Drone-Based Weirs Inspection and Analysis for Enhancing Infrastructure Monitoring of Water Resources in Smart Cities

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has the potential to revolutionize dam monitoring by increasing accuracy, cutting down on inspection time, and using fewer resources in smart cities.  This study demonstrates how crucial it is to incorporate cutting-edge UAV-based instruments into regular maintenance plans in order to guarantee the sustainability and durability of vital infrastructures like that of weirs. Proposed work examined the application of UAV-based technologies for dam inspections, focusing on software tools such as, Agisoft Metashape, WebODM, and YOLOv7, QGIS for data processing, modeling, and analysis. The approach overcomes the drawbacks of conventional inspection techniques, which are frequently time-consuming, expensive, and dangerous, by utilizing UAV technology. UAVs improve operational safety and efficiency by proactively identifying structural problems through high-resolution images and precise data processing. A thorough case study of the weirs is included in this research to demonstrate the useful application of UAV-based inspection systems. The proposed approach aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and accuracy in monitoring structures like Weirs which highlights the effectiveness of UAVs in addressing challenges faced by traditional inspection methods. Proposed UAV-based inspection system achieved a 92% accuracy rate in detecting cracks and defects, with a precision of 1.2 cm to 4 cm in size. The system reduced inspection time by 75% and costs by 60% compared to traditional methods. The use of YOLOv7 for defect detection enabled prompt actions to address issues, with an average response time of 2.5 days versus 10 days with traditional methods. This approach improved operational safety by 95%, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. This study lays the groundwork for the future of infrastructure management and inspection of water resources in smart cities by bridging the gap between traditional methods and contemporary technological developments.