Automated bridge scour depth estimation using UAV-enabled wireless vibration sensing and finite element inversion
Journal
Automation in Construction
Journal Volume
190
Start Page
107097
ISSN
09265805
Date Issued
2026-10
Author(s)
Abstract
Bridge foundation scour is a cause of bridge collapse worldwide. However, conventional scour detection methods in Taiwan, such as visual inspection and periodic underwater measurements, are costly, difficult to access, unsafe during flood seasons, and unsuitable for long-term automated monitoring. To address these challenges, this paper presents a bridge scour monitoring system that integrates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with wireless vibration measurement and finite element inversion. The experimental results showed that repeated frequency measurements at the node directly above the bridge pier had the smallest standard deviation, with a representative natural frequency of 1.7455 Hz. The scour depth estimated through interpolation of the finite element model was 111.8 cm, and the measured depth, derived from the bridge inspection report, was 116.2 cm, indicating an error of 3.77%. The proposed UAV-enabled wireless vibration sensing and finite element inversion architecture offered safety, low cost, scalability, and feasibility in bridge scour monitoring.
Subjects
Bridge scour detection
Finite element model
Natural frequency
UAV inspection
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article