UAV Applications for Monitoring and Management of Civil Infrastructures

Civil engineering is a field of knowledge in direct contact with the citizen, not only in the design and construction of infrastructure but also in its maintenance, conservation, monitoring, and management. The integration of new technologies, such as drones, is revolutionizing work methodologies, offering new possibilities for the execution and management of infrastructure and minimizing human intervention in these jobs, with the increase in occupational safety and cost reduction that this entails. This study presents a comprehensive review of the literature on UAV applications for the monitoring and management of civil infrastructure. The applicability of UAVs and their connection with the main existing sensors and technologies are analyzed, such as visible cameras (RGB), multispectral cameras, and hyperspectral cameras, in the most relevant areas of civil engineering, such as building inspection, bridge inspection, dams, power line inspection, photovoltaic plants, inspection, hydrological studies road inspection, slope supervision, and the maintenance and monitoring of landfill operation. The impact and scope of these technologies are addressed, as well as the benefits in terms of process automation, efficiency, safety, and cost reduction. The incorporation of drones promises to significantly transform the practice of civil engineering, improving the sustainability and resilience of infrastructures.