VIADUCT INSPECTION FOR NETWORK RAIL USING DRONES
Sector Land & Rail
Region Europe
As a Network Rail framework holder, Cyberhawk’s procedures have already been vetted and approved and teamed with our highly skilled pilots and experienced engineers, we emerged as the preferred provider for this difficult work scope.
UAVs were selected to avoid the risks of personnel working at height. However, because the viaducts are can interfere with GPS signal received by the drone, it meant experienced pilots who could fly fully manually were required. This new type of project, which had never before been attempted by Network Rail, required navigating the UAV around structure with limited flying positions and no GPS signal underneath the soffits.
Each inspection was carried out by a two-man team and Cyberhawk examined the condition of the entire viaduct in a few days.
Cyberhawk was asked to provide an inspection report confirming defects from the most recent detailed examination and identifying any new defects, along with an orthophoto and 3D point-cloud model of the viaducts. This information was then used to confirm the viaducts’ dimensional accurately and to complete a structural assessment.
