These drone inspection figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Drone Inspection Statistics
The main findings are:
- 58% of responding agencies (18) had used UAVs for bridge inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- About one-third of responding agencies (10) had used UAVs for construction inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- UAS field inspection time was estimated to fall 20% for bridges suitable for UAS inspection (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections).
- Commercial UAS operators averaged 162.9 flights annually in the FAA 2023 survey (U.S. commercial UAS operators).
- In the National Academies survey, 27% of respondents (9) had piloted UAV traffic monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- One agency source estimated about $10,000 per year for one drone including operating software and training for one operator (agency estimate reported 2024; agency bridge-inspection context).
- 27% of responding agencies (9) had piloted UAVs for bridge inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- 23% of responding agencies (7) had piloted UAVs for construction inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- UAS-related office time was estimated to rise 30% because of planning, downloading, processing and analysis (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections).
- Commercial UAS flights averaged 28.9 minutes (2023; U.S. commercial UAS operators).
- In the same survey, 28% of respondents (9) had used UAVs for traffic-incident detection or emergency response (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- The same source estimated UAV use for that bridge inspection at about $1,200 (source estimate reported 2024; four-lane divided roadway bridge).
- 3% of responding agencies (1) planned to evaluate UAV bridge inspection within 3–5 years (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- 13% of responding agencies (4) planned to evaluate UAV construction inspection within 3–5 years (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies).
- Overall personnel time was estimated to fall 10% after combining field and office changes (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; bridges suitable for UAS in Oregon analysis).
Contents
- Key Drone Inspection Statistics
- ## Drone inspection statistics: adoption across infrastructure agencies
- ## Bridge inspection drone statistics: coverage, detection and workflow use
- ## Drone inspection costs, time savings and benefit-cost results
- ## Drone inspection activity and commercial UAS operating scale
- ## Construction, geotechnical and emergency drone inspection trends
- ## Drone inspection limitations, coverage gaps and implementation costs
## Drone inspection statistics: adoption across infrastructure agencies
- 58% of responding agencies (18) had used UAVs for bridge inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 27% of responding agencies (9) had piloted UAVs for bridge inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 3% of responding agencies (1) planned to evaluate UAV bridge inspection within 3–5 years (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 12% of responding agencies (4) reported no UAV use for bridge inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 42% of responding agencies (14) used UAVs for emergency-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 15% of responding agencies (5) had piloted UAV emergency-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 18% of responding agencies (6) planned UAV use for emergency-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 24% of responding agencies (8) reported no UAV use for emergency-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- Almost 40% of responding agencies (12) used UAVs to monitor assets in a general asset category (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 6% of responding agencies (2) had piloted general asset monitoring with UAVs (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 23% of responding agencies (7) planned to use UAVs for general asset monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 32% of responding agencies (10) reported no UAV use for general asset monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
Agency survey; denominator is respondents, not all agencies.
Pilot status is self-reported and separate from operational use.
Planning horizon is stated by respondents and is not a realized adoption forecast.
Self-reported survey response.
Emergency-condition monitoring is broader than inspection alone.
Pilot status is not equivalent to routine deployment.
Plans were not independently verified.
Self-reported survey result.
Asset category included items not listed separately, so it is not a pure inspection measure.
Broad asset category; pilot status is self-reported.
Broad category and stated plans, not measured deployment.
Broad category; survey denominator is respondents.
## Bridge inspection drone statistics: coverage, detection and workflow use
- About one-third of responding agencies (10) had used UAVs for construction inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 23% of responding agencies (7) had piloted UAVs for construction inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 13% of responding agencies (4) planned to evaluate UAV construction inspection within 3–5 years (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 30% of responding agencies (9) were not using UAVs for construction inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 14% of responding agencies (4) had used UAVs for geotechnical-asset inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 24% of responding agencies (7) had piloted UAV geotechnical-asset inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 7% of responding agencies (2) planned to use UAVs for geotechnical-asset inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 55% of responding agencies (16) were not using UAVs for geotechnical-asset inspection (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 7% of responding agencies (2) used UAVs for pavement-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 7% of responding agencies (2) had piloted UAV pavement-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 13% of responding agencies (4) planned UAV pavement-condition monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 73% of responding agencies (22) were not using UAVs for pavement-condition assessment (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 90% of respondents (28) said bridge inspection would benefit from automation (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 83% of respondents (24) said pavement data collection would benefit from automation (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
Rounded percentage in the source; construction inspection is broader than bridge inspection.
Self-reported pilot activity.
Planned evaluation, not adoption.
Self-reported non-use.
Small respondent count and geotechnical scope.
Pilot status is self-reported.
Plan, not realized use.
Pavement monitoring is a specific subset of infrastructure inspection.
Planned use, not observed adoption.
Question measured perceived benefit from automation, not drone performance.
Perception measure; automation was not limited to UAVs.
## Drone inspection costs, time savings and benefit-cost results
- UAS field inspection time was estimated to fall 20% for bridges suitable for UAS inspection (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- UAS-related office time was estimated to rise 30% because of planning, downloading, processing and analysis (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Overall personnel time was estimated to fall 10% after combining field and office changes (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; bridges suitable for UAS in Oregon analysis). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Estimated personnel-time savings averaged about $3,900 per suitable bridge project (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Estimated equipment-rental savings averaged about $2,800 per suitable bridge project (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Estimated traffic-control savings averaged about $3,500 per suitable bridge project (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Total estimated savings were about $10,200 per suitable bridge-inspection project (2015–2017 study and Oregon DOT analysis; Oregon bridge inspections). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Estimated one-year Oregon DOT benefits were $1,191,360 (one-year analysis). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- Estimated one-year Oregon DOT costs were $127,437 (one-year analysis). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- The Oregon analysis produced an estimated benefit-cost ratio of 9.3 (one-year analysis; Oregon DOT). (Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…)
- A South Carolina test bridge’s traditional inspection cost was estimated at $5,242 (study reported 2019). (A Study in South Carolina…)
- The South Carolina UAS option was estimated to save about $1,500 on that test bridge (study reported 2019). (A Study in South Carolina…)
- The South Carolina comparison represented a 27.5% cost reduction (study reported 2019). (A Study in South Carolina…)
- A DOT-reviewed MnDOT assessment reported 40% average cost savings without reduced inspection quality (2015–2016 deployment; posted 2019; Minnesota bridge inspections). (The use of drones for…)
- A peer-reviewed bridge case found more than 90% of inspection points could be sufficiently observed by UAS (2021 publication; two experiments; one test bridge). (Case Study of Using Unmanned…)
- The same bridge case estimated 27% savings, or $1,440, on a routine inspection (2021 publication; one test bridge). (Case Study of Using Unmanned…)
- The South Carolina UAS experiment observed 91% of inspection points effectively with a 30X zoom sensor (study reported 2019; one test bridge in South Carolina). (A Study in South Carolina…)
- The South Carolina study concluded UAS could improve more than 50% of bridge inspections (study reported 2019; South Carolina study context). (A Study in South Carolina…)
Estimated from a study of five bridges and three communication towers, not a statewide randomized comparison.
Model estimate based on baseline data.
Derived by the study from estimated component changes; not a direct time log.
Cost-benefit estimate using Oregon DOT baseline costs.
Estimated from assumed reductions in equipment use.
Traffic-control reduction was modeled, not universally observed.
Applies to bridges deemed suitable for UAS and uses a simplified cost model.
Study estimate without discounting.
Includes modeled UAS-related costs; not a financial statement.
Simplified, undiscounted ratio and uncertainty noted by the study.
Single test bridge and published state DOT unit costs.
Estimate assumes residual UBIT use and reduced traffic control.
Single experiment and modeled unit costs.
Assessment result; the page does not establish that every bridge is suitable.
Two experiments on one bridge; observation is not equivalent to complete tactile inspection.
Case-study estimate, not a fleet-wide average.
Sensor and bridge specific; tactile contact and GPS blockage remained limitations.
Study conclusion, not a measured statewide share.
## Drone inspection activity and commercial UAS operating scale
- Commercial UAS operators averaged 162.9 flights annually in the FAA 2023 survey (U.S. commercial UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Commercial UAS flights averaged 28.9 minutes (2023; U.S. commercial UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Commercial operators averaged 4.8 aircraft operated (2023; U.S. commercial UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Emergency-response, public-safety and law-enforcement operators averaged 142.9 flights annually (2023; U.S. emergency/public-safety/law-enforcement UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Emergency-response, public-safety and law-enforcement flights averaged 24.1 minutes (2023; U.S. emergency/public-safety/law-enforcement UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Emergency-response, public-safety and law-enforcement operators averaged 8.3 aircraft (2023; U.S. emergency/public-safety/law-enforcement UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Other-government UAS operators averaged 151.8 flights annually (2023; U.S. non-emergency government UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Other-government UAS flights averaged 22.3 minutes (2023; U.S. non-emergency government UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Other-government UAS operators averaged 3.8 aircraft (2023; U.S. non-emergency government UAS operators). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- The FAA survey estimated 7,600 UAS uses in the other-industrial-inspection category (2023 survey preliminary results; U.S. UAS use categories). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
- Other industrial inspection represented 1.04% of the FAA table’s estimated 733,170 UAS uses (2023 survey preliminary results; U.S. UAS use categories). (3.4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),…)
Commercial UAS is broader than inspection missions.
Average across commercial use categories, not inspection-only flights.
Average ownership/operation measure, not inspection fleet size.
Category includes non-inspection missions.
Not an inspection-specific duration.
Fleet measure across all missions.
Includes government uses beyond inspection.
Not inspection-only.
FAA category estimate; it is not a count of aircraft or inspections.
Category share is from preliminary survey results and is broader than drone-only inspection flights.
## Construction, geotechnical and emergency drone inspection trends
- In the National Academies survey, 27% of respondents (9) had piloted UAV traffic monitoring (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- In the same survey, 28% of respondents (9) had used UAVs for traffic-incident detection or emergency response (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 13% of respondents (4) had piloted UAV traffic-incident detection or emergency response (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 13% of respondents (4) planned to use or pilot UAV traffic-incident detection or emergency response (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 47% of respondents (15) were not using UAVs for traffic-incident detection or emergency response (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 100% of respondents (30) said traffic-incident/emergency-response activities would benefit from automation (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- 93% of respondents (28) said emergency-condition assessment would benefit from automation (2024 survey; infrastructure agencies). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
Traffic monitoring is related operational use, not inspection itself.
Emergency response is broader than inspection.
Pilot status, not routine use.
Stated plans are not realized activity.
Self-reported non-use.
Perceived automation benefit, not drone-specific performance.
Perception measure and broader than inspection.
## Drone inspection limitations, coverage gaps and implementation costs
- One agency source estimated about $10,000 per year for one drone including operating software and training for one operator (agency estimate reported 2024; agency bridge-inspection context). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- The same source estimated UAV use for that bridge inspection at about $1,200 (source estimate reported 2024; four-lane divided roadway bridge). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
- One agency source reported a typical bridge inspection could fall from 5 days to 1–2 days with UAV use (agency/source estimate reported 2024; agency bridge-inspection context). (Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator…)
Single agency estimate; does not represent total program cost.
Scenario estimate and not necessarily inclusive of all program costs.
Single reported comparison with unspecified bridge mix and workflow.