Railway bridge condition assessment based on state-of-the-art reality capture technologies: application to a case study

Abstract

Structural visual inspection documentation is essential for monitoring, maintaining, rehabilitating, and reinforcing structures. Close-Range Photogrammetry (CRP) and Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) are cutting-edge technologies that are commonly used in surveying. In this article, these technologies were integrated to capture a railway bridge. The lower deck and lateral deck surfaces were captured using TLS, while the upper deck, track and laterals of the deck were captured using CRP-UAV photogrammetry. Post-processing techniques allowed the fusion of TLS and CRP models to produce a precise 3D model of the entire railway bridge deck.