Drone Bridge Patrol in Baoji, Shaanxi: Strengthening Flood Season Safety Measures

On July 20, beside the highway bridge at the entrance of Dongheqiao Village, Feng County, S219, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, a drone equipped with a high-definition visible light camera and high-precision sensors took off under the operation of a bridge inspection engineer to conduct a full-area scan and inspection of the bridge structure. This marks the official farewell of Baoji City's highway bridge maintenance from the traditional manual inspection model, stepping into a new stage of intelligent detection.

It is understood that there are 64 bridges in the entire Feng County area. Due to terrain constraints, traditional manual inspection of a single bridge requires 3 to 4 inspectors, carrying equipment to climb up and down, taking at least half an hour at the fastest. This method is not only inefficient but also poses safety risks. This inspection was implemented by Feng County Highway Section in collaboration with Qintong Design Company, marking the first use of an integrated "manual inspection + drone mapping and modeling" mode in Baoji City. On-site technical engineers explained that drones can reach areas such as the underside of bridges and high-altitude trusses that are difficult for humans to access, with data collection accuracy reaching centimeter levels. Supporting 3D modeling software processes images simultaneously, visually restoring structural details and accurately identifying issues such as cracks, spalling, and settlement, fundamentally solving the common challenges of "incomplete visibility, inaccurate measurements, and low efficiency" in mountainous bridge inspections. Han Jianjun, head of the Feng County Highway Section, said: "With the adoption of the intelligent mode, full-area bridge inspections can be completed in just 3 days, with identified issues being archived and addressed in a closed-loop manner, achieving 'technology-driven efficiency and safety enhancement.'"

From looking up for inspections to aerial cruising, the transformation is not just about the tools but also a revolution in maintenance concepts. Lu Xiaoqi, head of the Maintenance Planning Division of Baoji Highway Bureau, said: "Since the beginning of this year, our city has deepened the integration of technology into highway maintenance, promoting an iterative upgrade of management and maintenance concepts." Currently, counties such as Qianyang and Long County have preliminarily reached cooperation intentions to accelerate the replication and promotion of the intelligent inspection model, driving the shift in maintenance work from reactive repairs to proactive predictions.

It is understood that on the eve of the flood season, Baoji City's highway system comprehensively launched preventive road maintenance operations, focusing on tasks such as pothole repairs, crack treatment, chip sealing, road marking, and bridge expansion joint repairs. A total of over 65,000 square meters of road surface issues were repaired, over 40,000 meters of road cracks were treated, more than 5,000 square meters of road markings were applied, with 2,600 man-days of labor and over 100 shifts of various engineering machinery invested. These efforts eliminated potential road hazards at an early stage. Next, the city's highway system will continue to increase the frequency of road inspections during the flood season, dynamically addressing various sudden issues, and diligently safeguarding the safety and smoothness of over a thousand kilometers of national and provincial highways, fully ensuring the safe travel of the public during the flood season.