of Bridge Inspection

More than 40 percent of the 600,000 bridges in the United States are over 50 years in age. As more bridges require inspection, bridge inspection continues to evolve. It’s vital for owners to monitor the condition of bridges to apply timely maintenance and preservation before they become dangerous.

Above all, bridge inspections are key for owners to keep bridges in good condition and keep them from the “structurally deficient” label. Additionally, the structure can maintain a detailed history of maintenance and previous natural disaster damage over its life cycle.

In the long run, inspections save money for owners and keep the people in their jurisdiction safe. The federal guidelines require inspections of the National Bridge Inventory bridges every two years. It’s often difficult to complete these inspections within the timeframe due to the availability of infrastructure funds. However, encouraging the use of technological advancements in bridge inspection at every level including initial, routine, and in-depth inspections.

Inspection Technology has a Key Role in Expansion

Traditional bridge inspection methods are time-consuming, dangerous, costly, and inconvenient to travelers. Instead, many bridge owners are turning to technologically advanced methods of evaluating bridges that are non-destructive and automated. The most popular of these methods are drones with specialized sensors, which are preemptive in identifying weaknesses in bridges.

Drone technology is revolutionizing bridge inspections. Information from pre-programmed drone flights is giving bridge owners and engineers data to plan the maintenance and rehabilitation for bridges. Drones can reach tight areas and confined spaces without putting a life at risk. In short time, drones create a high-quality 3D image to transform data about the bridges in a much more efficient way.

As of 2018, over 30 state Departments of Transportation were already using drone technology to do inspections. Here are some of the significant uses for drones from Minnesota’s Department of Transportation study in bridge inspections:

  • Average cost savings on a bridge inspection are 40%, without cutting man-hours
  • Using thermal sensors and drones can detect concrete delaminations
  • Reducing safety risks
  • Gathering pre-inspection information for planning large-scale inspections
  • Using drones is safe and effective in challenging conditions

Technology and methods for determining how to maintain bridge infrastructure continue to develop. Thus, more bridge owners continue to use it to decrease costs and assure the safety of more bridges. As a result, the bridge inspection marketplace will continue to grow with the development of technology as an important aspect for market players.

U.S. Bridge’s long-lasting bridges

U.S. Bridge focuses on strengthening infrastructure and bridge repair to connect communities. Our bridges are sustainable and safe, making transportation possible for people everywhere. Our bridge engineers meet the safety needs and design requirements to ensure durable quality prefabricated bridges. Get a quote online or visit our website for more information from our bridge experts.