Drones Tested For Minnesota Bridge Inspections

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Transportation is testing
the use of drones to inspect bridges.

Transportation officials expect the technology will save money and provide
another perspective on how the state's bridges are holding up. The drone allows
inspectors not only to see the bridge, but detect temperature changes in the
concrete.

Contract engineer Barritt Lovelace says the biggest benefit is being able to inspect parts of the bridge that are otherwise hard to access. MnDOT is contracting with Collins Engineers to test  the drones.

MnDOT will begin its final phase of drone testing this spring and could begin
using them full-time next year.