Underwater Drone (ROV) Asset Review and Documentation

Many New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) assets that can be documented with drones have a portion below the surface of the water that is difficult or impossible to see and document. These assets can include but are not limited to bridge abutments/piers, box culverts, cofferdams, and beaver mitigation devices. In emergency situations a below water surface view of an asset could be needed in a rapid timeframe to determine the stability of the asset. Also, during construction of below water surface assets there is difficulty documenting the actual completed condition or supporting trouble shooting when issues arise during construction. This research will evaluate several cases of NHDOT underwater asset review and documentation and include the purchase of an underwater drone (ROV) and appropriate support equipment. The case studies, solicited from throughout NHDOT representing the potential diverse use of this technology, will detail the evaluation, challenges, and benefits of the data acquired with the underwater drone (ROV). The potential savings of underwater drone (ROV) data providing targeted areas for divers to inspect an asset where in-person inspection is required will also be evaluated. The use cases will include the types of data needed by the Department’s asset stakeholders along with an evaluation of the equipment’s capabilities. The study will identify pros and cons to using this type of technology for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective underwater asset review and documentation needs of NHDOT.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $183,000
• Contract Numbers:

  42372N

• Sponsor Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Research
  Box 483, 5 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Managing Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Research
  Box 483, 5 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Project Managers:

  Nash, Deirdre

• Performing Organizations:

  Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

  Two Executive Park Drive
  Bedford, New Hampshire  United States  03110
• Principal Investigators:

  Gorham, John

• Start Date: 20230101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Data collection; Drones; Unmanned underwater vehicles
• Identifier Terms: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01867110
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 42372N
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 13 2022 3:40PM