INTRODUCTION

Bridge inspections don’t have to be slow, risky, or costly.

RIEBO Technology integrates UAVs, digital twin technology, and AI defect recognition to deliver a fully digitalized end-to-end drone bridge inspection solution—addressing the pain points of traditional manual inspections, which rely on bridge inspection vehicles and other equipment, and often suffer from missed or false detections, blind spots, high costs, and non-intuitive data.

The solution creates a centimeter-accurate 3D digital twin model of the bridge, employs intelligent route planning for fully autonomous UAV inspections, and uses high-resolution imaging to achieve millimeter-level measurement accuracy. Combined with AI-powered defect detection and an intelligent inspection management platform, it forms a one-stop closed-loop workflow—from modeling, data acquisition, and processing to analysis and management.

This not only overcomes the limitations of manual inspection, but also delivers intuitive 3D visualization and fully digitalized management, providing efficient, precise and visually clear scientific support for bridge operation and maintenance.

"Intelligent Inspection for Every Bridge Assessment"

a flying drone with a camera
Check our workflow →

AI Enhanced UAV Bridge Inspection vs Manual

  • Aspect
  • Defect Detection
  • Accessibility
  • Efficiency & Cost
  • Data Quality
  • Predictive Insights
  • Digital Integration
  • UAV+AI bridge inspection
    VS
  • AI automatically detect and classify cracks, corrosion, and spalling with millimeter accuracy, reducing human error and enabling consistent, data-driven assessment.
  • UAVs with high-precision positioning systems can safely operate in hard-to-reach or GNSS-denied areas such as bridge undersides, cables, and towers.
  • Low learning and operating costs, easy to use, and highly efficient—single-person operation supported.
  • Combines high-resolution UAV imagery with AI-driven defect quantification, ensuring objective, standardized inspection data.
  • AI compares multi-period inspection data to detect changes and predict defect progression, enabling proactive maintenance instead of reactive repair.
  • Seamlessly integrates with Digital Twin and Bridge Management Systems for 3D visualization, centralized defect tracking and intelligent maintenance decisions.
  • Traditional bridge inspection
  • Manual inspections rely on human experience and visual judgment, leading to inconsistency, misjudgments, and missed defects.
  • Inspectors face difficulties reaching high or complex structures, resulting in blind spots and incomplete inspection coverage.
  • Inspection vehicles and manual analysis are time-consuming, expensive, and raise safety concerns during high-altitude operations.
  • Traditional inspections lack high-precision image data and rely heavily on subjective visual assessment.
  • Trend analysis and early warnings are difficult without consistent, structured data collection.
  • Results are hard to visualize, manage, or integrate into digital systems, limiting data utilization.
*AI transforms UAV bridge inspection from simple visual observation to intelligent, data-driven infrastructure management.

Our Drone Bridge Inspection Workflow

1. Digital Twin Modeling: Building a Precise 3D Bridge Replica

We start by constructing a high-precision 3D digital twin model of your bridge. This model isn't just a virtual copy; it serves as the visual management foundation for all inspection data and defect information, laying the groundwork for subsequent intelligent flight planning.

Real-world testing has shown that using Riebo's R-series cameras in conjunction with AeroMapPro for bridge 3D modeling, the entire modeling task for a 500-meter bridge, from data acquisition to model generation, takes less than two hours.

reality to 3d model
AeroInspectPro route planning software
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2. Smart Route Planning: Ensuring Comprehensive Coverage & Ultimate Precision

Using the digital twin model, AeroMapPro can automatically generate safe and efficient drone flight routes. These routes are meticulously optimized to ensure comprehensive coverage of all critical bridge structural points, ensuring no subtle crack or damage goes undetected.

In addition, AeroMapPro not only supports automatic route generation but also enables users to dynamically adjust various parameters during operation, significantly improving the efficiency of flight path planning.

3. Efficient Data Capture: Capturing High-Definition Imagery

The acquisition of inspection image data is carried out by DJI M350 RTK equipped with the professional inspection camera SF10. Field operations can be completed with just one person, one vehicle, and a single set of acquisition equipment. They efficiently collect vast amounts of high-resolution image data under the guidance of our optimized flight plans.

inspection management platform

4. SkyScanner Data Processing: Smart Handling of Massive Data

Our SkyScanner software stitches all those images together and adds precise location info. It calculates each photo’s field of view, making sure the data is accurate and ready for the next AI analysis.

5. AI Intelligent Identification: Pinpointing Every Defect Fast

Using advanced AI, we quickly analyze the images to spot and classify defects like cracks, corrosion, or loose bolts. This speeds up inspections and boosts accuracy, catching issues that might be missed by the naked eye.

AI identify bridge cracks
inspection management platform

6. RIEBO TongTu Inspection Management Platform: Your Digital Management Hub for Bridge Inspections

Think of this as the brain of your bridge inspection. It brings together all data—from raw images and AI findings to past reports—on one easy-to-use 3D platform. Here you can:

  • Visually Locate Defects: Directly annotate and view defect locations on the 3D model.

  • In-depth Data Mining:Conduct historical data comparison and analysis to understand bridge health trends.

  • Efficient Team Collaboration:Empower cross-departmental collaborative management and simplify report generation.

  • Smart Report Generation:Automatically generate inspection reports compliant with industry standards.

Components of Our System

Data Acquisition System

  • High performance drones: We deploy advanced drones such as the DJI M350 RTK, engineered to deliver stable, reliable flight performance even in challenging bridge environments—ensuring consistent operation amid structural obstacles, wind, or confined spaces.
  • Inertial Navigation System: Integrated INS technology mitigates the impact of weak GNSS signals in areas like bridge undersides, maintaining precise positioning and trajectory control for uninterrupted data capture. Explore how Riebo overcomes the challenges in underside bridge inspection
  • Pro-Grade Cameras: Equipped with professional-grade payloads including R10Pros photogrammetry camera for centimeter-level 3D modeling, and SF10 inspection camera with LiDAR for rapid, precise focus, the system captures high-quality images capable of detecting 0.1mm cracks and subtle defects like spalling, corrosion, and deformation.
  • Smart Flight Planning Software: Our proprietary AeroMapPro flight planning software ensures every mission to be carefully planned to capture complete, high-quality data with maximum efficiency.
  • Data Pre-processing Tool: Data processing is carried out using SkyScanner, this software can efficiently manage large inspection datasets, supports batch export, embeds geolocation, and calculates image field of view to enable accurate defect localization by subsequent processes.

Intelligent Management System

To tackle common issues in traditional bridge inspections—like unclear results, messy workflows, and wasted data—Riebo developed the Tongtu Intelligent Inspection Management System. Key features include:

  • End-to-End Management: From scheduling and data collection to defect detection and location analysis, everything’s streamlined in one system.
  • 3D Visualization: See the bridge and its defects clearly through a digital twin model.
  • Smart Data Analysis: Track defect history, predict trends, and dig deep into inspection data.
  • Automated Reports: Instantly generate professional reports that meet industry standards.

Types of Bridges We Inspect

"Our drone bridge inspection solutions are tailored to a wide range of bridge structures. We understand the unique challenges and requirements of each type."

Learn More About Drone Bridge Inspections

FAQs About Our UAV Bridge Inspection Solution

  • How does the camera ensure precise focusing?
    Our camera uses laser rangefinder autofocus, which measures target distance in real time and accurately adjusts the lens to ensure sharp focus under varying distances and lighting conditions.
  • What is the smallest crack it can detect?
    The minimum focusing distance is 2 meters, enabling image capture with a resolution of 0.05 mm.
  • What weather conditions are suitable for operation?
    Drone inspection should be conducted in favorable weather—no rain or snow, low wind speeds, adequate lighting, good visibility, and moderate temperatures—to ensure flight safety and data quality.
  • Can the underside of a bridge be used for 3D modeling?
    Yes. With our high-resolution camera, autonomous navigation technology, and specialized flight planning software, high-quality images can be captured even under bridges where lighting is low and GPS signals are weak—meeting the requirements for accurate 3D reconstruction.
  • Can the camera capture clear images in poorly lit areas inside a bridge?
    Yes. Our camera is equipped with an automatic auxiliary lighting system, enabling proper exposure at a distance of 6 meters even at night.

Let's Get in Touch

To summarize our service philosophy, we have a professional support team behind every camera and every solution to help you achieve commercial success.