GPR surveys and visual inspections for National Highways

A groundbreaking bridge inspection took place at the M5 Avonmouth River Crossing, showcasing advanced inspection methods. The project combined Visual Bearing Inspections with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys, utilizing autonomous robotic crawlers. This modern approach successfully met stringent timelines while enhancing site safety by eliminating traditional rope access methods. The innovative technique delivered comprehensive asset coverage and superior data quality, marking a significant advancement in infrastructure maintenance efficiency.

The Challenge

The M5 Avonmouth River Crossing project presented a significant challenge: inspecting critical infrastructure handling 70,000 daily vehicle crossings without disruption. The project required comprehensive inspections while eliminating dangerous working-at-height methods, achieving near 100% asset coverage within strict deadlines, and delivering high-quality data for Visual Bearing Inspections and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) assessments. These requirements needed to align with National Highways' SBIM contract specifications while maintaining safety, efficiency, and quality standards.

The Solution:

An innovative robotic crawler system was implemented at the site, meeting National Highways' strict inspection standards while eliminating dangerous rope access methods. The advanced crawlers utilized interchangeable attachments, combining high-definition cameras for Visual Bearing Inspections with GPR technology for concrete condition assessments.

Structural Repairs team operating robotic crawler for GPR survey on M5 Avonmouth Bridge

The Process:

Robotic crawlers navigated the bridge structure, focusing on critical areas like bridge support bearings. HD cameras captured detailed video and images of each bearing atop the piers. For concrete assessments, advanced GPR technology located and measured rebar depth and estimated concrete thickness. This GPR survey method enabled comprehensive inspections without disrupting traffic flow. The effectiveness of this approach received positive affirmation from National Highways, highlighting the significant advantages of robotic technology for infrastructure inspections, particularly in terms of safety, efficiency, and data quality.

Structural Repairs' HB1 robot conducting GPR screening on National Highways' M5 Avonmouth Bridge railway crossing

Structural Repairs team operating HB1 robot for GPR survey on National Highways' M5 Avonmouth Bridge rail crossing

The Result:

The implementation of robotic crawlers delivered remarkable outcomes. Working at height was completely eliminated, dramatically enhancing safety. This innovative approach provided near-total asset coverage, offering an economically viable solution for comprehensive inspections that were previously too costly or time-consuming with traditional methods. Data quality saw significant improvements, particularly for bearing inspections, due to the robots' ability to position extremely close to inspection points. Crucially, this process demonstrated to National Highways that high-quality data could be collected efficiently, meeting tight deadlines and reducing the inspection backlog while upholding the highest standards of safety and accuracy. The success of this project showcased the potential of advanced technology to revolutionize infrastructure inspections, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and thoroughness in the industry.

Discover how crawler climbing robots can revolutionize your non-destructive testing (NDT) and GPR ground-penetrating radar projects. These innovative solutions reduce work at height, increase safety and quality, and lower costs.

For more information on how this technology can be applied to various structures, visit our concrete scanning services page to learn about our comprehensive range of inspection solutions.

By partnering with Structural Repairs, any emerging structural problems in a critical section of their infrastructure can be effectively addressed, ensuring that operations remain uninterrupted and efficient.

Contact us today to learn how to implement this cutting-edge technology in your infrastructure inspections and GPR surveys!

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